SoCon Summer Series 2026: Ryan Ridder Has Upgraded Mercer's Basketball Program and the Standard of Expectation

 

Mercer head coach Ryan Ridder Instructs Connor Serven in 2025-26 Season

Mercer (19-13, 11-7 SoCon/t-2ND)

Mercer would see a huge improvement in year two under Ryan Ridder, as the Bears improved by five wins and went from Ridder's first season in charge and went from the play-in round of the Southern Conference Tournament to playing in the quarterfinal round of the tournament. 

Unfortunately, for the second-straight year, the Bears would see their season end on quarterfinal Saturday, as the Bears lost a heartbreaker to No. 5 seeded Western Carolina in the quarterfinals of the tournament again this season.

Though the Bears were the No. 4 seed, they finished in a three-way tie for second-place in the SoCon standings. The Bears were outstanding at Hawkins Arena in 2025-26, making it easily the toughest venue in the Southern Conference last season, as the Bears finished 14-1 on their home floor last season.

The Bears featured one of the top inside-outside duos in the SoCon last season, with Baraka Okojie running the point guard position, while Armani Mighty was one of the league's most dominant big men, but both parlayed last season's all-conference success into big money in the transfer portal.

Okojie ranked second in the league in scoring, averaging 19.7 PPG and led the league in assists (5.3 APG), while Mighty was a second-team all-league selection and was the SoCon Co-Defensive Player of the Year following a campaign, which saw him lead the league in blocks with 54 swats last season.

The Bears were improved in nearly every area last season, finishing the season with the league's top overall offense in league games according to KenPom (120.2), while ranking second overall for the season behind only East Tennessee State in offensive efficiency (111.9).

As far as the defense was concerned, there was a pretty significant improvement thanks to Mighty. The Bears went from seventh in conference-only defense in 2024-25 (105.9) to fourth this past season (112.0). The Bears also finished fourth overall in total defensive efficiency (113.8).

The Bears have had two very different point guards in Ridder's two year at Mercer, with both putting up numbers and among the league's leading offensive threats, however, I would argue that last year's version--Baraka Okojie--was much better than the version point guard the Bears had two years ago--Ahmad Robinson.

The Bears have just three players remaining off last year's roster, and not only that, Ridder was also forced to replace four assistants during the off-season, as it was a busy off-season for Ridder heading into his third season at the helm.

Only Woody Taylor (Associate Head Coach) and Langston Hall return from last season's staff. New the Mercer staff this season are former Wofford assistant Tysor Anderson and Nashad Mackey are the two main additions to the coaching staff.

One thing is for sure, Mercer is here to stay as one of the top teams in the league, and with one of the best portal hauls in the league, the Bears should once again remain among a handful of teams that could end up winning the league in 2026-27.

PG Quinton Perkins II

Portal Losses/Portal Adds and Returners

There is only a trio of players back off last year's roster, but two of the three players that return were significant pieces to the puzzle last season, which helped the Bears go from 14 wins in 2024-25 to 19 wins a year ago.

It all starts with guard Quinton Perkins II, who is the second-leading returning scorer from a year ago, averaging 8.9 PPG to go along with 1.6 RPG, as well as starting 16 of the 28 games he played in last season for the Bears. 

Perkins II also turned out to be a reliable in a starting role for the Bears, as he logged 16 starts in the 28 games he saw action in last season for Mercer. He was among the team's best options as a perimeter threat last season, finishing the campaign with an impressive 40.8% (51-of-125) from three-point land last season. 

Perkins finished out the season with some strong performances, highlighted by 10 games in which he posted double-figure scoring performances, posting 20 in a non-conference win at Eastern Kentucky, while putting together his best performance of the season in a late-season, 89-86, home win over Samford, as he posted 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field, which included a season-high match four three-pointers, as he went 4-for-5 from downtown. 

Perkins II could be in line to start at the point this coming season for Ridder's club and will be a significant piece to the backcourt puzzle. Perkins' best scoring performances came early in non-conference play, as he put together a big opening month to the season, highlighted by four-straight double-figure scoring performances, highlighted by that 20-point effort at EKU. In fact, Perkins II posted double-figure scoring efforts in six of the first eight games for the Bears and then had only three the rest of the season. 

Junior Forward Brady Shoulders

Brady Shoulders is Mercer's leading returning scorer and is a player that is the unquestioned leader of Ridder's team heading into the 2026-27 season. In an era when loyalty is a dime a dozen, Shoulders is one of the last remaining true real ones when it comes to staying the course instead of chasing the next greatest situation.

The 6-6 rising junior guard has stuck with Ridder every step of the way, having followed his head coach from UT-Martin to Macon when he took the Mercer job some three years ago. He's not once flirted with the transfer portal, and he's seen the fruits of that strong commitment to his head coach, as Shoulders has become arguably the most important piece Ridder has had to build around in each of his two previous seasons as the head coach.

Shoulders has started 53 times in 62 games he's logged action in over his two seasons in Macon, and he's been Mercer's unquestioned "glue guy" and he seemingly gave the Bears what they needed every night he stepped on the floor in the 2025-26 season. Shoulders is the type of player that likes games in which it's a defensive struggle and when his team has needed a big shot or rebound over the past two seasons, it's more often than not been Shoulders that has provided that key winning play or statistic.

In the 2025-26 season, the native of Eddyville, KY, finished the season averaging 9.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG and 1.7 APG, posting double-figure scoring performances in 14 games last season, which was highlighted by a season and career-high 21 points in a 77-71 league loss at East Tennessee State early on in SoCon play.

In that loss to ETSU, Shoulders also added eight rebounds and he connected on 7-of-11 shots from the field, which included a 4-for-6 effort from three-point range against what was the league's top defensive team a year ago. Shoulders also added 20 points and six boards in 36 minutes in a road win at VMI. 

He turned in one of his most complete performances of the season in a mid-February clash against eventual SoCon Tournament champion Furman,  helping lead the Bears to a key 69-64 home win at Hawkins Arena. In that contest, Shoulders posted a double-double with 14 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. 

It ended up being the third of his three double-doubles over the course of the 2025-26 season, but it was a key steal and layup to get the Bears to within four (45-41), fueling a stretch for the Bears. After Furman missed a game-tying three late, it was a pair of Shoulders free throws that helped seal the five-point win for Mercer.

All told, Shoulders finished his sophomore campaign connecting on 43.7% (94-of-215) from the field for the season, while connecting on 33.3% (26-of-78) from three-point land, while connecting on 70.4% (57-of-81) from the free throw line. Shoulders was also one of the team's best defensive performers, leading the club with 49 steals and posted a total of eight blocks last season. 

The one other returning player of last season's roster is a player that didn't factor in at all last season, but could play a role this season, in forward Petras Padegimas, who hasn't played since transferring in from Dayton following the 2023-24 season. After redshirting his first season in Macon, Padegimas spent last season recovering from an injury.  He could be a factor in the front court rotation this season.

Now for the fun part, which is the pieces that Ridder has added around players like Perkins II and Shoulders, as he has quickly assembled a pair of teams in his previous two seasons as head coach, which have offensively been among the most efficient in the SoCon. 

