Big Ten Roster Reshuffle Part 1: The Current State of Every Team’s Lineup

Illinois

Departures: Keaton Wagler, 6-foot-6 freshman guard (NBA Draft); Kylan Boswell, 6-foot-2 senior guard (out of eligibility); Ben Humrichous, 6-foot-9 senior forward (out of eligibility); Brandon Lee, 6-foot-4 freshman guard (transferred to James Madison); Ty Rodgers, 6-foot-6 junior guard (transferred to Boise State); Mihailo Petrovic, 6-foot-3 freshman guard (in portal); Toni Bilic, 6-foot-8 freshman forward (in portal)

Returnees: Andrej Stojakovic, 6-foot-7 senior guard; David Mirkovic, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward; Tomislav Ivisic, 7-foot-1 senior center; Zvonimir Ivisic, 7-foot-2 senior center; Jake Davis, 6-foot-6 senior forward; Jason Jakstys, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward; Blake Fagbemi, 6-foot sophomore guard

Incoming: Stefan Vaaks, 6-foot-7 sophomore guard (transfer from Providence); Quentin Coleman, 6-foot-4 freshman guard; Lucas Morillo, 6-foot-7 freshman guard; Landon Davis, 6-foot-9 freshman forward; Ethan Brown, 6-foot-4 freshman guard; Zavier Zens, 6-foot-7 freshman forward

Fresh off a second-place finish in the Big Ten and an inspiring run to the Final Four, Brad Underwood has another national title contender on his hands. Illinois re-signed five key contributors from last year’s team, including two potential conference Player of the Year candidates in Mirkovic and Stojakovic. To replace All-American Keaton Wagler, the program landed highly coveted wing Stefan Vaaks, who came in at No. 16 in Hoops HQ’s ranking of the top transfers. A sharpshooter originally from Estonia, Vaaks averaged 15.8 points and led the entire Big East in three-pointers (91) as a freshman. He should fit in perfectly in Underwood’s system and thrive alongside the many weapons already on this roster.

Indiana 

Departures: Tucker DeVries, 6-foot-7 senior forward (out of eligibility); Lamar Wilkerson, 6-foot-6 senior guard (out of eligibility); Sam Alexis, 6-foot-9 senior forward (out of eligibility); Conor Enright, 6-foot-1 senior guard (out of eligibility); Reed Bailey, 6-foot-10 senior forward (out of eligibility); Josh Harris, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (transferred to FAU); Nick Dorn, 6-foot-7 junior guard (transferred to Miami); Jasai Miles, 6-foot-6 junior guard (transferred to LMU); Aleksa Ristic, 6-foot-3 freshman guard (transferred to Belmont); Jason Drake, 6-foot-1 junior guard (transferred to Temple); Andrej Acimovic, 6-foot-10 freshman center (transferred to Missouri State); Tayton Conerway, 6-foot-3 senior guard (in portal)

Returnees: Trent Sisley, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward

Incoming: Markus Burton, 6-foot senior guard (transfer from Notre Dame); Bryce Lindsay, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transfer from Villanova); Aiden Sherrell, 6-foot-10 junior forward (transfer from Alabama); Samet Yigitoglu, 7-foot-2 junior center (transfer from SMU); Jaeden Mustaf, 6-foot-6 junior guard (transfer from Georgia Tech); Darren Harris, 6-foot-5 junior guard (transfer from Duke); Justin Monden, 6-foot senior guard (transfer from Maryland Eastern Shore); Vaughn Karvala, 6-foot-6 freshman forward; Trevor Manhertz, 6-foot-8 freshman forward; Prince-Alexander Moody, 6-foot-4 freshman guard; Clemens Sokolov, 7-foot freshman center (Germany)

Indiana will look completely different in Year Two of the Darian DeVries era, but there’s no disputing the level of talent on this roster. DeVries put together arguably the nation’s top transfer class, highlighted by an elite scorer in Burton (19.1 points per game for his career), a sharpshooter in Lindsay (second in the Big East in three-pointers per game in one season at Villanova) and two imposing bigs in Sherrell and Yigitoglu. Mustaf and Harris bring versatility and high-major experience, while the freshman class — ranked No. 21 in the country by 247Sports — has solid upside. Assuming the pieces fit, the 2026-27 Hoosiers should compete for the Big Ten crown and get the program back to the NCAA Tournament.

