One of the most consistent mid-major programs year after year, Liberty basketball, looks to keep the streak alive in 2026-27.
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 first: Liberty basketball.
Being a mid-major team in today’s college basketball is no easy task. You constantly see the best coaches and players leaving to either get more money or a better opportunity. Some of the best teams of the 2010s are now struggling to stay above water. Not Liberty, though. Since the 2018-19 season, Liberty basketball has finished either first or tied for first in seven of the eight seasons. Last year was no different, finishing 26-8 and 17-3 to easily win the CUSA title.
They couldn’t earn their fourth tournament appearance in eight years, though, getting upset in the conference tournament. This year, things will look very different. Those lose over 90% of their minutes from last year, including C-USA player of the year Zach Cleveland. However, if there’s one thing about head coach Ritchie McKay, it’s that he knows how to win games, and no matter who is on that roster, you have to trust they’ll be successful.
They bring in brothers Cooper and Cobi Campbell from Troy to lead the backcourt. They’ll be joined by the freshman pair of Elis in Eli Herbert and Sancomb. This team is built on non-Division I players, though with a variety of key players coming from the D2, D3, and JUCO levels. It’s definitely less of a sure thing than in seasons past, but this team will be a threat to win the C-USA once again.
Head coach: Ritchie McKay (14th season at Liberty, 23rd season overall)
2024-25 record: 26-8 (17-3)
2025 postseason finish: NIT Second Round Exit
Notable departures:
- Brett Decker Jr. (16.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.1 APG)
- Kaden Metheny (13.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.1 APG)
- Zach Cleveland (11.9 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 6.8 APG)
- Collin Porter (11.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.4 APG)
- JJ Harper (10.8 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1.5 APG)
Notable non-conference games:
- High Point (Nov 2nd, 12:00 AM ET) – Field of 68 Tip-Off
- Princeton (Nov 25th)
- St. Thomas (Nov 27)
- at UNCW (Nov 28)
Projected Rotation
PG: Cooper Campbell (6-1, 195, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 12.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.6 SPG, 43.2 FG%, 39.1 3P%, 83.1 FT% (Troy)
SG: Cobi Campbell (6-2, 195, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 9.0 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 41.1 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 81.3 FT% (Troy)
SF: Zander Carter (6-6, 195, So.)
2025-26 stats: 3.3 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.6 SPG, 48.8 FG%
PF: Sean Register Jr. (6-7, So.)
2025-26 stats: 24.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 66.3 FG%, 40.6 3P%, 73.8 FT% (JUCO)
C: Dillon Clausen (6-8, 215, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 15.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 62.5 FG%, 38.1 3P%, 61.2 FT% (DIII)
6: Osmar Garcia-Araujo (6-7, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 16.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 65.7 FG%, 73.1 FT% (DII)
7: Matthew Shelton (6-5, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 12.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 52.7 FG%, 34.0 3P%, 69.6 FT% (DII)
8: RJ Jones Jr. (6-8, 240, So.)
2025-26 stats: 1.9 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 0.0 APG, 4.9 MPG
9: Eli Sancomb (6-5, 190, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 132-ranked recruit
10: Eli Herbert (6-1, 150, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 322-ranked recruit
Liberty Basketball team MVP: Cooper Campbell
Cooper Campbell is coming off a terrific sophomore year at Troy. He doubled his production from his freshman year thanks to increased minutes. He’s a great shooter, making 39% on five attempts a game, and also showcased his passing ability, recording over 4 assists a game. His best game came against the USC Trojans, where he scored 32 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and added 8 assists. He scored 25+ two other times last season, showing that when he gets hot, he can score at ease.
Now, the keys to the Liberty basketball team are his, and he has the potential to be the best player in the C-USA next season. He’s one of the only players on the team who played at the D1 level, which is obviously a huge plus, and with McKay, he knows that no shot is a bad shot. He’s not a great defender, but his offensive and playmaking ability outweigh that.
Liberty Basketball make-or-break player: Sean Register Jr.
Register is coming off a monster year at Eastern Florida State College, averaging 25 PPG and 8.7 RPG on 66-40-74 shooting splits. He was named a 2026 NJCAA Division I All-America first-team selection. Remember, this was as a freshman. His ability to score on all three levels makes him really dangerous, and he doesn’t turn the ball over too often as well.
While we can’t expect him to put up these numbers at Liberty, if he can contribute 12-15 a night with 6-8 rebounds, then he may be the best player on the team and in most CUSA games, the best player on the court. We see what Liberty basketball was able to do with Owen Aquino, another JUCO Player who fits a similar role. There’s also the question mark if the level of production can translate. If it can’t, then that’s a huge hole for this team to fill. However, seeing his production in Division III, Liberty looks to have hit a home run with this addition.
Stat to know: 3PT%
In the past two years, and four of the past six years, Liberty has finished top 10 in the country in three-point percentage. They shot 38.6% from deep last year, and 41.6% at home, fifth best in college basketball. With the addition of the Campbells, that streak should continue. Both shot around 40% on a combined 10 attempts a game, and we may see that volume increase to 15 this year in similar or better splits. Clausen can stretch the floor, and freshman Eli Sancomb can see his minutes increase significantly with his shot.
Expect Liberty to not only take a lot of threes, but make them too. This is especially important considering they had the third-lowest amount of rebounds per game last year. So, if you’re not getting second chances, you might as well make the first, which they’re so good at.
Liberty Basketball 2026-27 projections
Projected conference finish: 2nd in C-USA
Projected postseason ceiling: No Tournament/NIT Appearance