They may have the best freshman class in the NESCAC, at least on paper. Maybe similar to four years ago when Vetter, Okorougo, and McDonald all played a lot of minutes, 2-4 of these transfer/freshman are going to play a lot of minutes. With 8 transfer/freshman coming in and at least 4 sophomore/juniors battling for minutes that will be 12 players for 5 spots if Cosgrove plays his normal 10 players. And they only lose 2 seniors next year although 2 very good players. Good problem to have that many good players, but it also can cause problems with players not happy about playing time as it happened on the team 4 years ago.

Quote from: nescac1 on June 28, 2026, 10:38:44 AMI'm definitely a fan of Mason Dawkins' game - the only real fear for Bowdoin is if he improves his skills (especially shooting) rapidly, he's the most obvious D1 level athlete in the league. 

With only four (at most) of 14 all-league guys returning, there are gonna be a ton of new faces leading the conference next year, Dawkins among them.  My guess for guys most likely to make a leap to an all-conference team next year:

1. KJ Neville
2. Jackson Rein
3. Mason Dawkins
4. Jared Berry
5. Ben Lyttle
6. Ricardo Nieves
7. Jon Medley
8. Jamari Robinson
9. Dominic Ducree
10. Greg Cantwell

Other guys to watch: Jalen Reese, Aidan Yates, Matthew Rideout, Sean O'Leary, Theo Pow, Ian Murray, Oscar Edelman, Jackson Bleecker

I would add Tristan Davis to your list as well. He is going to get more minutes and most likely more touches, could average a double double and be in the running for defensive player of the year.

It's definitely going to be an interesting season. So many questions for so many teams.

Quote from: nescac1 on May 27, 2026, 11:16:33 AMThis may be the other Trinity recruit D3bball mentioned, but they added ANOTHER high level recruit to a loaded recruiting class, Trey Jones from New Hampton, who NERR lists at number 10 in New Hampshire.  I imagine we will see several of Trinity's three highly regarding incoming wings stepping into major roles right away.  This was the year that Trinity really reaped the benefits of the national title in terms of recruiting.  NERR also updated its rankings a bit which I'll edit in the prior recruiting master list.  Trinity's group seems super, super stacked. 

One other Trinity note, as loaded as the graduating class was, one other original highly-regarded recruit in that class, Dane Moran, who didn't see major minutes at Trinity, landed at Dickinson and was first-team all Centennial Conference this year.  Crazy. 

Yes this is there final recruit. They lose 6, bringing in 8. Lots of competition for 5-6 spots.

My opinion, but I think a freshman may start. They need another scorer on that first unit. And I can see 2-4 freshman as part of the 6-10 rotation. Although I think that rotation might be closer to 6-12 or even 13 until they get to conference play.
It will just be a complete different look. The entire 2nd 5 could be different. At most only 1 returner from that unit.
Norris I agree likely to start with first unit.

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on May 18, 2026, 01:55:50 PM

Quote from: Stickthe3 on May 18, 2026, 12:20:56 PMWow, that's big news about Ippolito.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised given the current climate of college basketball, but that's a tough loss for Trinity.

On an unrelated note, Bentley HC Jay Lawson just announced his retirement.  It's probably too late for Nolan Ames to make any changes at this point, but got to feel for the kid as he initially committed to Colby, only to decommit after their coaching change, and now the coach he was planning on playing for is retiring (assuming he did not know about Lawson's plans).

I think that Bentley timing is weird.  Very late to make that announcement.  I'm watching this in conjunction with the rumors that more of the NE10 are exploring d3.  If (and I have no reporting on this at all) a school makes the decision to go that direction, it's often during this time of year.

Agree, St A's is the first domino and most likely more to follow. Issue will be what D3 conferences are going to take them in. Bentley should have no issue but not sure the rest of D2, at least in the northeast, will find it easy to just get in any conference they want.

Quote from: nescac1 on May 17, 2026, 06:59:44 PMPaul Ippolito transfers from Trinity to Redlands.  He was a steady back-up point guard for the Bantams, who now lose half of their ten-man rotation.  I expect we will see big minutes early from some of the heralded new arrivals next season.

For Trinity this fall may be like it was 4 years when they brought in 7 Freshman and 3 (Vetter, Okorougo and McDonald) average about 60 minutes/game. And there was no 5 in 5 out that year. Last 3 years only 2 freshman played significant minutes, Berry and Ayles, none this year.
5 spots to fill, but from reserves that didn't play this year, 4 will have an opportunity and I see at least 2 freshman that will play a lot. Hearing rumors that they have another potential that would be really good as well.