Iowa 

Departures: Bennett Stirtz, 6-foot-4 senior guard (NBA Draft/out of eligibility); Brendan Hausen, 6-foot-4 senior guard (out of eligibility); Alvaro Folgueiras, 6-foot-10 junior forward (transferred to Louisville)

Returnees: Cooper Koch, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward; Kael Combs, 6-foot-4 senior guard; Cam Manyawu, 6-foot-9 senior forward; Tate Sage, 6-foot-7 sophomore guard; Isaia Howard, 6-foot-5 junior guard; Trevin Jirak, 6-foot-11 sophomore center; Joey Matteoni, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward; Peyton McCollum, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard; Trey Thompson, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward

Incoming: Ty’Reek Coleman, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard (transfer from Illinois State); Andrew McKeever, 7-foot-2 junior center (transfer from Saint Mary’s); Ethan Harris, 6-foot-9 freshman forward; Jaidyn Coon, 6-foot-6 freshman forward

Pending: Tavion Banks, 6-foot-7 senior guard (awaiting NCAA eligibility decision)

Losing All-Big Ten guard Bennett Stirtz is obviously a major blow, but Ben McCollum did an excellent job with retention. Iowa is bringing back five key players from a team that advanced to the Elite Eight, including three starters (Coch, Combs and Manyawu). Both of the program’s transfers should assume prominent roles right away. Coleman, who averaged 10 points and knocked down 41.6 percent of his threes last season, provides a much-needed offensive boost with Stirtz gone. The towering McKeever — the tallest player in Iowa men’s basketball history — addresses the team’s biggest weakness from 2025-26: rebounding. As a redshirt sophomore at Saint Mary’s, he led the WCC in boards per game (9.2). McCollum has reached the NCAA Tournament in each of his first two seasons at the Division I level. That trend is likely to continue in 2026-27.

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Maryland 

Departures: David Coit, 5-foot-11 senior guard (out of eligibility); Solomon Washington, 6-foot-7 senior forward (out of eligibility); Elijah Saunders, 6-foot-8 senior forward (out of eligibility); Collin Metcalf, 6-foot-9 senior center (out of eligibility); Darius Adams, 6-foot-5 freshman guard (transferred to NC State); Isaiah Watts, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transferred to UTSA); Aleks Alston, 6-foot-10 freshman forward (transferred to UAB); Jaziah Harper, 6-foot-7 freshman guard (transferred to North Dakota State); Myles Rice, 6-foot-3 junior guard (in portal)

Returnees: Pharrel Payne, 6-foot-9 senior forward; Andre Mills, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard; Rakease Passmore, 6-foot-5 junior guard; Guillermo Del Pino, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard; George Turkson Jr., 6-foot-7 sophomore guard

Incoming: D.J. Wagner, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Arkansas); Bishop Boswell, 6-foot-4 junior guard (transfer from Tennessee); Michael McNair, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from Boston University); Tomislav Buljan, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward (transfer from New Mexico); Maban Jabriel, 6-foot-9 junior forward (transfer from Queens); Robert Jennings II, 6-foot-7 senior forward (transfer from Oklahoma State); Babatunde Oladotun, 6-foot-10 freshman forward; Kaden House, 6-foot-3 freshman guard; Adama Tambedou, 6-foot-7 freshman forward; Austin Brown, 6-foot-8 freshman forward 

When Buzz Williams arrived in College Park in April 2025, he was left scrambling to assemble his debut team. The results were incredibly disappointing: Maryland went 12-21 — its lowest win percentage since 1989 — and finished 17th in the Big Ten. With adequate time to prepare for this offseason, Williams has constructed a roster that should turn things around in a major way. In addition to re-signing starters Payne and Mills, the Terps landed a dynamic floor general in Wagner, gifted scorer in McNair, versatile two-way wing in Boswell and double-double machine in Buljan (Hoops HQ’s No. 35-ranked transfer). Oladotun, whose combination of size and skill has earned him comparisons to Kevin Durant, was the No. 1 player in the Class of 2027 before reclassifying and committing to UMD. That core should have the program back in the mix for an NCAA Tournament bid. 

Michigan 

Departures: Yaxel Lendeborg, 6-foot-9 senior forward (NBA Draft/out of eligibility); Morez Johnson Jr., 6-foot-9 sophomore forward (NBA Draft); Aday Mara, 7-foot-3 junior center (NBA Draft); Nimari Burnett, 6-foot-5 senior guard (out of eligibility); Roddy Gayle Jr., 6-foot-5 senior guard (out of eligibility); Will Tschetter, 6-foot-8 senior forward (out of eligibility); Winters Grady, 6-foot-6 freshman guard (transferred to Minnesota); Malick Kordel, 7-foot-2 freshman center (transferred to Minnesota)

Returnees: Elliot Cadeau, 6-foot-1 senior guard; Trey McKenney, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard; L.J. Cason, 6-foot-2 junior guard; Oscar Goodman, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward; Ricky Liburd, 6-foot-4 freshman guard

