By: Abe Rothstein (@RothsteinAbe) and Scott Greaney (@ScottGreaney_)

The 2025-26 George Washington men’s basketball season surely is momentous. As the only remaining charter member of the Atlantic 10 remaining in the league, the Revolutionaries have their eyes set on the top of the conference. 

The braintrust in Foggy Bottom has put together a roster that has GW sitting at 81 in the preseason KenPom rankings, one spot against exhibition foe and rivals up M St., Georgetown. A buy-in between school president Ellen Granberg, Athletic Director Michael Lipitz, head coach Chris Caputo and players have the Revs sitting pretty in preseason Atlantic 10 polling. 

Four players were named to an All-Conference Preseason team, tied for the league high. Highlighted by potential A-10 Player of the Year in Rafael Castro leading the first team, joining recent alum, James Bishop, as the recent Revolutionaries to have the honor. GW also had Duquesne transfer Tre Dinkins III named to the Second Team and two additional returners in guards Christian Jones and Trey Autry round out the Third Team. In addition, Castro was named to the all-Defensive Team as well. 

Revenue sharing and NIL certainly help GW, as they sit among the top end in the conference in money available to spend developing the program. 

The 2025-26 season brings expectations that have been lacking for years in Northwest D.C. With a matchup against the defending national champions in Florida on the docket, multiple games on ESPN and the first “FridA-10” showdown at the Smith Center in over eight years, the buzz certainly is palpable. Whether that buzz turns into real momentum will depend on students, alumni and fans themselves – showing up, filling the Smith Center and proving that the long-talked-about lack of school spirit is starting to give way to a true home-court atmosphere worthy of the revitalized program. 

Returners from last year have been supplemented by top caliber transfers, with GW receiving praise from major media outlets for their portal class. 

With all of those factors being at play, the Revs are in the strongest position in years. It’s easy to crown offseason champions, but everything can change once the season gets underway.  David Korn got us started on the upcoming season, here’s our preview of the 2025-26 season.

Taking on Georgetown

Taking on Georgetown

44 years in the making, GW is finally taking on the Georgetown Hoyas. As GW head coach Chris Caputo mentioned in the George’s Army hype video posted to social media, he was six months old the last time the inner city rivals played. 

The days of bad blood are over with Caputo and Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley at the helm. Both are moving past the two schools butting heads. 

“I want to thank Coach Cooley and Georgetown for agreeing to do this, we’ve talked throughout the years,” said Caputo. “I think that this is a good step, you know, and hopefully not the end of different opportunities for us to play.”

December 13th, 1980 was the last time both teams played at the Smith Center with the Hoyas leaving victorious in a 84-82 overtime victory. Georgetown’s Mike Hancock knocked down a jumper to seal the game for the Hoyas. 

Following the overtime victory, the last game between the schools was played a year later on December 16, 1981 with Georgetown claiming another victory. 

“A sold out Smith Center is a great environment for both teams,” said Caputo. “For both teams to feel like is what college basketball is all about.”

Player by Player Breakdown: The Returners

The Returners:

If you told people at the beginning of last season that the Revolutionaries would find themselves with three returning players named to the preseason all-conference team, they probably would’ve found you crazy. 

Multiple reinforcements were brought in to supplement the impressive returning core of GW, giving the coaching staff the feeling that they can compete with anyone on any night. 

Rafael Castro: Redshirt Senior (Preseason All-Conference First Team, All-Defensive Team)

 2024-25 stats: 14 PPG, 8.9 RPG (led A-10), 1.4 BPG, 1.2 SPG, 66% FG (led A-10)

Rafael Castro leads the charge for GW and has serious expectations as not only a potential player of the year in the conference, but one of the better centers in the country. 

Fans rightfully worried this offseason of the chance that Castro might be poached by a power conference team, but he wanted to stay where the staff gave him a shot, something that is increasingly rare. 

The New Jersey product had one of the biggest improvements out of any player in America. Following two seasons at Providence where he saw sparing playing time, Slim wanted to come to the A-10 to have a chance to play meaningful minutes. 