The Bears have been among the most efficient offenses in the SoCon in each of Ridder's first two seasons, and the Bears have led the league in overall possessions per game each of the past two. His 2025-26 Mercer team led the SoCon in scoring average this past season, as the Bears posted 82.7 PPG. 

The key for Mercer and whether or not they can sustain the success of that 19-win team of a year ago likely won't be on the offensive end, but rather how quickly the players that Ridder has brought in from the transfer portal assimilate into the fold as a cohesive defensive unit. After having a team that did little in the way of defending in Ridder's first season back in 2024-25, there was steady improvement that was notable last season.

One of the reasons for that overall defensive improvement last season was the addition of a dominant big man, in Armani Mighty. Mighty, of course, went on to garner SoCon co-Defensive Player of the Year honors last season. 

With Mighty now having moved on to ACC member Pittsburgh, the player Ridder hopes will step into a Mighty-type role in the paint is 6-11 Makoi Mabor Makoi, who transferred in from UNC Wilmington during the off-season.  Ridder is excited about the prospects for having such a player

Makoi will have two seasons of eligibility remaining and was very much a developmental project in his first two seasons with the Seahawks, but now could be ready for a breakout type campaign with a fresh start in two years under his belt, following a similar tract to that of his predecessor Mighty. 

In Makoi's two seasons at UNCW, he averaged just 1.6 PPG and 2.4 RPG, but at 6-11 and athletic, he could be a force as a rim protector in the SoCon. With his tremendous athleticism and size, the product of Rumbek, South Sudan by way of Gastonia, N.C. and Gaston Christian could equate well in a mid-major league like the SoCon. If Ridder and staff got this one right, it could instantly give Mercer one of the top frontcourts in the league once again this season. 

Makoi is one of 12 newcomers to join the Mercer roster from either the transfer portal or as a freshman. In fact, Ridder has assembled a team with nine players out of the transfer portal and three freshmen as a part of his latest signing class.

Set to join Makoi as one of those potential impact players in front court from the transfer portal is another player with international roots, as Dimitrije Kovacevic joins the Bears roster from Wake Forest. The 6-8 redshirt freshman from Bosnia-Herzegovina will have four years of eligibility remaining, and possesses a high level of skill, with an excellent basketball IQ. 

During his prep career, Kovacevic played for KK Real Beograd U19 and led his team in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.3 PPG and 7.6 RPG. He posted a field goal percentage of 60%, while shooting just over 32% from three-point land. Like Makoi, Ridder and staff are taking a bit of a chance on Kovacevic, but more often than not, international guys have a good enough background prior to their arrival in the states that it should equate well to this level, especially in a league like the SoCon. 

Also, in most instances with guys like Kovacevic, it's more that the previous program they were apart of--Wake Forest in this case--over-recruited his position, which instead of waiting for that opportunity to come about in this ever-changing escalator of the transfer portal from season-to-season, it made more sense to transfer down to a mid-major for a player like Kovacevic in order to compete for a starting position and significant playing time at a place like Mercer rather than wait around at a big program like Wake Forest. 

Maine transfer forward Keelan Steele

The third significant addition to the front court from the transfer portal is redshirt junior Keelan Steele out of the University of Maine. The 6-10, 230-lb native of Alton, Ontario is coming off his best season so far of his three with the Black Bears and looks to have a bright future ahead now with just the Bears in Macon. 

During his redshirt sophomore season, Steele was a significant contributor in the front court rotation for a Maine program that struggled, stumbling to just an 8-24 overall mark. Steele started 23 of the 24 games he logged action in a year ago for Maine, and he finished the season averaging 8.1 PPG and 4.9 RPG. All told, Steele ended up starting 55 of the 60 games he was a part of with the Black Bears' program. 

He will have a chance to garner a starting spot right away in Macon, and could add some significant rim protection, as he blocked a total of 43 shots in 60 total games over the course of three seasons in Orono, including having swatted away 42 of those in each of the past two campaigns. He averaged a career-best 20.5 minutes-per-game this past season at Maine, posting an outstanding 60.5% field goal percentage (75-of-124). 

Steele spent his first season as a Black Bear working through an injury that cost him his true freshman season. Two other areas that stand out for Steele in his most recent season of college basketball is his ability as a passer, contributing 21 assists, while finishing the 2025-26 season with 19 steals.

Mercer's final front court commitment from the portal comes via the JUCO route--a route which Ridder knows especially well--as 6-8 Sawyer Mayhugh is one of three to join the Bears roster from the JUCO ranks, and he comes from a familiar place, as Mayhugh becomes the third Ridder commitment to sign to play for the Bears out of Indian Hills CC in Davenport, IA. You can officially call it a pipeline. 

With Quinton Perkins II already having been a huge success to come out of that institution, as well as countless others that have played their basketball in the Southern Conference, like former Chattanooga standout Johnny Taylor in the mid-late 1990s, you always know what type of player you're getting when they come out of a basketball factory like Indian Hills CC.

Mayhugh is yet another big man that will give the Bears even more size, as there was a huge emphasis on that in this latest recruiting haul from the transfer portal. The 6-9, 225-lb redshirt junior will have three seasons of eligibility remaining at Mercer.  He comes off his final season at Indian Hills CC after averaging 8.7 PPG and sported a 50.3% shooting percentage from the field last season, appearing in 27 contests and making nine starts. 

He ended the 2025-26 season as a NJCAA Honorable Mention honoree, posting his top performance of the season in helping Indian Hills to a 93-73 win over Dodge City by posting a season-high 25 points. The Weston, MA., product also posted 4.6 rebounds-per-game last season. Mayhugh has a chance to be an impact player this season in the rotation with his size and notable efficiency underneath. 

The first of the backcourt additions from the portal is also from Indian Hills CC, in 6-3 junior guard KJ LaMonte. LaMonte is an athletic combo guard that will fill a role similar to that of Zaire Williams, who transferred in for his final year of eligibility prior to the 2025-26 season out of Radford. 

LaMonte was an outstanding combo guard in his two seasons at Indian Hills, garnering second-team NJCAA All-America honors in 2025-26 and was the ICCAC Player of the Year. He appeared in all 31 games last season, including seven starts, averaging 11.7 PPG and shooting 50.7% from the field and led the ICCAC in free throw percentage, connecting at an impressive 85% from the charity stripe on the season. 

He finished the season with 21 double-figure scoring performances, posting a season-high 19 points on two occasions. He rounded out his complete game and stat line, averaging 3.1 RPG, 2.5 APG and on the defensive end, added 1.5 SPG. LaMonte averaged in double figures in both of his seasons at Indian Hills, having posted 10.4 PPG and played in 28 games, with 14 starts as a true freshman. 

Joining LaMonte as a combo guard in the backcourt out of the transfer portal is 6-4 redshirt junior Dawson Barr, who comes to Mercer out of NCAA Division II Embry-Riddle in Dayton Beach, FL. Barr will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at Mercer, and he comes off a sophomore campaign logging action in 27 games, including having made 25 starts and finished second on the Eagles' roster by averaging 13.4 PPG in the 2025-26 season. 

He had several superlative performances among his 19 games in double figures last season, which included a career-high 24 points in a game against Barry. Barr is also a guard that loves to get after the basketball on the backboard, as he pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds in a game against Valdosta State. 