Quote from: SpringSt7 on May 03, 2026, 05:26:18 PM

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on April 23, 2026, 09:48:23 AM

Quote from: SpringSt7 on April 23, 2026, 09:41:56 AM

Quote from: NEhoops on April 22, 2026, 06:23:10 PMWill Davies (NE10 player of the year) from Saint Anselm is rumored to be transferring to Vermont ($100K+) and will have two years of eligibility remaining. He would have had D1 interest regardless of the upcoming transition from D2 to D3. I'm sure a handful of other players on the roster will be on the move too - with some potentially making moves to D3 schools in New England. 

Their whole rotation is already transferring to D1 schools this offseason and I don't think the transition down will affect anyone on the current roster. The entire staff will probably leave too. This will have as much effect on the NE D3 scene as Hartford did IMO

I'm curious why you think the staff will leave.  I doubt the pay scale will be much different in d3 than it was in d2, especially if they aim to be on par with top schools in New England.  I'm not saying they won't look elsewhere, but the lead assistant came from Trinity and graduated from Springfield and the other assistant is a St. A alum and definitely in the second half of his career.  What they're paying the HC might be on the higher end of d3 salaries, but I doubt it's outrageous.

They might all leave, but there's also plenty of reason to stay.

https://saintanselmhawks.com/news/2026/5/1/mens-basketball-saint-anselm-announces-leadership-transition-in-mens-basketball-program.aspx

I think great choice for St A's with Witter as new coach. Former D3 player, former D3 assistant coach and Witter in 2 years at Trinity helped recruit, Vetter, Lazarre, Okorougo and McDonald in his first year and then Davis and Berry in his 2nd season. Pretty darn good 6 players over 2 years.

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on April 25, 2026, 03:59:28 PM

Quote from: midrangepullup on April 25, 2026, 01:19:24 PM

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on April 25, 2026, 10:37:56 AMAll the reporting I've seen is that this is something the Division 1 cabinet will vote on soon, which means it would only apply to D1.  This actually makes a lot of sense.  They aren't particularly interested in limiting opportunity to play college basketball, just limiting opportunity to make a ton of money doing it.

It would be interesting to know, though, if a 26 year old former professional could still qualify to play d3.  Most of those pro exemptions have come because the player in question is under 25 - but I'm not sure if that's entirely spelled out.

I bet Kevin Garnett is still in decent shape - even at 49, he could probably help a d3 team.

I wonder if Division III coaches would ever tap into their former players' international networks? Many coaches have alumni who went on to play professionally overseas. In theory, coaches could ask them to identify experienced players (ages anywhere from 20 to 30) who never competed in the NCAA but might be interested in pursuing a graduate degree while playing. Could be a strange loophole.

I mean, D3 has a lot of legal legs to stand on when it comes to maintaining eligibility, though.  Courts are striking NCAA rules down largely on competitive employment issues, that the NCAA is artificially denying players the opportunity to earn a competitive living.  D3 doesn't have those opportunities to withhold, so it's likely they'll be able to keep their own rules well into the future.

We're not far from some player suing because it's unfair they're required to be an enrolled student.  Given the way the courts have decided so far, that should be a pretty easy argument to win, too.

Well based on yesterday's news, expect the lawsuits to start quickly at least for 26 graduates wanting to play D1.
The whole thing has been chaos for years, the coaches that don't want the 26's to play should realize that. The 26 group has been the one group that got screwed in high school and now in college

Quote from: Patrick Coleman on April 24, 2026, 11:47:39 AM

Quote from: stlawus on April 23, 2026, 06:23:27 PM

Quote from: D3BBALL on April 23, 2026, 04:02:00 PMArticle on ESPN that pretty much sounds like the NCAA is going to give 5 years of eligibility and it going to happen by June. But the coach's association wants a say on how it is going to happen.

Not sure I would want either group making this decision.

D3 needs to opt out.  The extra covid year resulted in a lot of nonsense in d3.  Can't have that dynamic be permanent.

This is a D-I thing. If D-III wants to do it, it has to make its own rules.

From what I am being told it will be for all 3 divisions. With the player movement up or down, if they don't make it for all 3 divisions, they are just going to have more issues and more lawsuits, which they are trying to avoid because they seem to lose most of them.