Castro took a cataclysmic leap in his junior campaign, leading GW in scoring, rebounding, blocks and field goal percentage just to name a few categories. His rebounding numbers and field goal percentage were good for first in the entire conference. He had eight total games with 20 or more points scored and only six total games all season in single figures. 

First team All-Conference and All-Defense were among two of the accolades received at A-10 Media Day, but the staff still sees room for Castro to blossom into an even better player. 

“Can he be elite in pick and roll coverage consistently?” assistant coach Matt Colpoys said. “Can he guard in space and switch on to smaller players, which we did a lot last year with him. Can he grow and get even better there?”

One thing we know about Castro is the effort he puts in both on and off the court. It certainly paid off last season, and now with more spacing on the floor offensively, we very well might see another jump. 

Expect some increased responsibility on the offensive end for Castro, as the staff will look to him on the perimeter to find cutters on the inside and play more in a dribble handoff situation.

“Can he get better where he can impact in every part of the game,” said Colpoys. “On offense, he’s going to dominate the restricted area with his offensive rebounding, lobs, those things. His post game really expanded towards the back end of last year.”

If you felt that the Revolutionaries were unable to hit a lob last year to Castro, you were likely correct. In practice, we’ve seen some lobs on the money to Slim and we would definitely expect to see some alley-oops ignite the crowd this season in the Smith Center. 

Castro is the heart and soul of this team, expect another big time year. 

Trey Autry: Junior (A-10 Preseason All-Conference Third Team)

2024-25 stats: 10.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1 SPG, 39% 3PT

You might want to start calling Trey Autry by his nickname, Tricky. With three Trey’s (two Trey’s, one Tre) on the team this season between Autry, Dinkins and Moss it surely is a guard room filled with Trey’s. 

Trey might be the perfect name for Autry, who burst onto the scene last season taking a massive leap in his sophomore campaign. He nearly doubled his points per game average from 5.4 his freshman season to 10.4, jumping from 34% to 38% from three, doubling his steals per game from .5 to 1, or putting GW on his back against Fordham at Capital One Arena. Autry was one of the most efficient players in the entire conference. 

This media day, Tricky was named to the A-10 all conference third team. 

“It’s preseason, it doesn’t really mean anything,” said Autry when asked about his recognition. “It’s definitely cool to know that you like the work that you put in, the hours that are unseen will get seen.”

“[Autry] was the best plus minus player in the league last year,” said assistant coach Matt Colpoys. “Advanced analytics love Trey. Autry was a top 20 player in the country last year.”

You didn’t need analytics to show you the importance of Autry on the floor for the Revolutionaries last season from an offensive perspective. Defensively Autry is looking to improve his prowess on the other side of the ball as one of his season goals. 

“We’re trying to play fast this year, I want to be able to take a jump defensively,” said Autry. “You know, be somebody who can hound the ball and be somebody who can hold his side even more on the defensive end.”

Coach Colpoys sees even more room for growth from the junior. Despite him living around the three point line for his first two seasons in Foggy Bottom. 

“We have way more shooting now there’s space for him to drive,” said Colpoys. “It wasn’t that he couldn’t do it before, it was that it wasn’t what our team required.”

The driving ability of Autry will open up a new dimension to his game, especially in the passing department. Throughout this summer and the fall practices, the staff noted that Autry is top five on the team in assists. 

Even with conference accolades, Autry’s focus remains the same. 

Christian Jones: Redshirt Sophomore (All-Rookie Team/Preseason All-Conference Third Team)

2024-25 stats: 8.7 PPG, 2.6 APG, 1.7 SPG, 35% 3PT

When we wrote our 2024-25 season preview, we asked everybody one question: who will surprise us the most? From players to coaches to graduate assistants, everyone unanimously agreed that Christian Jones would be that guy. 

