Big East Roster Reshuffle: The State of Every Team in the Conference

Returnees: Drayton Jones, 6-foot-10 senior forward; Jalen Jackson, 6-foot-2 senior guard

Incoming: Jordan Ellerbee, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (transfer from Florida Gulf Coast); Eduardo Klafke, 6-foot-5 junior guard (transfer from Ole Miss); Christian Moore, 6-foot-6 senior forward (transfer from The Citadel); Samis Calderon, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (transfer from Kansas); Treyseon Anderson, 6-foot-10 junior forward (transfer from North Dakota State); Herly Brutus, 6-foot-5 freshman forward; Baron Walker, 6-foot-1 freshman guard; Marko Maric, 7-foot freshman forward

Former player Ronald Nored takes over as head coach for the Bulldogs with the opportunity to get the program back into Big East contention. The issue with this group is the lack of proven high-major talent, with none of the mid-major transfers being prolific individual scorers. The one hope is that former Jayhawk Calderon breaks out in a similar fashion to Ajayi’s in 2025-26. 

Creighton

Departures: Josh Dix, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); Nik Graves, 6-foot-3 guard (out of eligibility); Blake Harper, 6-foot-5 sophomore forward (transferred to VCU); Fedor Zugic, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard; Owen Freeman, 6-foot-10 junior forward (transferred to Auburn); Kerem Konan, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward; Liam McChesney 6-foot-10 senior forward; Ty Davis, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard

Returnees: Jasen Green, 6-foot-8 senior forward; Austin Swartz, 6-foot-4 junior guard; Isaac Traudt, 6-foot-10 senior forward; Hudson Greer, 6-foot-7 sophomore guard; Jackson McAndrew, 6-foot-10 junior forward; Shane Thomas, 6-foot-4 senior guard

Incoming: BJ Davis, 6-foot-1 senior guard (transfer from San Diego State); Wes Enis, 6-foot-2 senior guard (transfer from South Florida); Kayden Edwards, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard (transfer from TCU); Oswin Erhunmwunse, 6-foot-10 junior center (transfer from Providence); Wesley Rosa, 7-foot-2 junior center (transfer from Dodge City JUCO College); Katrelle Harmon, 6-foot-3 freshman guard, Trevon Carter-Givens, 6-foot-11 freshman forward

Former High Point head coach Alan Huss takes over for Greg McDermott, benefiting from the return of several rotation wings and small forwards. Enis led South Florida in scoring last year (16.4 points per game) and is set up to be the lead guard, while the duo of Erhunmwunse and Rosa should give them a major defensive boost on the interior.

DePaul

Departures: CJ Gunn, 6-foot-6 senior guard (out of eligibility); NJ Benson, 6-foot-8 senior forward (out of eligibility); Brandon Maclin, 6-foot-5 senior guard (out of eligibility); RJ Smith, 6-foot-4 junior guard (transferred to UC Santa Barbara); Kaleb Banks, 6-foot-7 senior forward (out of eligibility); Ilija Milijasevic, 6-foot-2 junior guard; Khaman Maker, 7-foot-1 sophomore center (transferred to Marshall)

Returnees: Layden Blocker, 6-foot-2 senior guard; Kruz McClure, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard; Theo Pierre-Justin, 6-foot-10 junior forward; Fabian Flores, 7-foot-2 sophomore center; Amsal Delalic, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward

Incoming: Noah Meeusen, 6-foot-5 junior guard (transfer from Arizona State); Koree Cotton, 6-foot-6 senior guard (transfer from Texas-Rio Grande Valley; Ade Popoola, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from Tulsa); Kahmare Holmes, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transfer from Wofford); Magoon Gwath, 7-foot junior forward (transfer from San Diego State); Wilson Jacques, 7-foot sophomore center (transfer from Fresno State); Nolan Smith, 6-foot-8 freshman forward; Mason Lockett IV, 6-foot-4 freshman guard; Andrew Jensen, 6-foot-9 freshman forward

After a breakthrough Big East campaign (by their standards), the Blue Demons bring back Blocker as a lead guard, joined by athletic perimeter newcomers Cotton, Popoola and Holmes. The center position got an upgrade with the additions of Gwath and Jacques. The ceiling likely won’t be high, but the floor should be.

