First year coach Bryan Hodgson takes the reins in Tampa for South Florida basketball.
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: South Florida basketball.
Tragedy struck the basketball world last year when South Florida head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim passed away just a few weeks before the 2024-25 season. In just one season at the helm, he led the Bulls to a AAC regular season title and compiled a 25-8 record, with wins against Florida State, Memphis, Florida Atlantic, and UCF.
However, on Oct. 24, 2024, Abdur-Rahim died following complications from a medical procedure. His death rocked the Tampa community and college basketball landscape as a whole. The Bulls named Ben Fletcher the interim coach in Abdur-Rahim’s stead but the team didn’t reach the heights of the 2023-24 season in what was a very emotional season.
In the offseason, interim AD Jay Stroman hired Bryan Hodgson from Arkansas State, a former assistant under Nate Oats at Alabama. The roster underwent almost a 180, with just two contributors (CJ Brown and De’Ante Green) returning to the squad. Elsewhere, the transfer portal brought gifts to Tampa. Joseph Pinion and Izaiyah Nelson both came over from Jonesboro with Hodgson.
Look out for the point guard position. A battle could brew between Lincoln Memorial (D-II) transfer Wes Enis and returner CJ Brown. Brown is the only member of last year’s team with 20+ MPG coming back, while Enis was a D-II All-American and shot 41.3% from deep. At the two, James Madison transfer Xavier Brown is likely to start. He’s challenged by CCSU’s MVP, Devin Haid, who averaged 14.2 PPG for the Blue Devils.
On the wing, Robert Morris transfer Josh Omojafo and the aforementioned Pinion will make a difference and likely average at least 20+ MPG. The frontcourt, however, might be the team’s strength. LSU transfer Daimion Collins and the aforementioned Nelson will be the anchors. Nelson led the Sun Belt in true shooting percentage last season and was named 3rd-Team All-Sun Belt. Don’t forget about returning De’Ante Green and Oakland transfer Isaiah Jones. Fun fact: both players named “Isaiah Jones” in the 21st century of D-I basketball have spent at least one season playing at Detroit Mercy.
A deep roster is completed with the addition of five freshmen: F Onyx Nnani, G Adriel Nyorha, F Caleb Sanders, F Tristan Beckford, and G Gavin Hightower. Of the five, Nnani and Beckford are most likely to earn regular playing time first, though Hodgson brought in the top recruiting class in the American and all have the potential to make an impact.
After a heart-breaking tragedy, Bryan Hodgson has been tasked with righting the ship in Tampa. He’s on the right track so far.
Head coach: Bryan Hodgson (First season at South Florida, 3rd season overall)
2024-25 record: 13-19 (6-12)
2025 postseason finish: No postseason
Notable departures:
- Jayden Reid (12.6 PPG, 3.6 APG, 2.6 RPG)
- Kobe Knox (10.8 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.6 APG)
- Jamille Reynolds (12.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 0.7 APG, 1.6 BPG)
- Kasen Jennings (7.1 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.8 APG)
- Brandon Stroud (8.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.0 APG)
Notable non-conference games:
- at Oklahoma State (Nov. 19)
- Battle 4 Atlantis (Nov. 26-28)
- vs. College of Charleston (Dec. 10)
- at Alabama (Dec. 17)
Projected Rotation
PG: CJ Brown (6-2, 175, So.)
2024-25 stats: 7.2 PPG, 2.5 APG, 2.3 RPG
SG: Xavier Brown (6-2, 183, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 10.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.7 APG (James Madison)
SF: Joseph Pinion (6-5, 200, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 12.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.4 APG (Arkansas State)
PF: Daimion Collins (6-9, 200, R-Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 8.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.5 APG, 1.6 BPG (LSU)
C: Izaiyah Nelson (6-10, 218, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 10.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 0.6 APG, 1.3 BPG (Arkansas State)
6: Wes Enis (6-2, 200, Jr.)
2024-25 stats: 20.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.1 APG (Lincoln Memorial)
7: Devin Haid (6-5, 190, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 14.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.1 APG (Central Connecticut State)
8: Josh Omojafo (6-5, 200, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 11.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.4 APG (Robert Morris)
9: Onyx Nnani (6-9, 215, Fr.)
247Sports No. 164 Recruit in Class of 2025
10: De’Ante Green (6-9, 210, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 6.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 0.7 APG
11: Isaiah Jones (6-7, 229, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 6.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.6 APG (Oakland)
12: Tristan Beckford (6-5, 180, Fr.)
247Sports No. 170 Recruit in Class of 2025
13: Caleb Sanders (6-6, 185, Fr.)
247Sports No. 242 Recruit in Class of 2025
14: Adriel Nyorha (6-5, 175, Fr.)
247Sports Three-Star Recruit in Class of 2025
15: Gavin Hightower (6-1, 165, Fr.)
247Sports Three-Star Recruit in Class of 2025
South Florida Basketball team MVP: Daimion Collins
It’s been a journey for former five-star recruit Daimion Collins. The highly touted prospect spent the first two years of his career under John Calipari, then spent another two with LSU. While he only totaled 461 minutes played over the first three of those seasons, but found his niche last season. While the Tigers struggled, Collins was finally able to secure a consistent role, starting 22 games and averaging 20.4 MPG.
He wasn’t overwhelming on offense, but he was efficient. His mark of 67.7% from inside the arc was the second-best percentage from two in the SEC amongst qualifying players, behind only Cliff Omoruyi. That’s pretty good. But his value isn’t just on the offensive side of the ball. Collins has the potential to be a contender for American Defensive Player of the Year. Last season, again in just around 20 minutes of action, he blocked 1.6 shots per game. That was fifth in the conference and his block percentage of 7.7% was again second in the conference, this time trailing Felix Okpara.
If Collins plays at his best, the Bulls could vie for a conference title again. He’s crucial…a lack of production from the LSU transfer might relegate the team back to the middle of the road.
South Florida Basketball make-or-break player: Xavier Brown
Brown has quietly but surely improved into a very good basketball player. As a freshman with James Madison, Brown played just 9.7 MPG and scored a (relatively) small volume of 2.8 PPG. Since then, he’s turned into an above-average offensive weapon and an absolute gem on the defensive side.
Brown ranked second in the Sun Belt two years ago with a 3.1 defensive box plus/minus, and had a steal percentage of 3.0% or higher in each of the past two seasons. The lesson? Don’t assume the passing lanes are open if Brown’s on the court.
Key analytic: Opponent rebounds per game
South Florida basketball got beat bad on the boards last season. Bryan Hodgson did his absolute best to address that in the portal. Not only did he get one of the best rebounders in the Sun Belt in Izaiyah Nelson, but he poached a Power Five talent away from LSU in former five-star Daimion Collins. (He’s got a 10.8% offensive rebounding percentage in arguably the best conference in the nation, by the way.)
Freshman Onyx Nnani could play a larger role earlier than expected if Hodgson needs help cleaning the glass. The four-star recruit already has D-I size, something you cannot teach.
South Florida Basketball 2025-26 projections
Projected conference finish: 2nd in the AAC
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament First Round Exit