The Charleston Southern men’s basketball program and head coach Saah Nimley announced on May 4 the full roster of its incoming class for the 2026 season.
The announcement is significant as it outlines a blend of returning players and new recruits, reflecting the team’s strategy to balance experience with fresh talent. Nimley said, “First and foremost, I am happy to be able to retain Lase (Olalere), Jacob (Taylor), Devin (Brafford), and Kaleb (Lofton). We are grateful to them and their families in an era of transfers to decide to continue their development here with us at Charleston Southern. They bring back a useful amount of game experience, but also fully understand who we are and the culture we have and expect. I fully trust them to lead the way with the new group we are welcoming to campus. With that being said, we are very excited to welcome multiple new faces to our program heading into next season. Our assistant coaches have worked tirelessly since last season’s conclusion to piece together this roster, and we were able to stay true to who we are when it comes to skill, shooting, and IQ. We have also added length and athleticism on the defensive end. We are extremely excited to get right to work when this group gets together in June.”
Among those joining Charleston Southern is Riley Brooks from Carthage College, recognized for his scoring ability; Jackson Crawford from Emory & Henry brings versatility as a guard; Tito Deng from Jacksonville offers size at seven feet tall; Nicholas Errica arrives from Western Michigan with international playing experience; Alex Harper joins after successful stints at North Platte Community College and Daytona State; DJ Hubbard comes from Cedar Shoals High School as one of its top scorers; Marquise Leslie joins following a state championship win at Alexander High School; Mathok Majok adds height at seven-foot-four after time at New Orleans; Assane Mandian brings Division I experience from UNC Greensboro along with an international background; Jefferson McLamb arrives after strong performances at Mount Olive; Anthony Ruffolo comes in following three productive seasons at Cedarville.
Crawford expressed confidence about moving up divisions: “It’s always been a goal of mine to play Division I,” Crawford said. “I know I can compete at that level.” The coaching staff has praised several newcomers for their skills or potential impact on both ends of the court.
Nimley highlighted Leslie’s character by saying: “He has high character, is very strong academically, and his ability to make shots, his athleticism, and his feel for the game has us very excited.” Coaches described McLamb as “simply an elite shooter,” noting his combination of shooting ability and athleticism.
As preparations begin for summer training sessions in June, Charleston Southern looks ahead with optimism about integrating these recruits into its system.
