Cullowhee, N.C. – A new season begins this week for Western Carolina men's basketball as the Catamounts take the floor for the first time ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
 
Entering his third season at the helm, head coach Tim Craft welcomes a roster featuring four returning players, eight transfers and four freshmen as the Catamounts begin a new chapter in Cullowhee.
 
With 12 newcomers arriving in Cullowhee during the offseason, the next two weeks offer the Catamounts their first opportunity to establish chemistry and define their identity before the games begin to count.
 
The Catamounts' first test comes Tuesday, Oct. 20, when they travel to Boone for an exhibition matchup against longtime mountain rival Appalachian State. The contest serves as the first of two preseason tune-ups ahead of the regular season. Tipoff on Tuesday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. inside the Holmes Convocation Center.
 
WCU returns to Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center on Monday, Oct. 26, for its lone home exhibition, hosting USC Upstate at 6 p.m.

Tickets to Tuesday's road contest in Boone are available online here, while admission to Monday's home exhibition game is FREE. Season ticket holders may sit in their reserved seats, courtside locations, or Catamount Cabin seats by presenting their tickets upon entry to the appropriate section. All other fans can sit in general admission seating.
 
Neither contest will have live stats or live video of the preseason matchups. 
 
While the Catamounts return only four players from last year's roster, the group is anchored by rising sophomores Samuel Dada and Tayeshaun Smith alongside Drew Hollifield and Titian DeRosa.
 
Dada returns after an impressive debut season in Cullowhee, leading the Catamounts with 235 rebounds and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting 69 percent from the floor. He scored in double figures 10 times, including a season-high 19 points against Samford.

Smith appeared in 30 games as a freshman, carving out a key reserve role for the Catamounts. He scored a season-high 18 points against Virginia University of Lynchburg and added nine points in 23 minutes at Georgia. Smith finished the year shooting 41 percent from the floor while collecting 50 rebounds.
 
To complement its returning core, Western Carolina added eight transfers from programs across the country. The group includes experienced veterans Malachi Brown (Georgia State/Seton Hall) and Donovan Raymond (ODU/Hampton), while Travelle Bryson (Howard/Vincennes) and Isaiah Manning (Sam Houston State/TCU) bring additional Division I experience and versatility to the roster. Sophomores Jaxon Prunty (College of Charleston), Jaeden Roberts (Hofstra), Cross Arias (Emory & Henry), and Jake Baker (East Carolina) add depth as the Catamounts continue to reshape their roster.
 
The transfer additions are joined by four freshmen in Jose Martins (Katy, Texas), Jacob Zhu (Atlanta, Ga.), Fola Sodipo (Katy, Texas) and Antonio McKoy (Salemburg, N.C.).

WCU's 15-player roster includes student-athletes from seven states and one international country, with seven players hailing from North Carolina.
 
On the sidelines, Craft is joined by returning assistants Andrew Brown, Adam Bullard and Jackson Simmons, while former graduate assistant AJ Stroop has been elevated to a full-time role.

Following the exhibition slate, Western Carolina opens the regular season on the road against ACC foe North Carolina on Nov. 2 before remaining in-state to renew its rivalry with UNC Asheville on Nov. 7. The Catamounts make their 2026-27 home debut Nov. 11 against Virginia University of Lynchburg.
 
Each home game throughout the 2026-27 season is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), with live audio coverage from the Catamount Sports Network kicking into full gear after the football season (check listings).

Season tickets for the home portion of the 2026-27 Catamount men's and women's basketball seasons are on sale now through the first-floor Ramsey Center Ticket Office, by phone at (828) 227-2401, and online at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets. Options include tickets for men's or women's and an "all-hoops" package for every home game in the Ramsey Center for both squads. Single-game tickets for both squads are also on sale.

Keep track of everything related to Catamount men's basketball and WCU Athletics through our social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@catamountmbb @wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@CatamountMBB @catamounts).