Georgetown

Departures: Malik Mack, 6-foot-1 junior guard (transferred to Providence); KJ Lewis, 6-foot-4 junior guard (transferred to USC); Julius Halaifonua, 7-foot sophomore center (transferred to Oklahoma State); Vincent Iwuchukwu, 7-foot-1 center (out of eligibility); Jeremiah Williams, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); Isaia Abraham, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward (transferred to Kansas State); Langston Love, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); Jayden Fort, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward (transferred to Charlotte); DeShawn Harris-Smith, 6-foot-5 junior guard (transferred to Delaware)

Returnees: Caleb Williams, 6-foot-7 junior forward; Kayvaun Mulready, 6-foot-4 junior guard; Seal Diouf, 6-foot-8 junior center

Incoming: Jaland Lowe, 6-foot-2 junior guard (transfer from Kentucky); Elmarko Jackson, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transfer from Kansas); Josiah Parker, 6-foot-7 sophomore guard (transfer from Florida Atlantic); Chol Machot, 7-foot junior forward (transfer from Charleston); Justin Caldwell, 6-foot-9 freshman forward; Athan Olivier, 6-foot-6 freshman guard

The Hoyas lost a ton of production this offseason and haven’t landed much to replace it. Lowe, who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury at Kentucky, is set up to be the lead guard. Machot was the CAA Defensive Player of the Year and has to be an elite interior defender, while Williams, the lone rotation returnee, has a chance to be a breakout performer in the frontcourt.

Marquette

Departures: Chase Ross, 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility); Ben Gold, 6-foot-11 forward (out of eligibility); Zaide Lowery, 6-foot-5 junior guard (transferred to Dayton; Tre Norman, 6-foot-4 junior guard (transferred to Milwaukee); Sean Jones, 5-foot-10 guard (out of eligibility); Sheek Pearson, 6-foot-11 freshman forward (transferred to Saint Louis)

Returnees: Nigel James, 6-foot sophomore guard; Royce Parham, 6-foot-8 junior forward; Adrien Stevens, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard; Damarius Owens, 6-foot-7 junior forward; Caedin Hamilton, 6-foot-9 junior forward; Michael Phillips, 6-foot-6 sophomore forward; Ian Miletic, 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman forward

Incoming: Nolan Minessale, 6-foot-5 junior guard (transfer from St. Thomas); Sananda Fru, 6-foot-11 senior forward (transfer from Louisville); Colton Crowdis, 6-foot-6 freshman guard; Ethan Johnson, 6-foot-6 freshman guard; Alex Egbuonu, 6-foot-6 freshman forward

After not landing a single transfer the prior two years, Marquette pulled a pair of key players from the portal. One was Minessale, who averaged around 20 points per game as a standout performer in the Summit League. The focus remains on the returning key players, led by James, a standout freshman (16.4 points per game) who’ll be a national breakout candidate. 

Providence

Departures: Jaylin Sellers, 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility); Stefan Vaaks, 6-foot-7 freshman guard (transferred to Illinois); Jason Edwards, 6-foot-1 guard (out of eligibility); Jamier Jones, 6-foot-6 freshman forward (transferred to Missouri); Oswin Erhunmwunse, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward (transferred to Creighton); Corey Floyd, 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility); Duncan Powell, 6-foot-8 senior forward (out of eligibility); Cole Hargrove, 6-foot-8 forward (out of eligibility), Jaylen Harwell, 6-foot-5 freshman guard (transferred to Washington State)

Returnees: Ryan Mela, 6-foot-6 junior forward

Incoming: Malik Mack, 6-foot-1 senior guard (transfer from Georgetown); Gavin Hightower, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard (transfer from South Florida); Miles Byrd, 6-foot-7 senior forward (transfer from San Diego State); Devin Vanterpool, 6-foot-4 junior guard (transfer from Florida Atlantic); Ryan Sabol, 6-foot-2 senior guard (transfer from Buffalo); Arrinten Page, 6-foot-11 senior forward (transfer from Northwestern); Samson Aletan, 6-foot-10 senior forward (transfer from Yale); Jacob Bannarbie, 6-foot-9 junior forward (transfer from UNLV); Dink Pate, 6-foot-8 forward (former G League player)

After winning the American Conference at South Florida, coach Bryan Hodgson takes over for the Friars. He landed several big names — Mack is a proven Big East starter, while Bryd was the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year at San Diego State. Pate, a former five-star prospect out of high school, comes from the G League as the ultimate X-factor. 