Coming out of high school, Jones was a three star recruit from Our Savior Lutheran in the Bronx, a program that has produced high quality players such as Posh Alexander, Dylan Addae-Wusu, Maximus Edwards and even NBA talent in Precious Achiuwa. As I perused through the alumni list, former Kiss member Ace Frehley also traversed the halls of Our Savior Lutheran (may he rest in peace). 

If not for another Jones in the league (Deuce Jones), Christian would have been the A-10 Rookie of the Year. Highlighted by 14 games with double figure scoring and a career high mark of 23 points in the victory against Dayton, Jones is ready for a leap in his redshirt sophomore season. 

“He’s got so many skills you can’t teach…” Colpoys said. “He’s getting stronger.”

Coming into this season, Jones has gained ten pounds of muscle, according to strength and conditioning coach Robert “Handy” Handerahan. You definitely can see the difference on the court. 

“He’s got it all. It’s just about consistently putting it together, which he’s done more and more of,” Colpoys continued. “And he’s an awesome learner. He listens really well and learns through playing, which I think we saw last year.”

Redshirting his freshman year proved to be a massive help in the development of the young guard. Now coming into the new season with all-conference recognition, he’s ready to take another step up as he competes with other guards for major minutes on the court. 

Garrett Johnson: Redshirt Junior

Missed 2024-2025 (torn ACL)

The true wild card for George Washington this season is the availability of Garrett Johnson. After missing almost all of conference play in 2024 with a hip injury, Johnson returned to the court in summer 2024, where he tore his ACL in the first practice back. 

It’s truly been a long and winding road for Johnson, where he has essentially been limited to playing about 19 games in a span of six years stretching from high school to Princeton now to GW.

When healthy, Caputo will be the first to say that he believes Johnson is not only one of the better shooters in the conference, but the entire country, a statement heard ad nauseum in Caputo press conferences, and one of the boxes on “Caputo Bingo”. 

Johnson’s first season in the buff and blue was stellar and if not for his injury, he was a shoo-in for A-10 rookie of the year. The Oakton product averaged 13.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg while knocking down threes at a 40.3% clip. GW certainly will welcome back his services this season as one of the top shooters, especially at his size of 6-7. 

It would be foolish to expect Johnson to play more than 30 minutes a game as the coaching staff will be careful to start the season, but the newly found depth allows for a build up over time. 

“He’s more than just the shot making, and he’s so much more than a shooter,” said Matt Colpoys. “His body is totally different, and he’s a monster.”

Johnson has noticeably gained muscle, over 10 pounds in total according to Handerahan. The weight gain will help him on both sides of the ball. 

“He’s gotten a lot better defensively,” said Colpoys. “Knowing what’s going on and understanding our defense, and then just physically, he’s just bigger and stronger.”

There are few stories in college basketball as good as the return of Garrett Johnson. Now, it’s all about getting back into game shape and getting those live reps. Less pressure is on the table for Johnson and fans surely will be excited to see him return to the court. 

Ty Bevins: Sophomore

2024-25 stats: 2.4 PPG, .6 SPG,  39% 3PT

Bevins emerged as a key member of the rotation towards the back half of last season. Coming in as a true freshman, he gave the Revs the first real minutes from a true freshman since Trey Autry did the year prior, something that has been exceedingly rare in the Caputo era. 

He found his knack, knocking down corner threes at a high rate, eclipsing 38% for his freshman campaign. Along with his strong performance from three, he proved to be a strong defender with three games with two steals. 

The coaching staff praised the Prince George’s County product as a player who played his role perfectly. Even with a more crowded backcourt, Bevins’ versatility will play in his favor this season. 

Trey Moss: Redshirt Senior

2024-25 stats: 4.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG

Moss was brought in last season following a productive season at William and Mary. The Florida product was a member of the rotation at the beginning of the year, showcasing some real defensive intensity and hustle, until he dealt with an injury and was never the same. 

The emergence of Christian Jones at the guard position knocked Moss out of the lineup, but he proved to play valuable spot minutes. Currently dealing with an injury, Moss has been out of practice and will have to fight for minutes in a crowded backcourt this season. 

