UL basketball gets best commitment yet as roster begins taking shape under new staff

With a brand new coaching staff now in place, the roster for the 2025-26 UL men’s basketball team is very much under construction.

First, there’s the mass exodus of players from the previous regime hitting the transfer portal and then there’s the many expected additions – both high school signees and portal transfers.

SUBSCRIPTION
Advocate
Foote

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Originally Posted by NewsCopy

With a brand new coaching staff now in place, the roster for the 2025-26 UL men’s basketball team is very much under construction.

First, there’s the mass exodus of players from the previous regime hitting the transfer portal and then there’s the many expected additions – both high school signees and portal transfers.

SUBSCRIPTION
Advocate
Foote

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I think there will still be some movement based on this article, if I am looking at this correctly based on what is expected to come in and what is expected to be hold overs that gives us a total of 12 players that are expected, with Kitenge and Kyndall Davis being question marks, if both come back that is 14. Then you add 3 potential walkons on the roster with Christian Landry, Michael Mouton (who sat out all of 2024/2025 season) and then Milan Mejia from Loyola, that is a total of 17 players on the roster. I have a feeling Coach Q believes that at least one of the holdovers (Hosana or Kyndall) will not be back

Kyndall is in portal and won’t return. Look at the post I placed on the roster movement thread regarding the roster. Fewer players listed there. You can add Lewis to list. Since I posted that, Hosanna placed something on X showing himself in a Cajuns uniform. Don’t know what that means

This team looks to have some size coming.

6'7 Josh Lewis
6'1 Michael Collins
6'6 Caleb Sanders
6'8 DaiJon Leatherman
6'3 De'vion Lavergne
6'5 Dorian Finister
6'8 Sean Elkington
6'8 Dariyus Woodson
6'5 Jaxon Olvera
6'6 Zeke Cook
6'10 Jeremiah Evans
6'8 Kyran Ratliff
6'8 Hosana Kitenge, if he comes back
6'5 Christian Landry
6'4 Michael Mouton
6'2 Milan Mejia

I have listed everyone, even though we are not sure if all of them will be back. Lots of 6'5 - 6'8 guys.

On paper, this team looks much better. Can't wait to see how it translates to the court. But after giving up 20+ years of season tickets three years ago, I'm back onboard to see what Coach Q will do to try and return Cajun Basketball to relevancy.

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Originally Posted by RaginDave

This team looks to have some size coming.

6'7 Josh Lewis
6'1 Michael Collins
6'6 Caleb Sanders
6'8 DaiJon Leatherman
6'3 De'vion Lavergne
6'5 Dorian Finister
6'8 Sean Elkington
6'8 Dariyus Woodson
6'5 Jaxon Olvera
6'6 Zeke Cook
6'10 Jeremiah Evans
6'8 Kyran Ratliff
6'8 Hosana Kitenge, if he comes back
6'5 Christian Landry
6'4 Michael Mouton
6'2 Milan Mejia

I have listed everyone, even though we are not sure if all of them will be back. Lots of 6'5 - 6'8 guys.

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I don't think Mouton returns in a walk on role. Recall he had 2 knee surgeries. I don't know if Mejia is a walk on or scholarship player. If I had to guess, it would be as a walk on. Jaxon Olvera is a new transfer from Pepperdine that I became aware of from Kevin Foote's article.

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Originally Posted by Cajunsmike

I don't think Mouton returns in a walk on role. Recall he had 2 knee surgeries. I don't know if Mejia is a walk on or scholarship player. If I had to guess, it would be as a walk on. Jaxon Olvera is a new transfer from Pepperdine that I became aware of from Kevin Foote's article.

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Unless I misunderstood the new NCAA regulation, I believe we can now have 15 scholarship players, rather than using roster slots 14 and 15 for walk ons.

I think VObserver is right in that the roster limit for MBB is 15. They can all be scholarship players from what I understand. However indications are we will maintain policy of 13 scholarship players and 2 walkons. Will be general plan within league

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Originally Posted by Cajunsmike

I think VObserver is right in that the roster limit for MBB is 15. They can all be scholarship players from what I understand. However indications are we will maintain policy of 13 scholarship players and 2 walkons. Will be general plan within league

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That means if Hosana comes back, then we will have exactly 13 scholarship players. I am really hopeful he comes back. Then if we keep Christian and add Milan than we will have the 2 non scholarship players.

Every day that goes by without a decision makes it less likely Hosanna returns. I would be shocked if he stays at this stage. He may have waited too long to commit to a return if he wanted to stay. The roster still needs a veteran point guard. They likely are still recruiting for this need

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Originally Posted by RaginDave

This team looks to have some size coming.

6'7 Josh Lewis
6'1 Michael Collins
6'6 Caleb Sanders
6'8 DaiJon Leatherman
6'3 De'vion Lavergne
6'5 Dorian Finister
6'8 Sean Elkington
6'8 Dariyus Woodson
6'5 Jaxon Olvera
6'6 Zeke Cook
6'10 Jeremiah Evans
6'8 Kyran Ratliff
6'8 Hosana Kitenge, if he comes back
6'5 Christian Landry
6'4 Michael Mouton
6'2 Milan Mejia

I have listed everyone, even though we are not sure if all of them will be back. Lots of 6'5 - 6'8 guys.

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Lots of rangy size but not necessarily size down low

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Originally Posted by Cajunsmike

Every day that goes by without a decision makes it less likely Hosanna returns. I would be shocked if he stays at this stage. He may have waited too long to commit to a return if he wanted to stay. The roster still needs a veteran point guard. They likely are still recruiting for this need

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I would look at it the opposite. The more days that go by without him committing to another program shows maybe there are few suitors.