Incoming: Moustapha Thiam, 7-foot-2 junior center (transfer from Cincinnati); J.P. Estrella, 6-foot-11 junior forward (transfer from Tennessee); Jalen Reed, 6-foot-10 senior forward (transfer from LSU); Brandon McCoy, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Quinn Costello, 6-foot-10 freshman forward; Lincoln Cosby, 6-foot-8 freshman forward; Joseph Hartman, 6-foot-6 freshman guard; Malachi Brown, 6-foot-5 freshman forward; Marcus Moller, 7-foot-3 freshman center (Denmark)

Lendeborg, Johnson and Mara — Michigan’s “Big Three” from its championship campaign —are all off to the NBA, but Dusty May built another stellar frontcourt via the portal to combine with a strong trio of returning guards: Cadeau (the 2025 Final Four Most Outstanding Player), McKenney and Cason. Thiam landed at No. 26 in Hoops HQ’s ranking of the top transfers after averaging 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks as a sophomore at Cincinnati. He’ll be flanked by highly skilled forward Estrella and potential X-factor Reed, who missed a bulk of the last two seasons due to injuries. Expect two-way star Brandon McCoy, the No. 10 recruit in the Class of 2026 (per the 247Sports Composite), to contribute from Day One. Michigan should open its title defense ranked in the top five and as the favorite to win the Big Ten once again. 

Michigan State

Departures: Jaxon Kohler, 6-foot-9 senior forward (out of eligibility); Carson Cooper, 6-foot-11 senior center (out of eligibility); Trey Fort, 6-foot-4 senior guard (out of eligibility); Denham Wojcik, 6-foot-2 senior guard (out of eligibility); Divine Ugochukwu, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard (transferred to LSU)

Returnees: Jeremy Fears Jr., 6-foot-2 junior guard; Coen Carr, 6-foot-6 senior forward; Kur Teng, 6-foot-4 junior guard; Cam Ward, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward; Jordan Scott, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward, Jesse McCulloch, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward; Kaleb Glenn, 6-foot-7 senior forward

Incoming: Anton Bonke, 7-foot-2 senior center (transfer from Charlotte); Ethan Taylor, 7-foot freshman center; Jasiah Jervis, 6-foot-4 freshman guard; Carlos Medlock Jr., 5-foot-11 freshman guard; Julius Avent, 6-foot-7 freshman forward

It was a typical offseason in East Lansing, as Tom Izzo re-signed most of his players with eligibility remaining and used the portal to plug the one major hole on his roster. Fears, who withdrew from the NBA Draft in May, could be the preseason National Player of the Year. Carr, Teng, Ward and Scott all played important roles last season and are ready to shoulder more responsibilities. With Kohler and Cooper graduating, the Spartans needed frontcourt reinforcements. They added two promising seven-footers in Anton Bonke, who averaged 10.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in one year at Charlotte, and top-30 recruit Ethan Taylor. Still, it’s the team’s continuity and incredible floor general that should make it a legitimate Final Four contender. 

Minnesota 

Departures: Cade Tyson, 6-foot-7 senior guard (out of eligibility); Langston Reynolds, 6-foot-4 senior guard (out of eligibility); Maximus Gizzi, 6-foot-1 senior guard (out of eligibility); Robert Vaihola, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transferred to San Jose State); Chansey Willis Jr., 6-foot-2 junior guard (transferred to Kent State); BJ Omot, 6-foot-8 junior forward (transferred to Cal State Northridge); Nehemiah Turner, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward (transferred to Jacksonville); Chance Stephens, 6-foot-3 junior guard (in portal)

Returnees: Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, 6-foot-8 senior forward; Isaac Asuma, 6-foot-3 junior guard; Bobby Durkin, 6-foot-7 senior forward; Grayson Grove, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward; Kai Shinholster, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard

Incoming: Kyan Evans, 6-foot-2 senior guard (transfer from North Carolina); Malachi Palmer, 6-foot-6 junior guard (transfer from Villanova); Winters Grady, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard (transfer from Michigan); Malick Kordel, 7-foot-2 sophomore center (transfer from Michigan); Nolan Groves, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transfer from Texas Tech); Chadrack Mpoyi, 6-foot-10 freshman center; Nolen Anderson, 6-foot-6 freshman forward; Cedric Tomes, 6-foot freshman guard

Minnesota is returning three starters (Crocker-Johnson, Asuma and Durkin) from Niko Medved’s first team, which went 15-18 and finished 11th in the Big Ten. That core will be joined by five transfers, all of whom come over from prominent high-majors. Of the newcomers, only Evans — a former standout for Medved at Colorado State — and Palmer played significant minutes in 2025-26, and both averaged fewer than five points per game. Rising sophomores Grady, Kordel and Groves have yet to establish themselves. There is definite upside on this roster, but it also has a lot of unknowns and question marks. 