Barr is an excellent defender and shooter, as he led the Eagles with 27 steals last season, while shooting a blistering 43.8% from three-point range last season, which included a 6-for-10 performance from three in a game against Rollins last season.  That kind of shooting acumen will give Barr not a chance to see big time minutes, if not start, in the 2026-27 season. 

Both 5-9 point guard Shane Cherry (Tallahassee State) and 6-4 combo guard Derek Goodman (Ohio Dominican) round out the additions from the transfer portal for the Bears. Cherry will have three seasons of eligibility remaining, and the diminutive point guard will have a chance to start right away, as he will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

He saw action in 30 games, including 27 starts at Tallahassee State last season, averaging 19.2 PPG to lead the team, shooting 41.9% from the field and 38.9% from three-point range. In a game against Chipola College during his freshman campaign, Cherry posted a career-high 36 points, which marked one of four 30-point outings last season at the JUCO level. 

He posted 20 or more points 14 times and scored in double figures in 26 out of 30 games in his only season at Tallahassee State.  His quickness and ability to score at all three levels makes him a likely competitor for the starting job at the point in the 2026-27 season for Ridder's club. If anything, having both Perkins II and Cherry on the floor at the same time could give the Bears two supreme ballhandlers and perimeter threats on the floor at the same time, and that would be a luxury Mercer hasn't enjoyed all that often in Ridder's first two seasons at Mercer.

Derek Goodman rounds out the newcomers from the transfer portal, coming from NCAA Division II Ohio Dominican where he will have two years of eligibility remaining. The 6-4 junior combo guard saw a seven-point scoring improvement from his freshman season to sophomore campaign, as he finished the season by going from 8.9 PPG as a true freshman to averaging 15.8 PPG in the 2025-26 campaign. 

Goodman started 55 out of 57 games in his two seasons at Ohio Dominican, posting a season-high 25 points in a 91-76 home win vs. Hillsdale, as he finished 9-of-15 shooting from the field and was an impressive 5-for-8 from three-point range.  

Goodman is another outstanding perimeter shooter, finishing the 2025-26 season shooting a blistering 43.6% (75-of-172) from three-point range last season and was a 41% shooter from three-point range in two seasons at Ohio Dominican.  Goodman finished the 2025-26 season with 23 double-figure scoring games, including eight games with 20 or more points. 

Freshman/Walk-on Additions

While eight additions have been made to the Mercer from the transfer portal,  come to Macon from the high school ranks, with all four rookie performers expected to add depth to the backcourt.

The first of the impressive additions made to the backcourt is 6-0 guard Josh Jackson, who comes to Mercer out nearby Houston High School in Warner Robins, GA. The newly inked addition can flat out score the basketball, and he will have a chance to come in and compete for time in the rotation at the point guard spot as soon as the upcoming campaign.

Jackson was outstanding during his senior season, as he ended up scoring 466 points and 51 three-pointers during his senior season. He ended up averaging 16 PPG in his senior season and added 3.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, and 1.1 SPG. He helped Houston to a 22-7 record and a first-place finish in its region (9-1) during his senior season.

Two more international additions could be players that add depth to the backcourt for the upcoming season are both Manos Koveos (Rhodes, Greece) and Harrison Lyttle (Sydney, Australia), who are both walk-ons that will look to break into the rotation for the Bears this coming season.  Koveous spent two seasons at Georgia State and also played at Trinity Christian College in Chicago in the 2023-24 season where he spent his freshman campaign.  

Lyttle joins the program as a true freshman out of the IMG Academy, while 6-5 combo guard/ forward Ryder Cate joins the Mercer as a redshirt sophomore walk-on from Clarendon College where he averaged 8.8 PPG and 3.4 RPG in only 11 games, as he was limited due to injury.

Mercer Early outlook for 2026-27

There might not be a better coach in the league at reloading a roster, addressing team needs and fitting the puzzle pieces in almost perfect symmetry and at the same time helping keep his program competitive at the top of a tough league than Ryan Ridder, and he's been able to do that at wherever he's been a head coach, whether that spot be at Bethune-Cookman in the MEAC or at his most recent stop prior to Mercer at UT-Martin in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Ridder has again cleaned up in the portal, focusing on size, while taking a few chances on guys that have the tools and potential to be top-notch big men in this league, much like Armani Mighty was last season for the Bears.

Keelan Steele and Makoi Mabor Makoi have a chance to put up some big numbers in the SoCon as the newest big men in Macon, while Shane Cherry is an x-factor and dynamic scorer at point guard. He's more like Ahmad Robinson than Baraka Okojie, but he has the good qualities that Robinson possessed without the carelessness with the basketball.

With Brady Shoulders and Quentin Perkins II back as the veterans from last season, and with those two only going to be even more improved as offensive threats this season, it will mesh nicely with the incoming talent. This is a team that I expect to not only be competitive at the top of the SoCon, but like Tennessee Tech, will be a dark horse to win it all in Asheville.

 Bears Breakdown 2026-27

Players With Starting Experience Lost: (6)--G-Baraka Okojie (31 starts, 19.7 PPG, 5.3 APG, 3.1 RPG, First-Team All-SoCon/transferred to George Mason); C-Armani Mighty (32 starts, 13.2 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 64.5 FG%, league-leading 54 blocks, SoCon co-Defensive Player of the Year, Second-Team All-SoCon/transferred to Pittsburgh); G-Zaire Williams (31 starts, 13.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, team-leading 71 three-pointers made, 36.0% from three-point range/out of eligibility); G Kyle Cuffe Jr. (14 starts, 7.3 PPG, 1.8 RPG/transferred to St. John's); F/C Connor Serven (5 starts , 6.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG/out eligibility); F-TJ Grant (1 start, 1.0 PPG, 1.4 RPG/out of eligibility)

Others Significant Losses: (2)-G/F Tristan Gross (4.2 PPG, 2.0 RPG/transferred to Radford); F/C Bendji Pierre (3.5 PPG, 1.1 RPG)

Best Returning Player: F-Brady Shoulders (9.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 46 steals)

Potential Breakout Player in 2026-27: G-Quinton Perkins II (8.9 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 40.8 3PT FG%);

Best Transfer Portal Get: PG-Shane Cherry (Tallahassee State)

Potential Glue Guy: F-Brady Shoulders (9.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 46 steals)

Best Freshman Addition: G-Josh Jackson (Houston HS/Warner Robins GA)

Overall Portal/Recruiting Synopsis and Grade: A

SoCon Summer Series 2026: Samford Ready For Year Two Under Lennie Acuff

Samford (18-14, 11-7 SoCon/T-2nd) 

Samford head coach Lennie Acuff

Many Samford fans didn't know exactly what to expect in year one under Lennie Acuff, but the experts that cover this sport year-in and year-out knew that, while it would be drastically different than it was under Bucky McMillan, but the championship expectations were the same.

Samford spent the first two-and-a-half months of the season adjusting to Acuff, showing glimpses along the way, with a 79-75 loss to No. 21 Arkansas being an early sign that when the Bulldogs clicked, they could beat anyone in the Southern Conference.

Then in late January, things all started to gel for the Bulldogs following a 78-73 loss at Furman. Following that loss, Samford found a rhythm very similar to the one they found down the stretch in McMillan's second season as the head coach of the Bulldogs back in the 2021-22 season, as the Bulldogs would go on to get hot and finish third in the league in that particular season.