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on April 24, 2026, 08:21:54 AMWe've got four in five right now - it would just be going to five in five.  Not ideal, but not the end of the world.  Schools without grad programs are going to have guys leave for a fifth year - but the transfer thing isn't really going to die down anyway.  It's just the new way of things.

I think d3 can make different rules, but I'm not entirely sure - if this is a legal protection, they might not be able to do it.  We'll see.

The other element to consider is that it's not just five in five - it's a clock that starts at either HS graduation or 19th birthday (whichever is earlier).  It means nobody can play after 26.  That would affect non-traditional students, for sure - and if D3 doesn't follow it, might provide a landing spot for older students who haven't exhausted eligibility.

I'm thinking specifically of Yeshiva, who recruits a fair amount of guys from Israel, who can't come until they've finished their mandatory 18 month military service.  Although, I'm assuming the NCAA would have carve outs for things like that or Mormon missions, etc.

Agree they are going to have to make exceptions for examples such as hs graduates going straight to military service and I am sure some there will some others.

Article on ESPN that pretty much sounds like the NCAA is going to give 5 years of eligibility and it going to happen by June. But the coach's association wants a say on how it is going to happen.

Not sure I would want either group making this decision.

Article on ESPN that pretty much sounds like the NCAA is going to give 5 years of eligibility and it going to happen by June. But the coach's association wants a say on how it is going to happen.

Not sure I would want either group making this decision.

Going to make next year very interesting.

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on April 23, 2026, 02:47:39 PM

Quote from: D3BBALL on April 23, 2026, 02:20:34 PM

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on April 23, 2026, 01:58:55 PM

Quote from: D3BBALL on April 23, 2026, 01:54:50 PM

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on April 23, 2026, 10:04:12 AM

Quote from: SpringSt7 on April 23, 2026, 09:58:28 AMWhat schools have dropped down a level and have shown any sort of ambition? And what will make St. Anselm's a good D3 program?

It's hard during the transition time when there isn't a post-season to play for, but St. A's AD is Phil Rowe, who's got lots of experience at the D3 level and they're joining a conference that's pretty serious about athletics.  I think they'll try to compete - its whether or not the staff wants to wait through the non-eligible period or not.  Like I said, I could see it either way.

Not to mention, they've been trying to do this for a decade or more.  They want to be a d3 program.  I think they'll take it seriously.

Ryan what is the rule when moving from D2 to D3 in terms of how quickly they can play in postseason conference play and NCAA postseason play?

It's the same as any team coming in.  I think they're eligible in 29-30.  I believe there's a waiver available for reclassifying members that puts it at a three year process, if all goes well.

I understand the wait for going up, but don't see why they just don't let them play right away if you are going down.

In the end with all the player movement with the portal etc, for any team moving up or down, just let them play postseason right away.

It should actually be the other way.  If a St. Thomas can compete at d1 with d3 players, let them do it.  In this case, you're weaning the team off scholarship players.  As it is, there will be guys who have to chose between transferring, not playing, or giving up a scholarship.  There will be two classes of scholarship players in that situation when At. A becomes eligible.

I get where you are coming from, but St A's is basically losing everyone from this year's team, it will be very much like Hartford a few years ago but worse. Going to be very hard for that staff to bring in any elite players going forward, elite I mean D2, border line D1 players. I am just not sure a top D3 team would be worrying about St A's roster the next few years.

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on April 23, 2026, 01:58:55 PM

Quote from: D3BBALL on April 23, 2026, 01:54:50 PM

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on April 23, 2026, 10:04:12 AM

Quote from: SpringSt7 on April 23, 2026, 09:58:28 AMWhat schools have dropped down a level and have shown any sort of ambition? And what will make St. Anselm's a good D3 program?

It's hard during the transition time when there isn't a post-season to play for, but St. A's AD is Phil Rowe, who's got lots of experience at the D3 level and they're joining a conference that's pretty serious about athletics.  I think they'll try to compete - its whether or not the staff wants to wait through the non-eligible period or not.  Like I said, I could see it either way.

Not to mention, they've been trying to do this for a decade or more.  They want to be a d3 program.  I think they'll take it seriously.

Ryan what is the rule when moving from D2 to D3 in terms of how quickly they can play in postseason conference play and NCAA postseason play?

It's the same as any team coming in.  I think they're eligible in 29-30.  I believe there's a waiver available for reclassifying members that puts it at a three year process, if all goes well.

I understand the wait for going up, but don't see why they just don't let them play right away if you are going down.

In the end with all the player movement with the portal etc, for any team moving up or down, just let them play postseason right away.