Seton Hall

Departures: Adam Clark, 5-foot-10 junior guard (transferred to Ole Miss); AJ Staton-McCray, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); TJ Simpkins, 6-foot-4 junior guard (transferred to Mississippi State); Mike Williams, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transferred to Tulsa); Elijah Fisher, 6-foot-6 guard (out of eligibility); Najai Hines, 6-foot-10 freshman center (transferred to UConn); Stephon Payne, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility); Josh Rivera, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility); Jacob Dar, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); Godswill Erheriene, 6-foot-9 sophomore center; Jahseem Felton, 6-foot-5 freshman guard

Returnees: Trey Parker, 6-foot-1 junior guard

Incoming: Roddie Anderson, 6-foot-2 senior guard (transfer from Xavier); Del Jones, 6-foot-2 junior guard (transfer from Radford); Simeon Wilcher, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Texas); Kareem Thomas, 6-foot-5 junior guard (transfer from Dartmouth); Rodney Brown, 6-foot-6 senior guard (transfer from LMU); Mayar Wol, 6-foot-8 junior forward (transfer from Bowling Green); Devin Williams, 6-foot-10 junior forward (transfer from Florida Atlantic); Christopher Nwuli, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (transfer from Rutgers); Adbulai Fanta Kabba, 7-foot junior center (transfer from Western Carolina); Darlen Moore, 6-foot-2 freshman guard

It’s another complete roster rebuild for Shaheen Holloway and the Pirates, with the loss of Hines a brutal blow for their interior. Anderson is a proven producer in the Big East and will likely start, while Brown and Wol provide much-needed three-point shooting after the team was one of the worst in that category last year. 

St. John’s

Departures: Zuby Ejiofor, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility); Bryce Hopkins, 6-foot-6 forward (out of eligibility); Oziyah Sellers, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); Dillon Mitchell, 6-foot-8 forward (out of eligibility); Dylan Darling, 6-foot-2 junior guard (transferred to Grand Canyon); Joson Sanon, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transferred to West Virginia); Sadiku Ibine Ayo, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); Handje Tamba, 6-foot-11 center (out of eligibility); Kelvin Odih, 6-foot-4 freshman guard 

Returnees: Ian Jackson, 6-foot-4 junior guard; Ruben Prey, 6-foot-10 junior forward; Lefteris Liotopoulos, 6-foot-5 junior guard; Fotis Konstantinidis, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard; Casper Photo, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard

Incoming: Avery Brown, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Columbia); Kyle Cuffe, 6-foot-2 senior guard (transfer from Mercer); Donnie Freeman, 6-foot-9 junior forward (transfer from Syracuse); Quinn Ellis, 6-foot-4 international freshman guard; Dordjie Jovanovic, 6-foot-7 freshman international forward; Babacar Sane, 6-foot-8 international freshman forward; Lazar Stojkovic, 6-foot-10 international freshman forward; Theo Edema, 6-foot-11 freshman center

No team in the Big East uses the international pipeline more than the Red Storm, with Ellis as their most notable newcomer and the projected starting point guard. Freeman is the most accomplished CBB player joining the team and could be the next frontcourt focal point, while Prey has the chance to be a breakout player after a good run in March.