Following the loss at Timmons Arena, the Bulldogs went on to win seven-straight and eight of their final nine games to head into the Southern Conference Tournament red hot, finishing third in the league just like that 2021-22 team did. The Bulldogs' most impressive win during that stretch run of games came on the road at East Tennessee State, as the Bulldogs were able to pick up an 82-72 overtime over the Bucs. 

The Bulldogs had two Bonafide stars, in shooting guard Jadin Booth and forward Dylan Faulkner, and it would be those two that would help lead the Bulldogs to the Valentine's Day triumph over ETSU, with Faulkner's 24 points leading the way, while Booth added 19. Brothers Cade and Keaton Norris finished out the contest by adding 14 and 12 points, respectively.

The Bulldogs would end up getting a signature performance from Booth in the regular-season finale against UNC Greensboro, which would see the senior guard, who transferred in from Florida Southern out the NCAA Division II ranks where he was an All-American, and he would post 40 points on a school-record 11 three-pointers in the final game of the regular-season, as the Bulldogs posted what was an 87-78 win to close out the regular-season and lock up the No. 3 seed for the Southern Conference Tournament. 

That meant for a second-straight season that the Bulldogs open the Southern Conference Tournament against Furman, who was a seed line lower this time around, as the Paladins were the No. 6 rather than the No. 5 like they had been the year before, however, it wouldn't matter, as Furman would deliver the same season-ending blow to Samford's title hopes, posting an 86-81 win over Samford in what was one of the most thrilling games of the entire tournament weekend.

The Bulldogs entered the 2026 SoCon Tournament, having won eight of their final nine games, and despite a valiant effort by Booth, who posted 34 points in his final college game, the Paladins found a way to slow him just enough in the second half to hold on for the win. Had Samford been able to find a way past the Paladins, I am a firm believer that it would have been Samford as the SoCon's representative in the NCAA Tournament this past March. 

Despite the opening round loss, the 18-14 finish on the year, and an 11-7 conference mark, which was in a three-way tie for second place with Wofford and Mercer, the vibe around Samford coming off Acuff's first season at the helm was very good and excitement abounds heading into his second season at the helm.

Jadin Booth was simply sensational in his only season with the Bulldogs', as he would garner SoCon Player of the Year accolades after leading the league in scoring, averaging 21.6 PPG and three-pointers made (127). 

Booth ended up posting 40 and 34-point games, respectively, to close out his final season of college basketball. In my opinion, he was one of the best pure shooters the SoCon has seen since Fletcher Magee. He finished his career with over 2,000 points scored. Booth ended up being the first Samford player to ever win the SoCon Player of the Year award since the Bulldogs joined the SoCon back in 2009.

Booth's 648 points scored during the 2025-26 season would mark the third-best individual season in the history of Samford basketball during its NCAA Division I membership, with only Craig Beard's back-to-back seasons of 656 and 703 points in both 1983-84 and '84-85 ranking as better individual campaigns.

An equal part of that winning formula during the 2025-26 season was forward Dylan Faulkner, who on the rare nights when Booth didn’t have his best night shooting, Faulkner was there to pick up the slack. He was a player that played bigger than his size and he was extremely adept around the basket and was outstanding on the offensive glass. He wasn’t a great free throw shooter, but improved as the season went on, and by the time the Bulldogs arrived in Asheville for the SoCon Tournament, he had become a guy that you couldn’t easily foul with the hopes of him missing the mark from the line.

Faulkner was everything that head coach Lennie Acuff said he would be when he came over from Lipscomb to join the Samford program. Faulkner ended his one season in Homewood putting up some excellent numbers, as he finished out his one season posting nine 20+point scoring outings and finished with a total of 12 double-doubles, including 11 of which came against Southern Conference competition.

While the Bulldogs lose their top three scorers from a year ago, Samford will still enter the season as one of the favorites to claim the 2026-27 crown. If there's a more likable winner in college basketball than Acuff, I challenge you to find him. Acuff's a proven winner, and it might not be the same type of youthful exuberance that Samford had with McMillan, but not all winning formulas are the same ones. 

The one universal truth in all sports is that winning is never unpopular. Winning is what the Bulldogs will continue to do under Acuff, and he will continue to put a winning product on the floor even despite the new era of college basketball we're in. After all, he proved that this past season.

Samford F/G Cade Norris

Portal Losses/Portal Adds and Returners

Not much returns in the way of returning production from a year ago for Samford, but there is some returning talent from a year ago, with the likes of forward Cade Norris, guard Isaiah Campbell-Finch, forward Judson Bjornstad and center William Shaver form a nice returning nucleus for Samford heading into the 2026-27 season. 

Norris has all-conference potential as a wing coming into the season and is really coming off a strong finish to the 2025-26 season. The 6-4 junior started 22 out 23 games he played in last season, finishing his first season in the Bulldog Red and Navy averaging 8.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG and 2.2 APG, while also shooting an impressive 42.7% (32-of-75) from three-point range, while connecting on 45.7% (64-of-140) from three-point land. 

Norris, who is the younger brother of Keaton Norris, who has now graduated, posted 14 games in double figures in his first season after transferring in from Illinois State. Norris turned in his best performance of the season after starting and logging 38 minutes in what was a crucial 78-75 win at The Citadel last season, posting 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field, including a 3-for-5 effort from three-point range. 

Norris is versatile play both wing guard or small forward and has the potential to find himself on one of the all-conference teams by the end of the season. Norris is the leading returning scorer for the Bulldogs, and was on a good run of form to close the season, finishing out the campaign with five double-figure scoring games in his final seven games of the season, including 11 points in the 86-81 tournament loss to Furman.

Joining Norris in the backcourt as the potential starting point guard is Isaiah Campbell-Finch, who was one of the top freshman guards in the SoCon last season, as he saw action in 20 games, logging 15 starts last season. Campbell-Finch finished the season posting 6.2 PPG, 1.5 RPG and 1.2 APG.

All told, Campbell-Finch would find his way into double figures on nine occasions last season, which included his top performance of the season against Texas Southern, as he would lead the Bulldogs to an overtime win in that contest, as he ended the game with a career-best 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field to go along with a 3-for-5 effort from three-point range.

His best string of performances came in late November and early December, when he posted a trio of double figure scoring games, which started with a 12-point performance in a win over Georgia State in Cancun, and that would be followed by 12- and 10-point performances in consecutive losses to Utah Valley and VCU.

Campbell-Finch finished in double figures four times during the conference season, as he finished with his best performance in league play coming in what was an 88-79 loss at Chattanooga, as he ended up posting 16 points in 28 minutes of action, connecting on 6-of-10 shots from the field, including going 1-for-3 from three-point land. He followed that up with a 10-point effort in what was a 77-73 home loss to Furman, logging 32 minutes of action running the point for Samford.  He also posted three rebounds and an assist against the Paladins. 

Judson Bjornstad and Will Shaver round out the returning players that saw significant action in the lineup for the Bulldogs last season. The 6-8 Bjornstad saw action in 15 games, with one start for the Bulldogs last season. He finished the season averaging 2.0 PPG and 1.2 RPG, with his best performance of the season coming in a non-Division I win over Reinhardt, as he posted 16 points in 23 minutes of action. 