The Transfers

Newcomers: 

Tre Dinkins III – Duquesne, Canisius (Preseason All-Conference 2nd Team)

2024-25 stats: 12.9 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, 40.9 FG%, 37.9 3P%

The Revs’ first addition of the offseason, Tre Dinkins III, arrives in Foggy Bottom bringing proven A-10 experience and a confident scoring touch. The 6-foot-2 guard from Chester, Pennsylvania played in all 32 games for Duquesne last season, averaging nearly 13 points per game while shooting close to 38 percent from three. Revolutionaries fans may remember him from last year’s Maximus Edwards’ “revenge game” at the Smith Center, where Dinkins posted 12 points in the 73–65 Duquesne win. Now, he’ll look to make that same impact in GW’s favor.

Dinkins’ game fits seamlessly into Coach Caputo’s offense — a ball-dominant guard who thrives in the high pick-and-roll, capable of creating for himself or facilitating looks for teammates like Rafael Castro, while also being able to shoot the ball at a consistent clip. His experience running an A-10 offense last year gives the Revs another reliable late-game option, particularly in close conference games. 

Coach Colpoys noted that Dinkins has made major strides defensively, calling that end of the floor his “biggest area of improvement” so far. With his scoring versatility, leadership and newfound defensive edge, Dinkins could be one of the most quietly valuable pickups of the summer, a steady hand capable of taking control when the lights are brightest.

Bubu Benjamin shoots a corner three during a scrimmage vs. Temple / Photo Credit: @GW_MBB

Bubu Benjamin – Tarleton State

2024-25 stats: 13.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 44.1 FG%, 38.0 3P%

The Medicine Hat, Alberta native chose George Washington over a list of Power Four programs that included Michigan, TCU, UCF and Richmond. Benjamin was a vital contributor at Tartleton State last season as the top scorer, averaging 13.9 points per game, while shooting 44 percent from the field and 38 percent from three point range. With two years of eligibility left, Benjamin joins the Revs as a ready-made contributor capable of impacting both ends of the floor. 

 Colpoys’ face lit up when talking about what he’s seen from the 6 ‘7’ junior guard. “He’s got Defense Player of the Year potential – he’s that disruptive when teams try to run action against him.” Colpoys compared Benjamin’s defensive IQ to that of last year’s A-10 Defensive Player of the Year, Jared Billups, for his knowledge and anticipation of opponents’ offensive schemes. 

Benjamin had the most defensive rebounds for the Texans last season, was tied for the team lead in total steals and was the second-highest offensive rebounder. The Revs will be hoping to utilize his natural ability as a guard to soar to the glass, something they have not had since Maximus Edwards two seasons ago. It’s very possible that Benjamin could take over the small forward spot and break into a second or third option as the season progresses. 

Tryone Marshall Jr. – Western Kentucky, Colby CC

2024-25 stats: 10.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.2 SPG, 42.1 FG%, 31.5 3P%

Tyrone Marshall Jr., known by teammates and coaches as “Woo”, was the final Revs transfer acquisition this past summer, coming in after 3 years at Western Kentucky. His career is representative of the new norm in college basketball, with this season being his sixth year playing collegiate basketball after playing two years of JUCO at Colby CC and then four at Western Kentucky. 

The Nashville, Tennessee product is one of a few GW transfers who have experience playing in the postseason, as he was a key part of Western Kentucky’s run to the NCAA Tournament, scoring 21 points against two-seeded Marquette in the First Round. He was also named All-CUSA Honorable Mention twice in his three years and appeared in all 32 games last season averaging just under 29 minutes per game. 

When it comes to his game, Marshall Jr. can really serve as a jack of all trades for the Revolutionaries at the four spot. At 6-foot-8 and around 215 pounds, he gives Coach Caputo an flexible option for multiple rotations, whether that means going small, leaning on bigger lineups, pushing the pace in transition, or slowing the game down in the half court. With his build and athleticism from what we’ve seen so far in practices, watch out for some highlight posters from “Woo,” like this one in GW’s scrimmage against Temple. 

