The Big East had a good 2024-25 campaign, with five teams making the NCAA Tournament, highlighted by St. John’s the conference’s regular season and postseason champions.
Still, a number of programs are in flux early in the offseason, thanks to coaching changes and roster turnover.
Here’s a snapshot of all 11 rosters in the Big East, with lists of which players are coming and and which are going.
BUTLER
Departures: Pierre Brooks, 6-foot-6 guard (out of eligibility); Augusto Cassia, 6-foot-8 freshman forward (in portal); Boden Kapke, 6-foot-11 sophomore center (transfer to Boston College); Colt Langdon, 6-foot-7 freshman forward (transfer to NC State); Patrick McCaffery, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility); Landon Moore, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transfer to Illinois State); Andre Screen, 7-foot center (out of eligibility); Jahmyl Telfort, 6-foot-7 guard (out of eligibility).
Returnees: Finley Bizjack, 6-foot-4 junior guard; Evan Haywood, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard; Jamie Kaiser Jr., 6-foot-6 redshirt sophomore guard.
Incoming: Michael Ajayi, 6-foot-7 senior forward (transfer from Gonzaga); Yame Butler, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from Drexel); Jalen Jackson, 6-foot-2 senior guard (transfer from Purdue-Fort Wayne); Drayton Jones, 6-foot-10 junior forward (transfer from South Carolina State); Yohan Traore, 6-foot-10 senior forward (transfer from SMU); Jackson Keith, 6-foot-4 freshman guard; Jack McCaffery, 6-foot-8 freshman forward; Efeosa Oliogu, 6-foot-5 freshman forward.Azavier Robinson, 6-foot-1 freshman guard.
It’ll be a big fourth season for coach Thad Matta, who is under .500 in his second stint with the Bulldogs. Bizjack’s emergence into a point guard was a highlight at the end of the season, but will this new supporting cast be good enough to take the leap? It could come down to new leading big man Traore, and whether Butler can get him to play winning basketball.
CREIGHTON
Departures: Steven Ashworth, 6-foot-1 guard (out of eligibility); Pop Isaacs, 6-foot-2 junior guard (transfer to Houston); Larry Johnson, 6-foot-4 freshman guard (transfer to McNeese State); Ryan Kalkbrenner, 7-foot center (out of eligibility); Fredrick King, 6-foot-10 senior center (transfer to Murray State); Sterling Knox, 6-foot-4 freshman guard (transfer to Indiana State); Mason Miller, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer to Murray State); Jamiya Neal, 6-foot-6 guard (out of eligibility).
Returnees: Ty Davis, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard; Jasen Green, 6-foot-8 junior forward; Jackson McAndrew, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward; Isaac Traudt, 6-foot-10 junior forward; Fedor Zugic, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard.
Incoming: Josh Dix, 6-foot-6 senior guard (transfer from Iowa); Owen Freeman, 6-foot-10 junior center (transfer from Iowa); Nik Graves, 6-foot-3 senior guard (transfer from Charlotte); Austin Swartz, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (transfer from Miami); Hudson Greer, 6-foot-6 freshman guard.
Creighton should remain as one of the best offenses in college basketball, thanks to the former Hawkeyes duo of Dix and Freeman. Yet the departure of four-time Big East Defensive POY Kalkbrenner leaves a massive hole. The Bluejays will be able to score, but defense will be a question.
DEPAUL
Departures: Troy D’Amico, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); Conor Enright, 6-foot senior guard (transfer to Indiana); Jacob Meyer, 6-foot-2 junior guard (transfer to UAB); Isaiah Rivera, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); David Skogman, 6-foot-10 forward (out of eligibility); David Thomas, 6-foot-2 junior guard (transfer to Richmond); JJ Traynor, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer to Murray State).
Returnees: NJ Benson, 6-foot-8 senior forward; Layden Blocker, 6-foot-2 junior guard; CJ Gunn, 6-foot-6 senior guard; Theo Pierre-Justin, 6-foot-10 sophomore.