Shaver was still a bit of a project when he arrived at Samford, and that was even after having spent some time at both UAB and North Carolina before his arrival in Homewood.  The 6-10, 265-lb native of Birmingham had some really good performances for the Bulldogs last season, however, for the most part, was an inconsistent performer. 

The former four-star recruit finished the season finished the season averaging 3.0 PPG and 2.8 RPG, while shooting 51.1% (24-of-47) from the field and saw action in 22 of 32 games for the Bulldogs in his first season. Shaver posted a pair of double-figure scoring performances last season, with the best of those coming in the 77-73 home loss to Furman, as he finished with 15 points in just 13 minutes off the bench against the Paladins. Shaver finished the night connecting on 5-of-9 shots from the field, including making the only three-pointer he put up. 

Samford has added six newcomers, with five coming from the transfer portal and the other one being a freshman signee. The Bulldogs added four guards and a big man from the portal, while also adding a big man from the high school ranks. 

Montevallo transfer guard Brandon Fussell

Leading the newcomers is 6-1 guard Brandon Fussell from Montevallo, where he spent his first three seasons playing at the NCAA Division II level for Montevallo, as he played in 71 games over the course of three seasons for the Falcons. He started all three seasons for the Falcons, averaging 17 PPG and 4 APG over the course of his three seasons, while also having been a 39% career three-point shooter. 

Fussell posted a season-high 29 points in a game against West Florida this past season, as he connected on 9-of-16 shooting from the field, which included a 5-for-11 effort from three-point range in what was an 89-77 win. According to coach Lennie Acuff, Fussell will add both toughness and skill to the team, and could be the projected starter at point guard entering the 2026-27 season. Fussell connected on a team-high 65 triples this past season.

Another Alabama native returning to his home state will be 6-3 guard Win Miller, who joins the Samford program after having spent the past three seasons at Belmont, where he saw action in a total of 76 games, averaging 7.1 minutes-per-game and scored 144 points while issuing out 42 assists and shooting 40% from three-point land. 

In his most recent season, Miller would see action in 28 games, with one start, averaging 8.5 minutes per game and finished the season averaging 2.8 PPG and 0.7 RPG, as well as connecting 39.5% (15-of-38) from three-point range.

Like Fussell, Acuff likes the skill level and shooting acumen that Miller will bring to the rotation for the upcoming season. Miller likely will likely fit in the rotation as a wing guard this coming season.

New Haven transfer guard Najimi George

Both Najimi George (New Haven) and Ty Davis (Creighton) round out the newcomers in the backcourt, and both should contribute at the wing guard spots this coming season for the Bulldogs. George, a 6-4 guard from New Haven, will add some scoring punch to the Bulldogs' backcourt, and he comes to Samford with two years of eligibility remaining.

In his most recent season at New Haven, George completed the campaign by averaging 11.2 PPG, as he saw action in 30 games, including starting 29 of those games. George finished the season shooting 41% (117-of-287) from the field, which included shooting 28% (30-of-108) from three-point range. Though he struggled as a perimeter threat this past season, George is a versatile, three-level scorer.

He finished the 2025-26 season, George posted double figures in 20 of the 30 games he logged action in this past season, including a string of scoring in double figures in 11 out of 12 games. George got a strong start to the campaign, scoring 14 points against eventual national runner-up UConn, while posting his best performance of the season against Wagner, having posted 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field in what was an 80-74 win against the Seahawks.

According to Acuff, George is an athletic, multiple position wing, who brings a lot to the table on both ends of the floor. He's rangy athletic, and is a good perimeter defender that is tough to shoot over. He is a three-level scorer that will add versatility on the wing.

Ty Davis is another 6-4 point guard that comes to Samford from Creighton, and he rounds out the backcourt contingent from the portal heading into the upcoming campaign for the Bulldogs. Davis returns to Birmingham after having spent his first couple of seasons in Omaha, playing for Creighton where he saw action in 61 games, scoring 65 points and dished out 60 assists, while playing 9.3 minutes-per-game.

He is a pass-first point guard, and he will give the Bulldogs some size and versatility at the point guard spot heading into the 2026-27 season. He has a tremendous basketball IQ, with good vision and feel for the game according to head coach Lennie Acuff.

Coastal Carolina F/C Braeden MacVicar

Rounding out the newcomers from the transfer portal is 6-11 Coastal Carolina transfer Braedan MacVicar, who will come in and compete right away for time at center. A native of Port Royal, Nova Scotia, spending three seasons with the Chanticleers and ended up appearing in a total of 50 games with the Teal and Black, starting 16 of those contests as a true freshman, averaging 6.1 PPG and shooting 35% from three-point land and 83% from the charity stripe in his rookie campaign. 

MacVicar saw action in 24 games this past season, averaging 2.6 PPG and 2.0 RPG, connecting on 29.6% (16-of-54) from three-point range and 68.6% (11-of-16) from the free throw line. All told, MacVicar started 16 out of 50 games in his two seasons in which he played in Conway.

Coach Acuff is most excited about the versatility that MacVicar brings to the table and most specifically, with his ability to stretch a defense shooting the three ball. 

Other returnees for the Bulldogs include guards Zach Lamey, JD Gossett and Cooper Davenport, and forwards Caleb Harrison, Joshua Hughes and Bradley Kemp.

Freshman Additions

Lawson Lee is the lone freshman newcomer brought in by Lennie Acuff and staff for the 2026-27 season, and he comes to Homewood after helping lead Battle Ground Academy to a 31-8 record and a berth in the state title game. 

The 6-11, Franklin, Tenn., product could give be an impact player right away this coming season for the Bulldogs this season and could be part of a "twin towers" duo in the paint along with the addition of Coastal Carolina transfer Braedan MacVicar. 

He is another highly skilled performer that can dribble, pass and shoot, and was named All-State, All-Region and was a finalist for Mr. Basketball in the state of Tennessee. Lee averaged a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. 

Samford Early Outlook For 2026-27                  

The Bulldogs will once again have a say in what happens in the Southern Conference race once again this season, as the Bulldogs will bring into the season the largest roster in the league.

The Bulldogs have added a good mix of skill, size and shooting ability from the portal, and Samford also has a good returning nucleus of players, led by small forward Cade Norris and point guard Isaiah Campbell-Finch. I also expect Najimi George to be an instant impact player at the shooting guard spot, where he will have the unenviable task of trying to fill the large shoes left by a guy like reigning SoCon Player of the Year Jadin Booth.

Much like last year, I expect the Bulldogs to grow into the season under Acuff, but by the time we get into the month of February, I expect the Bulldogs will be a team you other teams in the league don't want to face.