“[Marshall Jr.] is so creative, he’s like a creative forward.” coach Colpoys said.”He’s a super versatile player that we got to use in the right ways and a little different than anyone else that we have.”

The optimism surrounding Marshall Jr’s  potential breakout is not just shared by the coaching staff, but also amongst his teammates. 

“I think “Woo” [Marshall Jr.] is going to be a fan favorite,” Autry said. “ I think a lot of people are going to like the excitement he brings and the versatility he brings to the court.”

Some may remember our correct prediction of Christian Jones’ breakout season last year, and while it remains to be seen whether Marshall Jr. will woo crowds in the same way, he’s our pick for this year’s Surprise Breakout Player. 

Jean Aranguren – Hofstra, Iona

2024-25 stats: 14.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 41 FG%, 34.2 3P%

Coming off a breakout year at Hofstra, 6-foot-3 Venezuelan guard Jean Aranguren arrives at GW as a proven two-way playmaker, fresh off averaging 14.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists while starting every game for the Pride. His playmaking was particularly impressive, finishing fourth in the conference and 71st nationally in assist rate, per KenPom. 

Caputo has long recruited from his home state of New York, and Aranguren fits that mold, having starred at Upper Room Christian School in Long Island before beginning his college career at Iona. 

Coach Colpoys couldn’t help but rave about Aranguren’s competitiveness and passing ability, calling him “an ultimate competitor” who “just wins” every drill in practice. Colpoys also said that he has ranked fourth in offensive rebounds in practices, which is impressive for a 6-foot-3 guard. The Revs were sixth in the conference in offensive rebounds per game last season and Aranguren’s tenacity on the glass alongside his ability to find the open man could pay dividends for the Revs this season. 

Luke Hunger – Northwestern

2024-25 stats: 2.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.2 APG, 38.1 FG%, 11.1 3P%

Coming over from Northwestern, Luke Hunger brings with him both Big Ten experience and the mindset of a player ready to make an immediate impact in Foggy Bottom. The 6-foot-10 forward started in Northwestern’s Second Round NCAA Tournament game against eventual national champion UConn and NBA lottery pick Donovan Clingan, gaining valuable experience against elite competition. After serving as a backup to five-year starter Matthew Nicholson, Hunger told me he feels “well prepared” for a similar role behind Rafael Castro while continuing to develop his game as a stretch four and not just a traditional center.

Colpoys praised Hunger’s all-around skill set as a “versatile big who can step out, he can shoot threes, post up and pass well.”

“He’s really good at flowing offense and getting from point A to B to C, which is super important the way that we play – we use our bigs a ton.” 

Much like what fans saw last season with Sean Hansen, Colpoys likes to give his big men a large role in the gameplan. 

“For us, bigs are so important in flowing our offense because of their impact, they’re guard pick and roll coverages, they’re guarding the rim – they’re the anchor.”

When it comes to the idea of possibly running a double-big lineup with Hunger and Castro, Colpoys places less emphasis on individual stats in the box score, but more of their impact on the game. Let’s revisit the example of Sean Hansen last year again. When you look at the stat sheet, Hansen averaged just 5.2 points and 2.8 rebounds which might not look like a lot. But when you zoom in, you remember an experienced veteran who played nearly 20 minutes every game except for the season finale versus Boise State, showcased glimpses of playmaking prowess and was consistent insurance behind Castro. 

As for Hunger, he’s been working this past summer on working on improving his poise and patience on the court. “I think I can do a better job of not being as rushed in certain situations with the ball and making decisions down low.”

The Freshmen

Two freshman newcomers join the Revolutionaries. 