Incoming: Kaleb Banks, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from Tulane); Brandon Maclin, 6-foot-5 senior guard, (transfer from Radford); Khaman Maker, 7-foot-2 sophomore center (transfer from St. John’s); RJ Smith, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transfer from Colorado).
Despite a 4-16 league record, the Blue Demons were competitive in coach Chris Holtmann’s first season with the program. They have a chance to take a leap, returning leading scorer Gunn (12.9 points per game) and adding potent scoring forward Banks. With three of the team’s top five scorers returning, DePaul will be a team to watch in the Big East.
GEORGETOWN
Departures: Jordan Burks, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward (transfer to UCF); Jayden Epps, 6-foot-2 junior guard (transfer to Mississippi State); Drew Fielder, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward (transfer to Boise State); Drew McKenna, 6-foot-8 freshman forward (transfer to Old Dominion); Micah Peavy, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); Curtis Williams Jr., 6-foot-6 sophomore guard (transfer to Tulane).
Returnees: Julius Halaifonua, 7-foot sophomore center; Malik Mack, 6-foot-1 junior guard; Kayvaun Mulready, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard.
Pending: Thomas Sorber, 6-foot-10 sophomore (NBA draft decision)
Incoming: Isaiah Abraham, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward (transfer from UConn); DeShawn Harris-Smith, 6-foot-5 junior guard (transfer from Maryland); KJ Lewis, 6-foot-4 junior guard (transfer from Arizona); Langston Love, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from Baylor).
One of the biggest NBA decisions to watch is Sorber’s, as the Hoyas have no way to replace his production and impact if he goes pro. The backcourt should be fine if Love looks like the sophomore version of himself, but a lack of high-end talent on the roster could limit the Hoyas’ ceiling.
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MARQUETTE
Departures: Al Amadou, 6-foot-9 freshman forward (transfer to St. Joseph’s); Kam Jones, 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility); David Joplin, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); Stevie Mitchell, 6-foot-2 guard (out of eligibility).
Returnees: Ben Gold, 6-foot-11 senior forward; Caedin Hamilton, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward; Sean Jones, 5-foot-10 junior guard; Zaide Lowery, 6-foot-5 junior guard; Tre Norman, 6-foot-4 junior guard; Damarius Owens, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward; Royce Parham, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward; Chase Ross, 6-foot-4 senior guard.
Incoming: Nigel James, 6-foot freshman guard; Ian Miletic, 6-foot-7 freshman forward; Michael Phillips, 6-foot-6 freshman forward; Adrien Stevens, 6-foot-4 freshman guard.
Marquette and Duke are the only programs to not gain or lose a transfer who played this past season. But unlike the Blue Devils, the Golden Eagles don’t have yearly top recruiting classes to replenish the talent pool. Ross is the lone double-digit scorer returning; even if he’s the next breakout star for the program, Marquette needs others to step up in larger roles next season if it’s to be a Big East contender.
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PROVIDENCE
Departures: Jabri Abdur-Rahim, 6-foot-7 guard (out of eligibility); Anton Bonke, 7-foot-2 sophomore center (in the portal); Wesley Cardet, 6-foot-6 guard (out of eligibility); Eli DeLaurier, 6-foot-10 freshman forward (transfer to East Carolina); Christ Essandoko, 7-foot sophomore center (transfer to South Carolina); Justyn Fernandez, 6-foot-5 sophomore forward (transfer to Delaware); Bryce Hopkins, 6-foot-6 senior forward (transfer to St. John’s); Bensley Joseph, 6-foot-1 guard (out of eligibility).
Returnees: Rich Barron, 6-foot-5 junior forward; Oswin Erhunmwunse, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward; Corey Floyd, 6-foot-4 senior guard; Ryan Mela, 6-foot-6 sophomore forward.