Bulldogs Breakdown 2026-27                                 

Players With Starting Experience Lost: (5)--G-Jadin Booth (Started all 30 games he played in, league-leading 21.6 PPG, league-leading 127 three-pointers, league-leading 43.6% from three-point range, Southern Conference Player of the Year/out of eligibility); F-Dylan Faulkner (17.2 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 61.7% FG%, 12 double-doubles/transferred to Clemson); PG-Keaton Norris (28 starts, 10.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 83.6% free throw shooter, 4.9 APG/out of eligibility); G-Kam Martin (8 starts, 5.7 PPG, 2.1 RPG/transferred to the University of Denver); F-Jaxson Pollard (8 starts, 3.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG/out of eligibility); G-Zion Wilburn (5 starts, 4.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 13 steals/transferred to Georgia State)

Others Lost: (1)-PG-Dajion Humphrey (torn Achilles Tendon in exhibition game vs. Alabama A&M and never played a game in a Samford uniform)

Best Returning Player: F/G Cade Norris (8.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG)

Potential Breakout Player in 2026-27: PG--Isaiah Campbell-Finch (7.4 PPG, 1.3 APG)

Best Transfer Portal Get: G-Najimi George (New Haven)

Potential Glue Guy: F-Judson Bjornstad (2.3 PPG, 1.4 RPG)

Best Freshman Addition: F/C Lawson Lee (Battle Ground Academy/Nashville TN)

Overall Portal/Recruiting Synopsis and Grade: B

SoCon Summer Series 2026: Wofford Looks To Take Title Step In Year Two Under Kevin Giltner

Wofford sophomore guard Chace Whatley (Photo courtesy of Wofford athletics)

 Wofford (19-13, 11-7 SoCon/T-2ND IN sOcOn)    

Year two under Kevin Giltner figures to look a lot different in Spartanburg than it did in year one, but one thing that won't change is Wofford's winning standard, which it re-established in the first season under the leadership of former player and assistant coach Kevin Giltner.

It's weird to think that you'd have to re-establish a winning culture for a Wofford program that had just come off its own title run under the direction of head coach Dwight Perry. Perry, who was rather unceremoniously dispatched due to a minor violation a little over a month out from the season, and the former Wofford head coach has since resurfaced as an assistant on Brook Savage's staff at East Tennessee State.

In some strange world, the 2024-25 season for Wofford probably makes sense to some, however, whatever side of that fence you're on, you can't take away the achievement of winning the conference tournament no matter how lackluster and underwhelming the regular-season might have been. 

Except for the regular-season win at Saint Louis, the non-conference slate for the Terriers and really the conference regular-season slate, save maybe the 19-point win at Furman and a win at ETSU, the regular-season as a whole was forgettable. 

That didn't matter in the SoCon Tournament, as Perry's Terriers reeled off wins over ETSU (W, 79-67), VMI (W, 81-61) and Furman (W, 92-85) in the SoCon Tournament to become the first No. 6 seed to ever cut down the nets at the end of the historic tournament. Perry's Terriers would go on to a decent showing as a No. 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament, dropping a 77-62 decision to No. 2 Tennessee in Lexington, KY., to bow out of the tournament.  

It was a quiet off-season until it wasn't in mid-August, which was when the Perry and staff were suspended on paid leave pending an investigation into the allocation of NIL funds and on/off-campus living situations of both freshmen and incoming players from the transfer portal. There is apparently a rule that all first-year students at Wofford must have on-campus housing, and that includes student-athletes. The men's basketball program failed to honor this basic rule, and that ended up being more costly than most would have anticipated. 

At best, it was probably an offense that at worst, garnered a suspension and was definitely not fireable one. But that's just my opinion. 

Is there more to it? Was Director of Athletics Scott Kull looking for a reason to start anew? Those are questions that I can't answer, but what I can tell you is that given the situation, Kevin Giltner was absolutely the perfect hire. 

Giltner had to deal with being a first-time head coach, managing to keep a roster intact and install his vision and tactical schematics in a little over a month's time and Giltner's coaching ability and leadership were very apparent for all to see during the regular-season. The Terriers, who were picked ninth in the preseason, finished tied for second, with an 11-7 league mark, which included a 19-13 overall record. 

Unfortunately, the Terriers probably sputtered to the finish line more than Giltner and staff would have liked, but the flag had been planted and the new era of Wofford basketball under Mike Young's former right-hand man seemed more, positive than when Perry took the Terriers to the NCAA Tournament a year earlier if you can believe it. 

One thing that Giltner's team had last season was an offensive identity,  and that wasn't always apparent when Perry was in charge. With that, Wofford's toughness at times came up short where I think Perry's teams really excelled to a certain extent. Especially when it came to play on the defensive end of the floor, as well as having that desire to rebound. That was seemingly what Wofford did best under Perry. 

While Perry's team was tougher in 2024-25 to the naked eye in some ways, I think it's unfair on the same hand to judge Giltner's team in his first season on the job with such a short time to prepare for the season, and I would be willing to bet that is a much different story in 2026-27 than it was in 2025-26.

The 2026-27 season will involve rebuilding without the three top scorers from a year ago, however, Giltner has assembled quite a recruiting class to go with another talented crop of newcomers for the new season, which feels a little more like his first season in charge, having had a full off-season to recruit and install some of his team winning philosophy.

Wofford sophomore forward Brian Sumpter (photo courtesy of Wofford Athletics)

Portal Losses/Portal Adds and Returners

One thing is for sure; the Terriers will look a lot different offensively. Wofford loses its top three players to major programs, with Kahmare Holmes set to continue his career at DePaul, while both Nils Machowski and Cayden Vasko are set to join both UConn and Central Florida next season. 

That leaves just four core players that were part of the team last season, with only three of those seeing time on the floor, as Cannon Richards sat out the season with an injury, as he saw action in only two contests the entire season. 

The other two core players that return to the fold include both Chace Watley, who acclimated to the  incredibly well in his first season with the Terriers, and he'll be one of the go-to-scorers heading into the season. 

Watley is a player that will see much of what Wofford wants to do built around him next season. The 6-2 guard ended up appearing in all 32 games last season, logging a total of 15 starts and was the first man off the bench in the other 17 games of the season. Led Wofford's freshmen on the roster in scoring, averaging 9.7 PPG and is the leading returning scorer off of last year's team. 

Watley would end up enjoying one of his best games of the season on his Birthday, against ETSU which was Feb. 1, 2026, in a game that had to be moved back due to a snowstorm. Although tip-off time had to be moved back until 7 p.m. EST, and the no spectators were allowed outside of the students already on campus, it didn't phase Watley in the least, as the young guard went on to have one his best performances of the entire season despite the 86-72 setback.

The Minneapolis, MN., native went on to finish the contest with 19 points, as he knocked down 6-of-15 from the field, but was 5-for-9 from two-point range, but struggled overall from the perimeter, going just 1-for-6 from long range. Watley also finished that contest against the Bucs a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.

Watley finsihed the season connecting on 39.8% (100-of-251) from the field and connected on 30.6% (30-of-98) from three-point range. He finished the season with 15 double-figure scoring performances and will be a candidate for all-conference accolades heading into the 2026-27 season.

Brian Sumpter will most obviously be another focal point of the 2026-27 Terriers, and I think he's going to make quite the jump from year one to year two in the lineup for Wofford. His athleticism is elite, and I look for him to develop into an impactful player this season on both ends of the floor. 

Sumpter is coming off a strong freshman season and should make a clear jump in year two. The rising sophomore from Columbia logged action in 31 games for the Terriers this past season, starting 21 of those contests, and finished the season averaging 6.6 PPG and 4.9 RPG. His best performance of the campaign came in a 21-point, 11-rebound contest in his second-career game against Milwaukee. He also record a career-high 14 rebounds to go along with 10 points in Wofford's big 74-70 win in Greenville.