Jalen Rougier-Roane: G| 6-4 | Bowie, MD | HS: Sidwell Friends

Staying close to home, Jalen-Rougier Roane didn’t have to travel far to become a Revolutionary. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Sidwell Friends has made the short trip down Wisconsin Avenue to Foggy Bottom, choosing GW over a strong list of programs that included George Mason, Marquette, Penn State, Virginia Tech and others. A Bowie, Maryland native, Rougier-Roane was one of the most decorated players in the DMV area, ranked as the No. 8 prospect locally by 247Sports. He’s also gained valuable international experience, representing Canada’s U18 National Team at the AmeriCup, where he showcased his poise and ability to contribute on both ends of the floor. As he’s been recovering from a broken foot suffered in his final year of high school competition, Rougier Roane may turn out to be a significant long-term investment and play for Coach Caputo. 

Vincent (“Vinny”) Chaudri: F| 6-7 |Wallkill, NY |Northfield Mount Hermon

At 6-foot-7, “Vinny” Chaudri joins GW from Northfield Mount Hermon as a consensus three-star prospect and a top-10 player out of New York. A Wallkill, NY native, he adds to the Revolutionaries’ growing Empire State pipeline after choosing GW over Loyola Chicago, SMU, Saint Louis, George Mason, and Richmond. While Chaudri brings intriguing size and versatility on the wing, he still carries the frame of a developing freshman and will likely benefit from a year of physical growth before stepping into a regular rotation role. We don’t have any word yet, but it would not be surprising to see him take a redshirt season as Christian Jones did two seasons ago.

The Departures

Gerald Drumgoole Jr. (Graduated)

2024-25 stats: 34 games (started all): 11.0 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 1.2 Ast

The Rochester product proved to be valuable for the Revolutionaries last season. Finishing out his final year of eligibility in Foggy Bottom, Drumgoole was second on the team in scoring. 

Highlighted by performances behind the arc against Dayton and in early non-conference play, Drumgoole proved his value, though he did hit several rough patches in conference play from three. A donut hole on ten attempts behind the arc proved costly in the double overtime loss in Fairfax against George Mason. 

Drumgoole was as streaky as they get, but was a great presence within the locker room and with the media. 

Sean Hansen (Graduated)

2024-25 stats: 33 games (19 starts) 5.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.8 APG

Sean Hansen was the first true backup center brought in by the staff since the departure of Noel Brown. Coming from Cornell, Hansen started the season coming off the bench, then replaced Darren Buchanan Jr. in the starting lineup following his injury.

The coaching staff loved his ability to pass and shoot, especially as a big man. Hansen provided important minutes, but teams began to figure out the GW lineup during conference play as the lack of Buchanan involvement shined the spotlight on Hansen. 

Hansen had a season high 12 points in a road victory against Rhode Island. 

Following his graduation, Hansen remains in the D.C. area. 

Darren Buchanan Jr. (Transfer: Rutgers)

2024-25 stats: 32 games (15 starts) 10.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG

When Buchanan Jr. announced he’d be returning home to DC and playing for the then-Colonials, many fans were excited to see what the District’s former Gatorade Player of the Year had to showcase in his own backyard. Once he took over the starting lineup seven games into the season in the Baha Mar Hoops Classic, the 6-foot-7 forward never looked back, averaging 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, earning him four A-10 Rookie of the Week accolades and a spot on the A-10 All-Rookie Team. 

Coming off such a strong year leading the Revs, hopes and expectations were high on Buchanan Jr. to lead the Revolutionaries in the post-James Bishop IV era. Looking to prove the voters who left him off the Preseason All-Conference First Team wrong, Buchanan Jr. had a phenomenal start throughout the first nine games of the out-of-conference schedule, averaging 16.7 points per game, putting him on track for a potential A-10 First Team-caliber season. However, a lower body injury picked up against Old Dominion seemed to really throw his momentum off track. Conversely, the rise of Rafael Castro’s stardom last year seemed to affect his mindset and buy-in to the team as the season progressed. After scoring double figures in 12 of the first 13 games, GW’s once star forward only had six games in double figures the rest of the season. With that being said, Buchanan Jr. did play a heavy part alongside Autry’s threes in GW’s win against Fordham in the first round of the A-10 Tournament in Capital One Arena. However, if you told a GW fan at the start of the season last year that their Preseason All-Conference Second Team pick would not even be in consideration for an All-Conference team, many would find that hard to believe. 