Nebraska 

Departures: Rienk Mast, 6-foot-10 senior forward (out of eligibility); Jamarques Lawrence, 6-foot-3 senior guard (out of eligibility); Sam Hoiberg, 6-foot senior guard (out of eligibility); Jared Garcia, 6-foot-8 senior forward (out of eligibility); Kendall Blue, 6-foot-6 senior guard (out of eligibility); Ugnius Jarusevicius, 6-foot-11 senior forward (transferred to Arizona); Berke Buyuktuncel, 6-foot-10 junior forward (transferred to Vanderbilt); Quentin Rhymes, 6-foot-6 freshman guard (transferred to Fresno State)

Returnees: Pryce Sandfort, 6-foot-7 senior forward; Braden Frager, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward; Connor Essegian, 6-foot-4 senior guard; Cale Jacobsen, 6-foot-4 senior guard; Leo Curtis, 7-foot-1 sophomore forward; Will Cooper, 6-foot-6 junior forward

Incoming: Damon Wilkinson, 6-foot-10 junior center (transfer from South Dakota State); Sam Orme, 6-foot-9 junior forward (transfer from Belmont); Trevan Leonhardt, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Utah Valley); Boden Kapke, 6-foot-11 senior forward (transfer from Boston College); Taj DeGourville, 6-foot-5 junior guard (transfer from San Diego State); Kadyn Betts, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from Montana); Colin Rice, 6-foot-7 freshman forward; Jacob Lanier, 6-foot-5 freshman guard

After a magical 2025-26 campaign that featured the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win, Nebraska is positioned to keep it rolling. The headliners of the 2026-27 roster are returnees Pryce Sandfort, an All-Big Ten selection, and reigning Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year Braden Frager. But Fred Hoiberg also pieced together an underrated transfer class that includes multiple mid-major stars and Kapke, who started at BU last season and averaged 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds. Leonhardt is an exceptional floor general who ranked in the top 25 nationally in both assists and steals per game; Orme, a floor-spacing big, earned All-MVC Second Team honors; and Wilkinson was among the Summit League leaders in field goal percentage (second), rebounding (fourth) and blocks (sixth). 

Northwestern

Departures: Nick Martinelli, 6-foot-7 senior forward (out of eligibility); Justin Mullins, 6-foot-6 senior guard (out of eligibility); Gus Hurlburt, 6-foot-9 junior forward (out of eligibility); Arrinten Page, 6-foot-11 junior forward (transferred to Providence); Jayden Reid, 5-foot-10 junior guard (transferred to Memphis); Tre Singleton, 6-foot-8 freshman forward (transferred to Iowa State); Max Green, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard (transferred to Charleston); Jordan Clayton, 6-foot-2 junior guard (transferred to UMass); K.J. Windham, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard (transferred to James Madison); Tyler Kropp, 6-foot-9 freshman forward (transferred to Washington State); Cade Bennerman, 7-foot freshman forward (transferred to North Carolina); Blake Smith, 6-foot-6 senior guard (transferred to Oral Roberts)

Returnees: Angelo Ciaravino, 6-foot-6 junior guard; Jake West, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard; Phoenix Gill, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard

Incoming: Aleksej Kostic, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (transfer from BYU); Jack Karasinski, 6-foot-7 senior forward (transfer from Bellarmine); LA Pratt, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from Northeastern); Colin Smith, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from UC Santa Barbara); Luke McEldon, 6-foot-10 senior forward (transfer from Mount St. Mary’s); Okku Federiko, 6-foot-9 junior forward (transfer from Drake); Ryan Soulis, 6-foot-10 junior forward (transfer from Columbia); Jayden Hodge, 6-foot-6 freshman forward; Symon Ghai, 7-foot-3 freshman center

The departure of program stalwart Nick Martinelli is especially painful considering the Wildcats also lost a whopping eight players to the portal, including their second-, third- and fourth-leading scorers (Page, Reid and Singleton). With an entire roster to fill, Chris Collins signed seven transfers, six of whom are making the leap from the mid-major level. There are some intriguing names in the mix, including All-A-Sun First Teamer Jack Karasinski (21.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game), physical big man Luke McEldon (11.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game) and former overseas pro Aleksej Kostic. But given the team’s intense turnover, it’s hard to imagine Northwestern battling out of the Big Ten’s basement in 2026-27.