All told, Sumpter finished out the season with eight games in which he scored in double figures, logging double-figure scoring outings against Furman, Samford, and Mercer during a key stretch of games. He also ended up posting 12 points and eight rebounds in the 86-72 home loss to East Tennessee State on Feb. 1.

For the season, Sumpter ended up connecting on an impressive 59.9% (85-of-142) of his shots from the field and his 39 blocks accounted for the fourth-most in school history. Sumpter wasn't a three-point threat in his first season for the Terriers, or at least not yet, as he finished the season connecting on just 16.7% (2-of-12) from long-range last season. Sumpter also finished the campaign connecting at a 61.5% (32-of-52) from the free throw line. 

Sumpter is one of the best athletes on the team, and he reminds me of a young Jalen Slawson at Furman. He has all the tools to go down as one of the greats in Terrier history, should he choose to remain in Spartanburg all four years, which seems less likely in this day and age than ever.

Luke Flynn returns as the most veteran performer on this roster heading into the 2026-27 campaign, and he will be the unquestioned glue guy for the Terriers this coming season, and there was a noticeable affect when Flynn suffered an injury that kept him out for the second half of Southern Conference play.

 

The 6-1, 185-lb guard is entering his junior season and his presence on this team might be the biggest piece to a hopeful championship winning puzzle. He comes off a 2025-26 campaign, which saw him average 5.6 PPG and 3.3 RPG, while shooting 33.8% (26-of-77) from three-point range, while shooting 33.0% (34-of-103) from the field. Flynn started 18 of 21 games for Wofford last season and has totaled 19 starts in 55 games over the course of two seasons in a Terriers uniform.

He finished his sophomore season with four double-figure scoring performances, highlighted by 16 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the field, including going 3-for-6 from three-point range in a 94-86 win over Bellarmine. The 16-point effort against the Knights marked a career-high scoring performance for Flynn. For the season, Flynn totaled 119 points, 81 rebounds, 25 assists, 14 steals and one block.

Rounding out the returning Terriers from a year ago, include rising senior guard Davis Miller and junior guard Grayson Collins, as both saw only limited time last season for the Terriers, with Collins logging action in eight games, while Miller finished the season having appeared in six contests.

Black Hills State transfer guard Cameron Lowe 

 

One of the early additions head coach Kevin Giltner and staff were able to bring in from the transfer portal might also turn out to be the most significant addition as a part of what was a solid portal haul.

Cameron Lowe will help immediately offset the losses underneath in the backcourt, and the 6-6, 215-lb redshirt junior will add versatility and size heading into the upcoming campaign. Lowe transferred into the Terriers program from NCAA Division II Black Hills State in South Dakota. 

While at Black Hills State, Lowe was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year following a 2025-26 season, which saw him average 17 PPG, 6.4 RPG and 2.7 APG, as he helped the Yellow Jackets to a 30-5 overall record and an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Division II tournament. In addition to garnering his conference's Player of the Year honor, Lowe was also named an NABC Division II All-American.

He finished the 2025-26 season by scoring in double figures in 29 of 35 games, which included scoring a career-high 31 points in an 85-63 win over Colorado Mesa. In that particular contest, Lowe was able to finish the game a near-flawless 12-of-15 from the field, which included an 70% (7-of-10) shooting night from three-point land. 

Lowe finished the season with 14 games in which he scored 20 or more points this season, including that 31-point performance. He connected on 39.5% (92-of-233) of his three-point field goals in his final season at Black Hills State, while finishing the season with a 47.5% (209-of-440) from the field. 

His ability to score and his size and versatility will key for head coach Kevin Giltner in the coming season.  Lowe is especially in that he can score at all three levels and can post in the paint and score on the low block. He can also play multiple positions, allowing the Terrier coaching staff to have multiple lineup options. 

Lander transfer guard Jacob Daniels

Another potential difference-maker in the backcourt in the 2026-27 season could be 6-0 guard Jacob Daniels, who comes to Wofford from NCAA Division II member Lander, where he helped the Bearcats all the way to the championship game of the Division II NCAA Tournament.

The rising sophomore will have three years of eligibility remaining, and he was an impact player for the Bearcats in his rookie season of playing college basketball, starting 34 of 36 games for Lander and finished second on the team in scoring average, posting 13.6 PPG and 5.6 APG. He also finished the season with a season-high 201 assists, while also pulling down 3.3 RPG. Daniels was named the Peach Belt Freshman of the Year for the 2025-26 season.

He will likely challenge for a significant role at point guard but can also play off the ball and scored in double figures on 29 occasions last season, including scoring 20 or more points on six different times last season. His best performance came in a game against the quarterfinals of the Peach Belt Tournament, as he posted 23 points and 10 assists to register a double-double, while also grabbing six rebounds to flirt with a triple-double. 

Daniels was also outstanding on the defensive end of the floor in the 91-81 win, registering three steals. His 23-point performance came as the result of a 9-for-12 shooting outing. He shot an impressive 54.7% (185-of-338) for the season, but struggled as a perimeter shooter, finishing the season at just 28.9% (28-of-97). Daniels also connected at a 70.5% (93-of-132) clip from the free throw line in his only season at Lander, helping the program to its most wins in its history, as the Bearcats finished the 2025-26 season 30-6.

 

Jacksonville transfer guard Chris Arias

Rounding out the key additions made in the backcourt from the transfer portal is 6-6 wing guard Chris Arias, who arrives in Spartanburg following two seasons with the Jacksonville Dolphins in the Atlantic Sun.

The lanky, athletic wing saw action in 30 games in the most recent season for the Dolphins, averaging 7.3 PPG and 2.3 RPG, as well as shooting 36.1% from three-point range (43-of-119), and was a 41.0% (139-of-340) from the field. He was selected to the pre-season All Atlantic Sun team and will be most remembered for his game-winning three-pointer to beat VMI last season in Lexington, which made the SportsCenter Top 10 Plays. 

That three was part of a career afternoon for Arias, who finished with a career-best 24 points in the win. He will be another player that can reliably hit the outside shot for head coach Kevin Giltner's Terriers if called upon to do so in the upcoming season. 

The only addition via the transfer portal to the frontcourt is a pretty big one...literally. UVA-Wise transfer center Evan Ramsey has two seasons of eligibility remaining, and the 7-0, 250-lb native of Abingdon, VA., started all 31 games he logged action in last season for the Terriers, finishing out what was an impressive campaign by averaging 14.1 PPG and 7.8 RPG to go with 57 blocks. 

He is a legitimate rim protector and finished out the 2025-26 season with a pair of six-block games for the Cavaliers. Ramsey was a big reason why the Cavaliers finished with its most wins (20) since making the jump to the NCAA Division II level. Ramsey was a All-SAC First Team selection in 2025-26. 

He will also be an impact player in the paint on both ends for Wofford, as he will contend for a starting spot. 

Ramsey posted his best game of the 2025-26 season in a 91-83 loss to the Trojans, as he posted 24 points and 13 rebounds, as he finished 8-of-13 from the field and was 8-for-9 from the charity stripe. 

