DePaul basketball has warranted hype heading into the 2026-27 season. Can they deliver a season to remember?
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: DePaul basketball.
When was the last time DePaul basketball came into a season with this much hype? I’m not sure there’s a way to measure that, but it has been a long, long time.
The Blue Devils finished last season at 16-16 and 8-12 in conference play. It was their most overall wins in a season since 2019-20, and most Big East wins since 2006-07. Chris Holtmann doesn’t bring back everyone, but he brings back some solid rotation players, namely Layden Blocker, who led the Blue Demons in assists per game and steals per game last season.
But the reason for the hoopla isn’t necessarily who’s back, but who’s coming in: San Diego State defensive star Magoon Gwath, Tulsa sharpshooter Ade Popoola, Fresno State big man Wilson Jacques, and Wofford scoring stud Kahmere Holmes all add tremendous depth and talent to this squad. A few other players, including a do-it-all guy in Koree Cotton, round out what could be a 10-11 man rotation.
And despite having so much talent, Holtmann seemingly has really good balance. DePaul isn’t too deep or not deep enough at any one position, and has multiple guys who can fill in at different spots when needed. Simply put, this is a program not used to doing much in the Big East, but has the potential for a historic season.
Head coach: Chris Holtmann (16th season overall, 3rd at DePaul)
2025-26 record: 16-16 (8-12)
2026 postseason finish: No tournament
Notable departures:
- CJ Gunn (13.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.1 SPG)
- Brandon Maclin (10.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.3 SPG)
- RJ Smith (6.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.4 APG)
- Kaleb Banks (5.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.4 APG, 35.5 3P%)
Notable non-conference games:
- vs. South Florida (Nov. 5)
- at Northwestern (Nov. 13)
- vs. Purdue (Nov. 24) – Fort Myers Tip-Off
- vs. Pitt (Nov. 26) – Fort Myers Tip-Off
- vs. SMU (Dec. 5)
- at Saint Louis (Dec. 12)
Projected Rotation
PG: Layden Blocker (6-2, 193, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 11.1 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.6 SPG, 36.0 FG%
SG: Kruz McClure (6-6, 185, So.)
2025-26 stats: 5.0 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 1.5 APG, 31.9 FG%
SF: Ade Popoola (6-5, 205, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 10.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 40.9 3P% (Tulsa)
PF: Koree Cotton (6-6, 225, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 13.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 40.3 3P% (UTRGV)
C: Magoon Gwath (7-0, 221, Rs.-Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 8.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.3 APG, 1.5 BPG, 51.9 FG%, 43.5 3P% (San Diego State)
6: Theo Pierre-Justin (6-10, 237, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 4.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.9 APG, 39.7 3P%
7: Fabian Flores (7-2, 280, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 2.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.3 APG, 68.1 FG%
8: Kahmare Holmes (6-3, 210, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 19.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.0 SPG, 35.2 3P% (Wofford)
9: Wilson Jacques (7-0, 270, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 8.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.1 APG (Fresno State)
10: Noah Meeusen (6-5, 201, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 5.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 38.4 FG% (Arizona State)
11: Amsal Delalic (6-8, 218, Rs.-So.)
*Redshirted 2025-26 season due to offseason knee injury*
2024-25 stats: 3.8 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 35.3 3P% (Pitt)
12: Noah Smith (6-8, 220, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 156 ranked recruit
DePaul basketball team MVP: Layden Blocker
Last season, DePaul basketball put together its success by committee, and Blocker was a big part of that. This season, it seems like Holtmann is trying to do the same thing, and Blocker will once again be a key component as the starting point guard and a proven scorer.
It has obviously been a long time since DePaul has had this much hype entering a season, and Blocker may be their top returning talent in that time period. Usually, not having enough talent, or talent transferring out, has been DePaul’s issue. This season, that’s not the case, and the proof is in a player like Blocker deciding to run it back. DePaul fans – soak it in!
DePaul basketball make-or-break player: Magoon Gwath
At his best, Magoon Gwath will be a star and potentially the team MVP. At his worst, he’ll miss time and force Holtmann to rely on the bench bigs and a much different-looking team. So that’s really why Gwath is the make-or-break talent. His biggest ability will be availability, because if he’s out there, DePaul will be a much different team.
Gwath is a superb and unique talent. He can change games defensively but also has a talented offensive game that includes stepping out and hitting shots from three. Few players can do that or match up with that, even in the Big East, giving the Blue Demons a game-changer when he’s healthy.
Key statistic: Points per game
I’m going about as easy as you can with this statistic, because it can really only go up from last year. The Blue Demons were sub-300, averaging 70.3 PPG in 2025-26. In conference play, that dropped to 67.1 PPG, second-to-last in the Big East.
Those numbers will have to change, no matter how great defensively DePaul may be, in order for them to have the season we think they could have. Kruz McClure will have to take a sophomore leap, Holmes will have to keep his scoring trend going now in a Power 5 league, and Blocker will have to be the maestro. But if all holds and other guys step up, the scoring should follow suit and DePaul basketball will become America’s team in 2026-27.
DePaul basketball 2026-27 projections
Projected conference finish: 8th in the Big East
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament round of 32 exit