UConn

Departures: Alex Karaban, 6-foot-8 forward (out of eligibility); Tarris Reed, 6-foot-10 center (out of eligibility); Eric Reibe, 7-foot-1 freshman center (transferred to USC); Malachi Smith, 6-foot guard (out of eligibility); Dwayne Koroma, 6-foot-8 forward (out of eligibility); Alex Millender, 6-foot-1 guard (out of eligibility); Jacob Furphy, 6-foot-6 freshman guard (transferred to Boston College); Uros Paunovic, 6-foot-3 junior guard

Returnees: Solomon Ball, 6-foot-3 redshirt junior; Braylon Mullins, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard; Silas Demary, 6-foot-5 senior guard; Jayden Ross, 6-foot-7 senior forward; Jacob Ross, 6-foot-5 redshirt freshman guard

Incoming: Jaye Nash, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transfer from Jacksonville State); Nils Machowski, 6-foot-3 senior guard (transfer from Wofford); Isaiah Shaw, 6-foot-7 senior guard (transfer from Northern Arizona); Nikolas Khamenia, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (transfer from Duke); Oskar Giltay, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward (transfer from Stanford); Najai Hines, 6-foot-10 sophomore center (transfer from Seton Hall); Junior County, 6-foot-4 freshman guard; Colben Landrew, 6-foot-6 freshman guard

While he’s returning, Ball is set to miss all of next season while recovering from a wrist injury. Mullins and Demary will be one of the top backcourts in the Big East, while Khamenia is the breakout newcomer to watch as a former five-star prospect. Hines comes over from Seton Hall to shore up the interior defense. 

Villanova

Departures: Bryce Lindsay, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transferred to Indiana); Acaden Lewis, 6-foot-2 freshman guard (transferred to Miami); Duke Brennan, 6-foot-10 center (out of eligibility); Devin Askew, 6-foot-3 guard (out of eligibility); Malachi Palmer, 6-foot-6 sophomore forward (transferred to Minnesota); Christian Jeffrey, 6-foot-3 freshman guard (transferred to Loyola Chicago); Braden Pierce, 7-foot sophomore center (transferred to Charleston); Tafara Gapare, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility); Zion Stanford, 6-foot-5 junior guard (transferred to Towson)

Returnees: Tyler Perkins, 6-foot-4 senior guard; Matthew Hodge, 6-foot-8 junior forward; Nico Onyekwere, 7-foot-1 redshirt freshman forward

Incoming: Daryl Simmons II, 5-foot-10 senior guard (transfer from St. Bonaventure); Elijah Crawford, 6-foot-2 junior guard (transfer from Illinois-Chicago); Jake Fiegen, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Cornell); Devin Royal, 6-foot-6 senior forward (transfer from Ohio State); Kwame Evans Jr., 6-foot-9 senior forward (transfer from Oregon); Adam Oumiddoch, 6-foot-4 freshman guard

Leading scorer Perkins (13.7 points per game) returns for the Wildcats, joined by several notable players. Both Evans and Royal were All-Big Ten-caliber players at their previous stops, while both Simmons and Fiegen are quality shooters from the mid-major level. Frontcourt depth looks to be the only real weakness left of a roster suited to make another run in the Big East.

Xavier

Departures: Tre Carroll, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); Malik Moore, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); Roddie Anderson, 6-foot-2 senior guard (transferred to Seton Hall); Filip Borovicanin, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility); All Wright, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard (transferred to LMU); Isaiah Walker, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); Anthony Robinson, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward; Pape N’Diaye, 7-foot sophomore forward (transferred to Kansas State);

Returnees: Jovan Milicevic, 6-foot-10 junior forward; Kason Westphal, 7-foot redshirt center; Gabriel Pazzato, 6-foot-7 redshirt sophomore forward

Incoming: Tru Washington, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Miami); Chance Westry, 6-foot-6 senior guard (transfer from UAB); Braden Appelhans, 6-foot-7 senior guard (transfer from Drake); Ruben Dominguez, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard (transfer from Texas A&M); Nikolaos Chitikoudis, 6-foot-6 senior forward (transfer from Robert Morris); Rolyns Aligbe, 6-foot-9 junior forward (transfer from Southern Illinois); Michael Nwoko, 6-foot-10 senior center (transfer from LSU); Kalek House, 6-foot-3 freshman guard; Asher Elson, 6-foot-10 freshman forward

The Musketeers were arguably the busiest among the Big East teams to open the offseason, landing several high-major starters in the first few weeks. Washington and Dominguez give them perimeter shooting, while Nwoko and Chitikoudis are capable interior rebounders. Westry, who has dealt with various injuries throughout his college career, comes over after averaging 15.5 points and 5.5 assists per game in the American.