Incoming: Daquan Davis, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard (transfer from Florida State); Jason Edwards, 6-foot-1 senior guard (transfer from Vanderbilt); Cole Hargrove, 6-foot-8 forward (transfer from Drexel); Duncan Powell, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from Georgia Tech); Jaylin Sellers, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from UCF); Jaylen Harrell, 6-foot-5 freshman forward; Jamier Jones, 6-foot-6 freshman forward.
With the Hopkins storyline behind them, the Friars look to All-SEC guard Edwards to be the new face of the program. Edwards will be on his fifth school in as many seasons: Division II Miles College, Dodge City (Kan.) CC, North Texas, Vandy and now Providence. Frontcourt play was a big issue for the team, but Erhunmwunse showed signs he can be the focal point inside. His development this offseason will be key to Providence moving back up the conference ladder.
SETON HALL
Departures: Prince Aligbe, 6-foot-6 junior forward (in the portal); Dylan Addae-Wusu, 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility); Isaiah Coleman, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transfer to Oklahoma State); Garvey Dual, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transfer to McNeese State); Zion Harmon, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transfer to Bethune-Cookman); Chaunce Jenkins, 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility); Scotty Middleton, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard (transfer to Tulane); Emmanuel Okorafor, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward, (in the portal); Yacine Toumi, 6-foot-9 senior forward (in the portal); Gus Yalden, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward (transfer to Vermont).
Returnees: Godswill Erheriene, 6-foot-9 sophomore center; Jahseem Felton, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard; Assane Mbaye, 7-foot-2 redshirt freshman center; David Tubek, 6-foot-7 junior forward.
Incoming: Adam Clark, 5-foot-10 junior guard (transfer from Merrimack); Josh Rivera, 6-foot-7 senior forward (transfer from Fordham); TJ Simpkins, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from Elon).
After going 2-18 in league play this past season, losing over 95 percent of the team’s production may not be the worst thing. But Seton Hall still has a lot of roster spots to fill and doesn’t have a proven high-major player. There’s still time, but at this rate, the Pirates could be even worse than they just were.
ST. JOHN’S
Departures: Brady Dunlap, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward (transfer to Saint Louis); Jaiden Glover, 6-foot-5 freshman guard (transfer to St. Joseph’s); Vincent Iwuchukwu, 7-foot-1 junior forward (in the portal); RJ Luis, 6-foot-7 junior guard (in the portal/NBA draft); Khaman Maker, 7-foot-1 freshman center (transfer to DePaul); Kadary Richmond, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); Aaron Scott, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); Deivon Smith, 6-foot-1 guard (out of eligibility); Simeon Wilcher, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (transfer to Texas).
Returnees: Zuby Ejiofor, 6-foot-9 senior forward; Sadiku Ibine Ayo, 6-foot-7 senior forward; Lefteris Liotopoulos, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard; Ruben Prey, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward.
Incoming: Dylan Darling, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from Idaho State); Ian Jackson, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (transfer from UNC); Bryce Hopkins, 6-foot-7 senior forward (transfer from Providence); Dillon Mitchell, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from Cincinnati); Joson Sanon, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transfer from Arizona State); Oziyah Sellers, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from Stanford); Imran Suljanovic, 6-foot-8 freshman forward.
St. John’s was one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the nation this past season, but is set to surround All-Big East big Ejifor with several players who shot better than 40 percent from deep, including Sellers, Sanon and Jackson. Besides the health of Hopkins, the big storyline to watch in the coming months is how the point guard situation works out for the Red Storm, with Jackson reportedly set to run the offense after exclusively playing off-ball at UNC.
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UCONN
Departures: Isaiah Abraham, 6-foot-7 freshman forward (transfer to Georgetown); Hassan Diarra, 6-foot-2 guard (out of eligibility); Samson Johnson, 6-foot-10 forward (out of eligibility); Aidan Mahaney, 6-foot-3 junior guard (in the portal); Liam McNeeley, 6-foot-7 forward (NBA draft); Ahman Nowell, 6-foot freshman guard (transfer to VCU); Youssouf Singara, 6-foot-10 sophomore center (transfer to High Point).