Buchanan Jr. entered the transfer portal in the gap window after the A-10 tournament and the College Basketball Crown and has moved up the northeast corridor to play for Rutgers as they enter their post-Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey phase. He has said he’s “looking forward to gaining his confidence back” on the court after a challenging final season in Foggy Bottom, battling injury and playing time. He is on track to not only be a starter for the Scarlet Knights, but possibly a major offensive focal-point in New Brunswick. 

Jacoi Hutchinson (Transfer: Longwood)

2024-25 stats: 6.5 PPG, 2.4 APG, 1.3 SPG

At the time of his recruitment, Hutchinson was ranked as the highest ranked recruit landed by GW in the modern era. 

Hutchinson was promising in his first season in Foggy Bottom, moving to the starting lineup as injuries ravaged the buff and blue. His freshman campaign saw him end the season averaging a tick below eight points per game, three rebounds, two assists and a steal per game. In addition, Hutchinson shot 40% from three, giving GW fans a lot of reasons to be excited. 

Last season, his sophomore campaign struck a different cord battling more depth in the backcourt. With the emergence of Christian Jones coming off a redshirt season, Trey Autry taking a major leap, and the injury bug, Hutchinson struggled to find the same success. 

Following the end of the season, Hutchinson announced his intention to transfer out and will play this season at Longwood. 

Dayan Nessah (Transfer: Cleveland State)

2024-25 stats: 21 appearances, 1.7 PPG

Nessah was a late commitment to GW in the summer of 2024. Initially ranked as a highly touted international recruit from Switzerland, he competed at a high level for team Switzerland at U18 Eurobasket.

The Geneva, Switzerland native had impressive size, but needed more seasoning and did not receive much playing time. In search for more time on the court, Nessah transferred to Cleveland State where he will vie for minutes for the Vikings.

Keegan Harvey (Transfer: Bryant)

2024-25 stats: 6 appearances

The final piece of the Jamion Christian era departed GW at the end of last season after receiving his engineering degree. That’s certainly an impressive accomplishment juggling a D1 sport and engineering. 

While Harvey never saw much playing time after transferring to GW from the College of Charleston midway through  the 2021-22 season, he was popular with the student body. A seven foot three point threat does not come around too often, but injuries got in the way of him making the rotation. 

Now reunited with Christian at Bryant, Harvey has a clear path for playing time and a potential to make an impact on the court. 

Zamoku Weluche-Ume (Transfer: North Carolina A & T)

2024-25 stats: 1 game, did not score

The English product was a recruit prized by former GW assistant Zak Boisvert. He brought good size and the ability to shoot from beyond the arc, but injuries limited him to only one game last season. 

Without a clear path to the rotation, Weluche-Ume transferred to North Carolina A&T, where he will have a chance to play this upcoming year. 

Strength in Numbers: Starting Lineup Buzz

Starting lineups always generate tons of buzz before and during a season. Coach Caputo would be the first to tell you that the starting lineup is not the end all be all as some may believe. 

In his first three seasons at the helm in Foggy Bottom, it’s been easy for us to decipher the starting lineup based on practices, a bit of common sense and some intel. 

This year, things are different. For the first time since I can remember, GW has a team that can legitimately go ten players deep. Through a mix of recruitment, development and the transfer portal the Revolutionaries have set them up for major success, even if a few injuries bug to hit. 

A common conception of the transfer portal is coaches promising a certain amount of playing time, a starting spot, or other guarantees to bring the player to their school. Caputo took a different route to bringing in players, preaching the culture and program building. 

