Baltimore, MD – Bluefield State University men's basketball has been selected 8th in the 2025-26 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Preseason Poll under the new leadership of Head Coach Luke D'Alessio.
During the 2024-25 season, the Big Blue made a historic run to the CIAA Championship game and earned a trip to the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Big Blue enter the 2025-26 campaign with a new coaching staff and an entirely rebuilt roster under D'Alessio's direction. The Big Blue open their season at the Bobcat Classic in Frostburg, Maryland, November 15th-16th.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Virginia State
2. Claflin
3. Fayetteville State
4. Virginia Union
5. Lincoln (PA)
6. Johnson C. Smith
7. Shaw
8. Bluefield State
9. Bowie State
10. Livingstone
11. Elizabeth City State
12. Winston-Salem State
2025-26 Men's Basketball Preseason Team
- Amare Wimbush, Bowie State – Transferred to VSU**
- Larry Howell, Bluefield State – Transferred to Fayetteville State**
- Jacob Cooper, Virginia State
- Xavier Tubbs-Matthews, Elizabeth City State - Transferred to Claflin**
- Ezekiel Cannedy, Fayetteville Sate
- Avery Huggins, Shaw
- Bobby Gardner, VUU
- James Nipper, Livingstone
- Jamauri Bryant, JCSU
- Jaquantae Harris, ECSU