All told, Ramsey finished his redshirt sophomore season by posting double-figure scoring efforts in 27 of 31 outings and posted seven double-doubles last season. Ramsey also finished the 2026-27 season connecting on 58.1% (162-of-279) and was a 73% (192-of-264) from the free throw line.

In his redshirt freshman campaign for the Cavaliers, Ramsey averaged a double-double, as he posted 14.5 PPG and 10 RPG en route to garnering All-SAC Second Team plaudits. Like the 2025-26 season, Ramsey proved to be an impact player on the defensive end of the floor in his redshirt freshman campaign, as he blocked 50 shots as a rookie.

Freshman Additions

True freshman big man Cutter Sisk

Much like the 2025-26 signing class for Wofford, the 2026-27 class is one that appears to be, at least on paper, one of the top freshman signing classes in the SoCon once again this season.

Headlining the list of five newcomers is 6-9, 270-lb freshman big man Cutter Sisk out of Hendersonville, Tenn. 

Sisk was the first signee of the current 2026-27 class, as he inked his official letter of intent last November, having already reached the 1,000-pt and 500-rebound plateau before his senior season at Beech High School in Hendersonville, Tenn. 

Sisk was a Class 4A "Mr. Basketball" finalist and a district/region MVP. He led Beech High School to its first state title since 2009, hitting a buzzer-beater against Lebanon in the state title game as a junior, finishing off his junior campaign in dream fashion. 

Because of his high basketball IQ and tremendous skill as a power forward, Sisk garnered the nickname "Baby Jokic", which is reference to Denver Nuggets star power forward Nikola Jokic of course. After averaging a double-double as a junior, Sisk finished out his final season as a prep averaging 23 PPG and 10 RPG, as he led the Buccaneers to the brink of a second-straight state title, which came up just short in the state quarterfinals, scoring 33 of his team's 52 points in what was a 55-52 loss to Bearden. 

Bearden will offer the perfect complement in the paint to guys like Sumpter and Ramsey, and I think and expect to see Sisk to get some pretty significant playing time in his rookie campaign for the Terriers because of his size and overall strength in the paint.

The other four freshman additions came in the backcourt, with some impressive signees highlighting the newcomers in the backcourt, with Jhett Carter and Jyi Dawkins among those that could join Sisk in making an immediate impact for the Terriers this coming season.

Dawkins had originally committed to play for Western Carolina in the fall, but then decommitted and found his way to Wofford, where he could make an impact with his ability to score at all three levels on the floor.

Dawkins was one of the nation's top scorers in his final two seasons with Ben L. Smith High School in Greensboro, choosing Wofford over other offers from Campbell, North Carolina A&T, UNC Greensboro, and Cleveland State, and he is a three-star recruit. 

He will give the Terriers an athletic combo guard that can score in a variety of different ways, and it sets up for him to be one of the top freshmen in the SoCon next season. His 32.6 PPG last season ranked him 14th nationally in scoring in his final season as a prep. He added 13.1 RPG and 5.2 APG as a senior. He is unequivocally a player that has a chance to be a game-changer for Wofford as soon as the 2026-27 season.

Set to join up alongside Dawkins will be Jhett Carter, who is another 6-5 combo guard that will have a chance to come in and be a difference-maker as well in the backcourt for the Terriers. During his high school career at Hargrave Military Academy, the Titusville, FL., native finished his career with 1,790 points, 814 rebounds, and 238 steals, showing his all-around game. 

Carter is versatile enough to play either a third guard spot, or at small forward. He chose Wofford over offers from East Carolina, Georgia State, Ohio, Albany, Hampton and Holy Cross.  Carter is known for his defensive capabilities and was named All Elite Prep League Defensive Team in each of his final two seasons, as well as being a First-Team All-EPL selection following the 2025-26 campaign.

Jemon Price and Misho Kalinov round out the talented freshman signing class for the Terriers. Price is a 6-2 guard out of Westfield High School in Virginia, garnering 6A State Player of the Year honors as a senior following a 2025-26 season, which saw him average 18.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG and 2.5 APG and in his senior season, scored 20 or more points nine times on the season, which included a season-high 32-point outing. 

The 6-2 point guard turned in a brilliant high school career at Westfield HS, scoring over 1,200 points in his four-year career, and was named to the Washington D.C. Area Coaches All-Met First Team. Price is a three-star guard and will offer depth at the point guard spot for the Terriers this season, but is versatile enough to play on the wing.

Kalinov will the Terriers an Eastern European Bloc influence, as he comes to Spartanburg all the way from Silistra, Bulgaria, and averaged 16 PPG, 3.6 PPG, and 5.5 APG, starring for BC Botev 2012 in the Bulgarian NBL this past year. He enjoyed his best performance against Balkan Botevgrad, posting a season-high 26 points to go with six assists. Kalinov brings with him to Wofford some major international experience, having competed in the 2025 FIBA U18 EuroBasket League, averaging 8.6 PPG and had a +8.6 efficiency rating. 

Overall, this is an outstanding class of five signees, and if you include the three additions from the transfer portal, the eight overall additions in total marks one of the top signing classes in the SoCon heading into the 2026-27. I had the Terriers ranked fourth out of the 11 teams in the league in my recruiting rankings coming into the summer.

One of the more exciting things announced earlier this week is that Virginia Tech and head coach Mike Young will be returning to Spartanburg and the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium for an exhibition matchup in conjunction with Wofford's homecoming weekend festivities, as the game will take place on Friday, Oct. 16, which is a day before Wofford hosts VMI in football for homecoming. 

Wofford Terriers Early outlook for 2026-27                              

Wofford comes off a season that saw the Terriers surprise everyone by finishing the campaign by finishing second after being picked ninth.  The reality of the 2025-26 season we learned is that despite the coaching change, the talent will always translate. 

Plus it was also a huge advantage that Kevin Giltner had with the program, as he is not only an alum, but was also an assistant for Mike Young as assistant for six seasons, while spending six more as Young's assistant at Virginia Tech.

With a year under his belt and having had a full off-season to implement schemes both offensively, as well as on the defensive end, expect the Terriers to once again be among the handful of teams that could contend for a conference title once again this season.

Starting Experience Lost: (6)--G-Kahmare Holmes (26 starts, 19.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG/transferred to Depaul); Nils Machowski (32 starts, 17.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 91 made three-pointers/transferred to UConn); G-Cayden Vasko (32 starts, 10.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 54 made three-pointers/transferred to Central Florida); F/C Rex Stirling (9 starts, 5.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG/transferred to Jacksonville); G--Brendan Rigsbee (5 starts, 4.2 PPG, 1.7 RPG)

Others Lost: (2)-G-Jayden Tyler (5.4 PPG, 1.0 RPG/transferred to Youngstown State); G-Maximo Ortega (3.3 PPG, 1.0 RPG)

Best Returning Player: G-Chace Watley (9.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG)

Potential Breakout Player in 2026-27: F-Brian Sumpter (6.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG)

Best Transfer Portal Get: G/F-Cam Lowe (Black Hills State) or G-Jacob Daniels (Lander)

Potential Glue Guy: G-Luke Flynn (5.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG)

Best Freshman Addition: G-Jyi Dawkins (Ben L. Smith HS/Greensboro, N.C.)

Overall Portal/Recruiting Synopsis and Grade: A-