Northwestern men's basketball is making moves in the transfer portal, and their latest addition could bring a much-needed change of pace to the point guard position. Meet LA Pratt, a 6-foot-5 graduate transfer guard making the leap from Northeastern to Northwestern—a directional shift that might just pay off big for Chris Collins' squad.

Pratt is a true floor general. At Northeastern, he ran the offense with impressive assist rates, showing off his vision and playmaking ability. In just three games during the 2025-26 season, he averaged 17 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game before a season-ending foot injury cut his campaign short. That's a small sample size, but the numbers are eye-catching. His junior year told a more complete story: 11.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 steals across 31 minutes per game in his first season in Boston, following two years at Elon.

When the transfer was first announced, reactions were mixed. Some analysts questioned the fit: "Athletic and explosive driver, good passer and finisher. But not a great rebounder, really struggles as a shooter and just ok defensively. Not sure the game translates to P5." It's a fair take—Pratt's shooting has been a concern, and his 2024-25 RAPM (regularized adjusted plus-minus) was a disappointing -4.3, according to Hoop Explorer.

But here's where the story gets interesting. In that tiny three-game sample before his injury, Pratt's scoring, passing, and defending numbers all jumped significantly. His adjusted RAPM soared to 1.4—a massive turnaround that hints at untapped potential. And Collins got a firsthand look at Pratt's ceiling when Northwestern faced Northeastern in December 2024. Despite a 25-point loss, Pratt dropped 18 points, seven assists, and four rebounds, showing he can compete against Power 5 competition.

So, is this a gamble? Absolutely. Collins is betting that Pratt will be the player we saw in those three explosive games, not the inconsistent version from the year before. The foot injury adds another layer of uncertainty, but if Pratt recovers fully, Northwestern just might have found a dynamic point guard who can drive, dish, and disrupt. For a team looking to shake things up in the backcourt, this could be a steal.