Men's Basketball 2025-26 Roster Reload: Coastal Carolina

Head Coach Justin Gray enters his second season in charge of Coastal Carolina.

His first season at the helm of the Chants didn’t go as planned, finishing 13th in the conference. However, there were some flashes of what this program can look like with Gray at the helm, and he brings back a few key pieces to build with.

The most notable returner for Coastal Carolina is RaSheed Jones, who is expected to be the focal point of this year’s team. The 6-foot-6 guard started 29 of 32 games last season and averaged 11.6 points per game. Jones showed early-season flashes of star potential but struggled with consistency as the season went on, finishing the year shooting 38.4 percent from the field and 34 percent from deep. If he can regain his early-season form, Jones could become one of the best guards in the Sun Belt.

Recognition for our guy 👌

More info ➡️ https://t.co/VvEmdH3HM4 pic.twitter.com/I1skFiNR25

— Coastal Men’s Basketball (@CoastalMBB) October 20, 2025

Braeden MacVicar also returns after missing last season due to injury. The 6-foot-11 big man sat out the entire year with a preseason injury but will look to bring his stretch-big skills back into the rotation. As a freshman, he averaged 6.1 points per game and showcased the ability to shoot from the perimeter, providing versatility. Connor Martin, Charles Dunlap, and Jackson Keil also return from last season’s team.

Departures

Coastal Carolina lost 80.1 percent of their scoring production from last season, with 63.5 percent of that production being lost to the portal.

The most significant departure is Jordan Battle, who transferred within the conference to Old Dominion, his hometown school. Battle led Coastal in scoring last season with 12.8 points per game and shot an impressive 42.7 percent from three. The 6-foot-2 guard was named to a preseason All-Conference team.

The frontcourt also took major hits. Noah Amenhauser, last year’s starting center, transferred to Oregon State after averaging 10.8 points and six rebounds per game. Collin Granger has graduated after averaging 7.2 points per game, and is now pursuing a career in football. Mabor Majak played in all 32 games last season, and is now a graduate assistant at Missouri.

The Chants also lose two more starters via the portal. Josh Meo, who led the team in minutes (31.7 per game), transferred to Winthrop after averaging 8.5 points. Denzel Hines, a forward who averaged 7.2 points and a team-high 6.2 rebounds, transferred to UC Riverside. Role player Andre Mulibea, who started one game, was originally on the roster but is no longer with the team.

The backcourt also sees turnover. Veteran guard Henry Abraham graduated after three years in Conway, where he played for three different coaches. DA Houston, who was expected to handle point guard duties, only appeared in one game due to injury and has transferred to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Naz Brown also departed, transferring to a Division II program after averaging nearly 15 minutes per game.

Arrivals

To rebuild after heavy roster turnover, Justin Gray brought in seven transfers and two freshmen.

Leading the transfer class is AJ Dancler, who comes in from Le Moyne College. Dancler averaged 15.1 points per game last season while shooting over 40 percent from three, and his production improved in NEC play, where he averaged 20.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per contest. The 6-foot-2 combo guard gives fellow Indiana native RaSheed Jones someone who can alleviate ball-handling duties.

Ready to get to work!! #chantsup #commited pic.twitter.com/qsc79iNTxO

— AJ Dancler⚡️ (@ajdancler) March 31, 2025

Joshua Beadle, a transfer from Boston College, could be one of the most impactful additions. The South Carolina native brings high-major experience from both Boston College and Clemson and is known for his shooting, hitting 47.2 percent of his threes last season.

Coastal’s frontcourt has been completely rebuilt. Nadjrick Peat transfers in from Division II Hawaii-Hilo, where he was a two-time Conference Defensive Player of the Year. His shot-blocking ability should help anchor the defense. Jerry Ngopot, who played two seasons at ULM, brings familiarity with the Sun Belt. Derrick Green, a 6-foot-9 275-pound JUCO transfer, comes in and appears to be a developmental piece with three years of eligibility remaining.

Rounding out the portal class are DaJohn Craig and Reggie Hill. Craig, a transfer from Oregon State, redshirted last season but has shown flashes as a true freshman two seasons ago. Hill, a veteran forward, brings a three-and-d profile that is needed on this year’s roster.

A freshman class of two will round out the 2025-26 team. Late riser in the 2025 class Tristan Thompson chooses to stay in-state over UNC Greensboro and Georgia Southern, and is expected to play a role this season. Three-star forward Devin Brown chose the Chants over Power-Five schools Arizona State and Mississippi State has dealt with early injuries, but should find the floor early in the season if healthy.

After a disappointing first season under Justin Gray, the pieces are now in place for Coastal Carolina to take a step forward in 2025–26. The combination of returning talent with a strong transfer class gives the Chanticleers a balanced and versatile roster. If the newcomers gel quickly, this team has the potential to surprise people in Sun Belt play.