Marquette Basketball: Olivier-Maxence Prosper exit stings, but survivable

The draft stock of Olivier-Maxence Prosper has been soaring in recent days after a strong showing at draft combine. That proved to be bad news for the Marquette Golden Eagles.

On Friday morning, Prosper told ESPN that he would keep his name in the 2023 NBA Draft and forego the remainder of his college eligibility, depriving a Big East favorite of a critical wing.

While Prosper could prove himself to be a steal in the draft, he’s likely stealing the hearts of many Marquette fans. Last year, the Canadian averaged 12.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Big things were expected for the 6-foot-8 wing in 2023-24.

His loss stings the Golden Eagles. But it’s not time to lower the expectations of Shaka Smart’s team.

How will the Marquette Golden Eagles be affected by the draft departure of Olivier-Maxence Prosper in 2023-24?

Expectations are high for Marquette next season and Prosper was a big part of that. His length made him one of the team’s top defenders a year ago, challenged to stop some of the same players whose names will be called alongside his at the draft.

His impact could be felt all over the court. He ranked second on Marquette in rebounds and third in points per game. He was also a decent three-point shooter, knocking down 34 percent of his perimeter attempts.

One of the pros going for the Golden Eagles heading into the new season was year-to-year continuity. Marquette was set to return almost its entire roster from last season, no small feat for a team that already exceeded expectations.

The good thing about that continuity is that it can cover gaps when a player leaves, such as Prosper. Marquette may not even miss much of a beat. David Joplin – reigning Big East Sixth Man of the Year – can slide directly into the hole left by Prosper. Joplin hit nearly 40 percent of his threes last season, so he could make the starting offense even more dynamic.

Meanwhile, Ben Gold will be tasked with picking up more of the work, particularly on the defensive end. He’s 6-foot-11 and could bring some much-needed length to the lineup.

So where does Prosper’s departure leave Marquette? Before he left, some were viewing the Golden Eagles as a potential Final Four team.

The ceiling feels slightly lower without Prosper, but Smart would be wise to keep considering this team a Big East contender and potential Final Four team. Top-level talent remains at the Wisconsin school.

First and foremost, there’s Kam Jones. Last season, the star averaged 15.1 points per game. He should be one of the top scorers in the conference and a contender for Big East Player of the Year.

If Jones doesn’t win that award, teammate Tyler Kolek might – after all, he won it last year. Averaging 12.9 points and 7.5 assists per game, he dominated the league a season ago. With another year under his belt, there’s no reason to think he won’t be one of the best guards in the country again.

Oso Ighodaro is back too. The rising junior averaged 11.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during his sophomore season and has the potential to be the team’s best big man, as well as one of the best in the Big East.

In other words, Marquette fans need not fret – Olivier-Maxence Prosper may be migrating to the NBA, but the Golden Eagles still have a chance to soar without him.