Looking across the conference, those promises have often proved to be to the detriment of a player. Look no further than Baraka Okojie who transferred from George Mason to Memphis and saw sparing playing time. Former La Salle Explorer Rokas Jocius transferred to UCF after a promising season on Olney Avenue, barely played as a Knight and now finds himself at Loyola Marymount. You could find countless examples of this and I might have chosen the A-10 sicko versions. 

Chris Caputo and GW have done things differently. In fact, no players were promised a starting role coming into the season, even the returners. The only starter currently set in stone is Rafael Castro. 

“Nobody came here with the idea that they’re going to play a certain amount of minutes or get a certain amount of shots, or anything like that,” said Caputo. “That was really important on the way in, that we didn’t promise anything to anyone.” 

Instead of the set in stone lineups fans are familiar with, I’d expect a matchup-based approach to the season. Against the giant lineup of the Florida Gators, we could see Luke Hunger slide in at the four spot alongside Castro. If Garrett Johnson needs a rest after missing all of last season, we could see an increase of Bubu Benjamin or Tyrone Marshall. At this point, the staff will look to ride the hot hands and matchup-based lineups, especially with a crowded backcourt.

Despite the influx of strong players, the attitudes are in the right place. 

“Iron sharpens iron,” said Trey Autry, one of the many guards vying for minutes. “ We have a bunch of guys who are high level guys able to go out every single day and have different combinations.”

For a team that has had some players stay on the court nearly 35 minutes a night and have ranked 263rd and 143rd in bench minutes the last two seasons according to KenPom, the depth is welcome. 

“One day might be your day, one day might not be your day,” said Autry. “That’s the beauty of it, being able to go head to head every single day. I mean, it’s been it’s been fun”

I wouldn’t expect to see anyone on this team average more than 30 minutes a night. 

For now, don’t worry about who starts the game, but look to see who finishes. 

The Whiteboard: Notes and Nuggets

THE WHITEBOARD:

• Former graduate assistants are now well-immersed into their new roles in the sports world.
  • Danny Enjamio will be staying in the A-10 Conference as the new General Manager, NIL for Fordham Athletics.
  • Denzel Brito has made his way to the west coast as an assistant coach under Clint Allard and UC San Diego. 
• Inside the training room: 
  • Trey Moss has been nursing a lower body injury and has been OUT of practice.
  • Tre Dinkins has lost 20 pounds since arriving on campus, according to Robert “Handy” Handerahan, the head of GW Strength and Conditioning. 
  • Amir Arrington has been tracked in the weight room more than any student-athlete in the entire school. Arrington has gained 20 lbs, he looks absolutely jacked. 
  • Jalen Rougier-Roane is down 18 pounds since arriving on campus. He missed most of his senior campaign at Sidwell Friends. 
  • Trey Autry is now listed at 210 lbs, up from 200 last season. 
  • Christian Jones has jumped from 6-2 to 6-4 and also gained 10 lbs of muscle, noticeably in the upper body, now weighing in at 200 lbs. 
  • Garrett Johnson is healthy and has been in the weight room, gaining 10 lbs of muscle. 
  • Bubu Benjamin has a 7-foot wingspan – the staff has some high hopes for the Tarleton State transfer and has been the “hardest playing guy.”

Other notes and nuggets:

• In the 50th anniversary season of the Smith Center, Chris Caputo has made players understanding the history of the school a key theme. In a practice, he took the team over to the single red seat, which the school has to honor former alum Red Auerbach. 

“I just wanted to make sure we’re educating the guys about the history of our program,” said Caputo. “The history of basketball obviously [at GW] starts here with Red Auerbach.”

• Red Auerbach, as Caputo noted, used to park his car by the fraternity townhouses and would play racquetball in the basement of the Smith Center. 

• Chris Caputo attended the Basketball Hall of Fame induction of Saint Bonaventure  General Manager and former ESPN reporter Adrian “Woj” Wojnarowski. The two have been friends since Woj worked at the Bergen Record and covered George Mason during their run to the Final Four. 
• New lighting displays and in game improvements will be in full force at the Smith Center.
• New threads soon?

A10 Talk