Yale basketball has been at the top of the Ivy League for a while, and they don’t look to be stepping back this season either.
The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Yale basketball.
James Jones returns for his 27th season as the head coach of Yale basketball and once again should have the Bulldogs right near the top of the conference. Even though they lose stars John Poulakidas and Bez Mbeng, Nick Townsend returns. He, along with a handful of other role players, should be enough to keep them competitive in the always underrated Ivy League.
There are a few needs. With Mbeng gone, there is an open spot for the starting point guard, and no clear example of who will fill it. Luckily, Townsend is one of the best passing big men in college basketball, and his facilitating should help mend the gap until Yale can settle on who they want at point guard.
Still, guys like Casey Simmons, Isaac Celiscar, and Samson Aletan round out an experienced starting five, with just one player needing to come in and fill a big role.
There will also be some first-year players joining the mix. There is really only a clear seven-man rotation of returning players, so it will be interesting to see who else joins the lineup as the season moves along. But right now, coach Jones has a solid seven players to start with.
Head coach: James Jones (27th year at Yale and overall)
2024-25 record: 22-8 (13-1)
2025 postseason finish: Lost to Texas A&M, 80-71, in first round of NCAA Tournament
Notable departures:
- John Poulakidas (19.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, 40.8 3P%)
- Bez Mbeng (13.0 PPG, 5.8 APG, 5.6 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 36.8 3P%)
- Yassine Gharram (6.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 54.1 FG%, 47.1 3P%, 8 GP)
Notable non-conference games:
- vs. Alabama
Projected Rotation
PG: Trevor Mullin (6-1, 185, Jr.)
2024-25 stats: 3.1 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 0.8 APG, 11.4 MPG
SG: Casey Simmons (6-7, 180, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 8.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 0.7 APG, 54.7 FG%, 38.5 3P%
SF: Isaac Celiscar (6-6, 210, So.)
2024-25 stats: 7.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 53.0 FG%
PF: Nick Townsend (6-7, 240, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 15.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 52.9 FG%, 48.2 3P%
C: Samson Aletan (6-10, 223, Jr.)
2024-25 stats: 7.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 0.8 APG, 1.6 BPG, 59.1 FG%
6: Riley Fox (6-6, 195, So.)
2024-25 stats: 3.5 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 0.2 APG, 42.9 3P%, 9.2 MPG
7: Jordan Brathwaite (6-4, 190, So.)
2024-25 stats: 2.0 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 0.7 APG, 8.0 MPG
Yale Basketball team MVP: Nick Townsend
It should be no surprise that Townsend is the player to watch for Yale basketball this season. With Poulakidas and Mbeng gone, it opens up the door for a career season for Townsend, who was already a part of Yale’s “big 3” last season. Now, the power forward who can pass like a point guard is the true leader of this year’s squad.
He’s only 6-foot-7, but it’s almost fun to look at Townsend as a mini Nikola Jokic. He’s a big body that sees the entire court well and just makes the right plays. There are few leaders as strong and smart as Townsend in all of college hoops.
Yale Basketball make-or-break player: Isaac Celiscar
While whoever starts at PG for Yale will have the most pressure on them, Celiscar’s development heading into year two is also a major thing to track.
Celiscar saw a lot of court time as a first year player and made the most of it, contributing as an efficient scorer and a rebounder. In year two, Townsend will need some players to step up and help out in the scoring department, and Celiscar could be a viable number two, depending on how well he can fill his new role. Sure, there are a few other options, but given how well he played as a freshman, it’s going to be interesting to see just how much better he plays as a second year.
Key analytic: Assists per game
This is THE stat to look at for Yale hoops this season. With no true PG returnings, how will the ball get moving? I’m sure coach Jones has some ideas in mind.
The Bulldogs ranked 28th in the country in APG last season. And that wasn’t just a one-year fluke. They’ve been in the top 100 for three straight seasons, a testament to how Jones builds his offense. He’s just got a tougher outlook than usual this year.
Yale Basketball 2025-26 projections
Projected conference finish: 1st in the Ivy League
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Round of 64 Exit