UCF Basketball 2025–2026 Season Preview: Projected starting lineup, impact players and rotation

Off a 20-win season, UCF and Johnny Dawkins are tasked with a monumental rebuild. The Knights lost 12 players in the transfer portal. That hasn't stopped Dawkins, who got 11 new portal additions to the UCF roster. With a complete turnover, UCF should be one of the most interesting teams in college hoops. Here's an early rundown on the squad.

UCF basketball season preview for 2025-26

Mississippi State transfer Riley Kugel figures to be a central part of UCF's squad in 2025-26. (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

Starting Lineup

Guard: Riley Kugel

A transfer from Florida and then Mississippi State, Kugel is a 6-foot-5 guard with 42 SEC starts in his past. Last season, he averaged 9.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. Kugel shot 33% from 3-point range. In three collegiate seasons, he averaged 9.9, 9.2 and 9.3 points per game. He'll get a bigger role at UCF and could explode in his final season.

Guard: Themus Fulks

An experienced guard in his fourth school, Fulks averaged 14.6 points and 5.9 assists per game last season at Milwaukee. He's not a solid perimeter shooter, but he was an All-Horizon pick last season. The 6-foot-1 guard is the best natural point guard on this roster. Fulks's ability to play in the Big 12 figures to be a significant component in any UCF success.

Forward: Jamichael Stillwell

A 6-foot-8 forward from Milwaukee (yes, he played with Fulks last year), Stillwell had a brilliant freshman campaign there. Stillwell averaged 13.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game last year. He was a 29% 3-point shooter, but Stillwell could function as a true back-to-the-basket post player if he needed to do so. Instead, he'll likely be a do-everything star.

Forward: BJ Freeman

The 6-foot-6 Freeman was solid at Arizona State last year. He averaged 13.7 points per game with the Sun Devils and shot 36% from 3-point range. He played at Milwaukee before last season, which seems to be the common thread across this roster. Freeman has scored 1,493 points in three college seasons and could carry much of the scoring load for UCF.

Center: John Bol

A 7-foot-2 recruit from Ole Miss, Bol is a developing player. He played 69 minutes across 17 games with the Rebels, scoring 19 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. There's not much there to go on, but how many 7-foot-2 athletes are sitting ready in the transfer portal? Bol will get every chance to develop at UCF.

Rotation Players

It's basically all transfers, so roles are unclear. Arkansas forward Jordan Burks and Villanova forward Kris Parker should both see some time. Texas Tech's Devan Cambridge is a wing who will see some time, and guards Carmelo Pacheco and George Beale could see some time.

Impact Players

The Milwaukee guys are probably key. Is Fulks ready for the big time? Can Freeman and Stillwell be a consistent inside-outside scoring tandem? Of course, Bol's development could be a wild card as well, but Fulks, Freeman and Stillwell will likely tell the story of this coming season.

What do you think of UCF's upcoming squad? Share your take below in our comments section!