Tuesday, October 21, 2025
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PHOTO: Markus Spiske, Unsplash
St. John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor has been named 2025-26 Big East Preseason Player of the Year by a unanimous vote of the league’s head coaches. Connecticut guard Braylon Mullins has been selected Preseason Freshman of the Year. The coaches were not permitted to choose their own players.
Ejiofor, a 6-9, 245 lb. senior, was an All-conference First Team selection and the league’s Most Improved Player last year. He averaged 14.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, while shooting nearly 58 percent from the floor a season ago. His 8.1 boards per outing ranked second in the league, while his 4.4 offensive rebounds per game rate was tops in the nation. Pursuing a degree in business administration, Ejiofor was a 2024-25 College Sports Communicators Second Team Academic All-American.
Mullins, a 6-6 guard from Greenfield, Ind., was a 2025 McDonald’s All-American from Greenfield-Central in Greenfield, Ind. The recipient of the prestigious “Mr. Basketball” award in the state of Indiana, he was a consensus five-star prospect and top 20-ranked recruit. He averaged nearly 33.0 points per game as a senior and finished his prep career as Greenfield-Central’s all-time leading scorer, at 2,158 career points.
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The Preseason first team includes three players from UConn – Solo Ball, Alex Karaban, and Tarris Reed Jr. Ball enjoyed a breakout sophomore season, earning 2024-25 All-Big East Second Team honors. He averaged 14.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, while connecting on 41.4 percent from beyond the arc. Karaban averaged 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game along with 1.6 blocks and a 2.1 assist/turnover ratio en route to being named to the second team.
Reed – the conference Sixth Man Award winner a season ago – averaged 9.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocked shots, while shooting 67.0 percent.
Creighton forward Owen Freeman is entering his first season with the Bluejays, transferring after spending his first two seasons at Iowa. Last year, he averaged 16.7 points and 6.7 boards while shooting nearly 64 percent from the field in 19 games played.
Marquette senior guard Chase Ross averaged 10.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists for the Golden Eagles last year. His 61 steals (1.79/game) ranked fifth in the league. He is a two-time All-Academic team selection.
St. John’s forward-guard Bryce Hopkins begins his first season with the Red Storm. A unanimous First Team selection in 2022-23 while with Providence, Hopkins has been limited to only 17 games over the past two seasons due to injury.
Friars Score Two
The Preseason Second Team is highlighted by five outstanding guards, all making their debut in the league in 2025-26: Silas Demary Jr. from UConn, Josh Dix from Creighton, KJ Lewis from Georgetown, Jason Edwards from Providence, and Ian Jackson from St. John’s.
The Preseason Third Team is a talented group made up of returners and newcomers. The returners are Creighton’s Jackson McAndrew, DePaul’s CJ Gunn, Georgetown’s Malik Mack, and Providence’s Oswin Erhunmwunse, joined by transfers Nik Graves from Creighton, Dillon Mitchell, and Joson Sanon from St. John’s
There were ties in the voting, placing six and seven players on the First and Third teams, respectively.
2025-26 Men’s Basketball Preseason Honors
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s, F, Sr., 6-9, 245, Garland, Texas
PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Braylon Mullins, UConn, G, Fr., 6-6, 196, Greenfield, Ind.
PRESEASON FIRST TEAM
Solo Ball, UConn, G, Jr., 6-4, 200, Leesburg, Va.
Alex Karaban, UConn, F, R-Sr., 6-8, 230, Southborough, Mass.
Tarris Reed Jr., UConn, C, Sr., 6-11, 265, St. Louis, Mo.
Owen Freeman, Creighton, F, Jr., 6-10, 240, Moline, Ill.
Chase Ross, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-5, 210, Dallas, Texas
Bryce Hopkins, St. John’s, G-F, Sr., 6-7, 220, Oak Park, Ill.
PRESEASON SECOND TEAM
Silas Demary Jr., UConn, G, Jr., 6-4, 195, Raleigh, N.C.
Josh Dix, Creighton, G, Sr., 6-6, 205, Council Bluffs, Iowa
KJ Lewis, Georgetown, G, Jr., 6-4, 210, El Paso, Texas
Jason Edwards, Providence, Gr., G, 6-1, 180, Atlanta, Ga.
Ian Jackson, St. John’s, G, So., 6-5, 195, Bronx, N.Y.
PRESEASON THIRD TEAM
Nik Graves, Creighton, G, Sr., 6-2, 190, Durham, N.C.
Jackson McAndrew, Creighton, F, So., 6-10, 225, Wayzata, Minn.
CJ Gunn, DePaul, G, Sr., 6-7, 200, Indianapolis, Ind.
Malik Mack, Georgetown, G, Jr., 6-2, 175, Oxon Hill, Md.
Oswin Erhunmwunse, Providence, F, So., 6-10, 235, Benin City, Nigeria
Dillon Mitchell, St. John’s, F, Sr. 6-8, 210, Tampa, Fla.
Joson Sanon, St. John’s, G, So., 6-5, 200, Fall River, Mass
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