The Massive East enters 2026-27 with an enchanting mixture of established transfers, mid-major stars and worldwide expertise. A number of groups are relying on newcomers to interchange main manufacturing, whereas others are including items that might exponentially change their ceiling.
Butler: Jordan Ellerbee
Ellerbee arrives after a robust freshman season at Florida Gulf Coast, the place he averaged 13.1 factors, 3.4 rebounds and a couple of.1 assists whereas capturing 46.7% from the sphere and 35% from three. He set an FGCU freshman report with 446 factors and earned ASUN All-Freshman Staff honors.
Creighton: Wes Enis
Enis led USF in scoring final season, averaging 16.4 factors per recreation whereas making 107 three-pointers. He earned First Staff All-American Convention honors and was the 2026 AAC Match Most Excellent Participant after serving to the Bulls win each the regular-season and match titles.
DePaul: Kahmare Holmes
Holmes provides DePaul one of many Massive East’s best mid-major scorers. He averaged 19.5 factors, 5.7 rebounds and a couple of.7 assists at Wofford, incomes First Staff All-SoCon honors. He additionally averaged 2.0 steals and scored at the least 20 factors 15 instances.
Georgetown: Jaland Lowe
Lowe’s 2025-26 season at Kentucky was derailed by a shoulder damage, limiting him to 9 video games and eight.0 factors, 2.1 rebounds and a couple of.4 assists per recreation. However his earlier season at Pittsburgh confirmed what Georgetown is getting: Lowe averaged 16.8 factors, 4.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists, incomes Third Staff All-ACC honors. He’s looking for a medical redshirt waiver that might give him two extra seasons.
Marquette: Sananda Fru
Fru brings an enormous inside presence to Marquette after beginning 29 of 35 video games at Louisville. He averaged 9.0 factors, 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks, capturing an unbelievable 75.3% from the sphere. He ranked sixth within the ACC in blocks per recreation and recorded 4 double-doubles.
Windfall: Miles Byrd
Byrd is coming off his greatest season at San Diego State, averaging 10.4 factors, 4.7 rebounds and a couple of.6 assists whereas incomes Mountain West Defensive Participant of the Yr honors. He’s additionally a two-time All-Mountain West and two-time All-Defensive Staff choice. His defensive versatility ought to instantly strengthen Windfall.
Seton Corridor: Del Jones
Jones was one of many Massive South’s high scorers at Radford, averaging 17.2 factors, 3.5 rebounds and three.5 assists whereas beginning all 32 video games. He shot 41.6% from the sphere and 80.9% from the free-throw line.
St. John’s: Tounde Yessoufou
Yessoufou might be one of the impactful newcomers within the nation. The previous Baylor standout averaged 17.8 factors, 5.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and a couple of.0 steals as a freshman, incomes All-Massive 12 honorable point out honors. He additionally set Baylor freshman information for factors and discipline objectives. St. John’s landed the No. 4 switch in 247Sports’ rankings.
UConn: Nikolas Khamenia
Khamenia averaged 5.7 factors, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 help as a freshman at Duke, capturing 44.4% from the sphere and 34.0% from three. He was a four-star recruit ranked No. 15 nationally by ESPN, giving UConn a former top-20 prospect with a yr of high-level expertise.
Villanova: Luigi Suigo
Suigo is a novel addition after enjoying professionally for BC Mega Basket in Serbia. The 7-foot-3 Italian averaged 7.9 factors and 5.1 rebounds in 26 ABA League video games, then withdrew from the NBA Draft after being invited to the NBA Mix. His worldwide expertise and measurement give Villanova a really totally different frontcourt possibility.
Xavier: Tru Washington
Washington brings three years of high-major and Mountain West expertise to Xavier. He averaged 11.9 factors and 4.0 rebounds at Miami final season whereas rating fourth within the ACC with 1.8 steals per recreation. Earlier than that, he earned All-Mountain West honorable point out at New Mexico and helped the Lobos win the 2024-25 convention regular-season championship.
