​The 2025-26 season recap shows a strong campaign, finishing with a 34-6 overall record and a 17-3 mark in Big East play. The team secured second place in the Big East standings and fell to St. John’s in the Big East Tournament Finals. In the NCAA Championship, the squad was defeated by Michigan. Head coach Dan Hurley returns for his ninth season guiding the program.
Departures were considerable, led by Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban, who left after graduation with 14.7 PPG and 13.2 PPG, respectively. Other losses included Eric Reibe to USC (5.9 PPG), Jaylin Stewart to SMU (4.2 PPG), Malachi Smith (3.6 PPG) in graduation, and Dwayne Koroma (1.4 PPG), Alec Millender (0.6 PPG), Jacob Furphy (0.4 PPG) to Boston College, Uros Paunovic entering the Transfer Portal (0.1 PPG), and Rrezon Elezaj who joined Appalachian State (0 PPG in four games).
Key returnees provide a solid core. Solo Ball, a 6’4” senior, averaged 12.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, though he was expected to miss the season after left wrist surgery, a status that could change with the “5 in 5” ruling. Silas Demary Jr. returns as a 6’4” senior who posted 10.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Jayden Ross is back as a 6’7” senior who contributed 4.6 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, shooting 39.1% from three. Jacob Ross returns as a 6’5” sophomore who did not appear in a game, while Braylon Mullins, a 6’6” sophomore, had a solid 12 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Newcomers for the season include Junior County, a 6’5” freshman four-star recruit ranked 43rd overall by 247Sports. Colben Landrew is a 6’6” freshman four-star recruit ranked 25th overall by 247Sports. Nik Khamenia arrives as a 6’8” sophomore transfer from Duke, bringing 5.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game with 34% shooting from three; the former five-star recruit via 247Sports (15th overall) adds experience. Jaye Nash joins as a 6’3” junior transfer from Jacksonville State, averaging 5.1 points and 4.0 assists per game. Na’jai Hines comes in as a 6’10” sophomore transfer from Seton Hall, posting 6.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. Isaiah Shaw transfers in as a 6’8” redshirt senior from Northern Arizona, averaging 8.1 points and 2.1 rebounds while shooting 46.4% from three. Nils Machowski is a 6’3” senior transfer from Wofford, delivering a 17.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game line and shooting 38.2% from deep. Oskar Giltay, a 6’10” sophomore transfer from Stanford, contributed 3.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 14.6 minutes per game. Elmir Dzafic is a 7’ sophomore transfer from Arkansas who appeared in seven games and scored three points; he is a 20-year-old from Bosnia. Egor Amosov, a 6’7” freshman from Samara, Russia, joined after starring for Real Madrid’s Spanish Liga U, where he earned Player of the Year honors, and posted 14.6 points, 6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.5 steals over 30 games.
Overall thoughts emphasize the challenge of replacing Reed Jr. and Karaban, while highlighting the impact of reloading with Demary Jr. and Mullins returning to the starting lineup. Ball’s presence is noted as a potential enhancement for search engine optimization and broader recognition. The season’s arc reflects a high-performing team that still faced the tough task of sustaining elite-level production after significant graduations, with a mix of seasoned returners and a robust group of new talent expected to elevate the program into another competitive run in the Big East and beyond.