Returnees: Solo Ball, 6-foot-3 junior guard; Tarris Reed, 6-foot-10 senior center; Jayden Ross, 6-foot-7 junior forward; Jaylin Stewart, 6-foot-7 junior forward.
Pending: Alex Karaban, 6-foot-8 junior forward (NBA draft)
Incoming: Silas Demary Jr., 6-foot-5 junior guard (transfer from Georgia); Malachi Smith, 6-foot senior guard (transfer from Dayton); Jacob Furphy, 6-foot-6 freshman forward; Braylon Mullins, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Eric Reibe, 7-foot freshman forward.
If Karaban returns, he and Ball would give the Huskies arguably the best duo in the Big East. In addition, even without former top-30 guard commit Darius Adams (who remains unsigned), the Huskies’ incoming recruiting class remains elite, led by five-star prospect Mullins.
VILLANOVA
Departures: Enoch Boakye, 6-foot-10 center (out of eligibility); Jhamir Brickus, 5-foot-11 guard (out of eligibility); Eric Dixon, 6-foot-8 forward (out of eligibility); Aleksandar Gavalyugov, 6-foot freshman guard (in the portal); Jordan Longino, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); Josiah Moseley, 6-foot-8 freshman forward (transfer to Texas Tech); Nnanna Njoku, 6-foot-9 senior forward (transfer to Delaware); Kris Parker, 6-foot-8 freshman wing (in the portal); Wooga Poplar, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility).
Returnees: Matthew Hodge, 6-foot-8 redshirt freshman forward; Tyler Perkins, 6-foot-4 junior guard.
Incoming: Devin Askew, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from Long Beach); Duke Brennan, 6-foot-10 senior forward (transfer from Grand Canyon); Bryce Lindsay, 6-foot-3 senior guard (transfer from James Madison); Malachi Palmer, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard, (transfer from Maryland); Braden Pierce, 7-foot sophomore center (transfer from Maryland); Zion Stanford, 6-foot-5 junior guard (transfer from Temple); Chris Jeffrey, 6-foot-3 freshman guard.
New coach Kevin Willard basically had an empty roster. Lindsay and Stanford are solid incoming transfers, but on paper, the current roster lacks star power. Missing out on former Maryland guard Rodney Rice (who chose USC) was a big blow to the Wildcats; let’s see how they move forward in the coming weeks.
XAVIER
Departures: Ryan Conwell, 6-foot-4 junior guard (transfer to Louisville); Cam’Ron Fletcher, 6-foot-6 senior forward (transfer to High Point); Marcus Foster, 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility), Zach Freemantle, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility); Trey Green, 6-foot sophomore guard (transfer to Saint Louis); Jerome Hunter, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); John Hugley, 6-foot-9 senior forward (transfer to Duquesne); Dante Maddox, 6-foot-2 guard (out of eligibility); Dayvion McKnight, 6-foot-1 guard (out of eligibility); Dailyn Swain, 6-foot-7 junior forward (transfer to Texas); Lassina Traore, 6-foot-10 senior forward (transfer to Texas).
Returnees: Roddie Anderson III, 6-foot-3 junior guard.
Incoming: Filip Borovicanin, 6-foot-9 senior forward (transfer from New Mexico); Tre Carroll, 6-foot-7 senior forward (transfer from FAU); Jovan Milicevic, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward (transfer from New Mexico); Malik Moore, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from Montana); Pape N’Diaye, 7-foot sophomore center (transfer from UNLV); Gabriel Pozzato, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward (transfer from Evansville); Anthony Robinson, 6-foot-10 sophomore center (transfer from Virginia); Isaiah Walker, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from Belmont); All Wright, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard (transfer from Valparaiso); Jayden Forsythe, 6-foot-5 freshman guard.
New coach Richard Pitino has done a good job of filling out the roster, adding nine transfers already. The early concern here is that all are coming from the mid-major ranks, leaving questions as to how it’ll collectively work out.
