We are just days away from the 2025-26 DII men’s basketball season. Nova Southeastern will look to defend its crown with its high-tempo, guard-heavy offense… but are there any big men lurking in the midst that can change the game?
👀 10 DII men’s basketball returning guards to watch this season
As we prepare to enter the 2025-26 season, let’s take a look at the top forwards and centers returning to their respective teams from last year.
Andrew Young, Missouri S&T
Missouri S&T Athletics
Young broke out in 2024-25, earning First Team All-Midwest Region honors as well as earning a spot on the Bevo Francis watchlist. He had career-highs across the board, posting averages of 16.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He did it efficiently as well, shooting a very smooth 56.8 percent from the floor. Missouri S&T should be a force in the Midwest and national stage, and with Young down low, the Miners should match or improve on last year’s 25 wins.
Jack Browder, Carson-Newman
Browder has been a scorer since he stepped on the court for the Eagles. Last season, he was part of a deep, high-scoring starting five, averaging 19.7 points per game while leading the team with 8.9 rebounds per game. He posted 14 double-doubles along the way, which was a top-15 mark in DII. This is exactly who Browder is, as the forward is averaging just around 22 points and seven rebounds per game over his three-year career. The Eagles lose some big-time experience, but with Browder back, they should still contend in a tricky Southeast Region.
Maceo Williams, Ashland
Ashland Athletics
Williams has been a gamer since he stepped on the court as a freshman in 2022-23. He shoots well (a career 65.6 percent shooter from the floor) and puts up big numbers in the box score, highlighted by his career-best 20.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game last season. Williams is the reigning G-MAC player of the year and earned All-Region honors in the Midwest. Williams will lead an experienced starting rotation with several scorers back from last year, so look for Ashland to be improved from its 15-win campaign a year ago.
Alex Romack, Colorado School of Mines
The Orediggers have become somewhat of an RMAC power, making the tournament in each of the past three seasons. They lose some experience, but return two starters, one of whom is Romack. The 6-foot-6 forward started 19 of the 34 games he played and has shown he can do a lot in a little amount of time, but he shined as a starter, earning him preseason All-RMAC honors. Last year, he scored 9.1 points per game to go with 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting 59.4 percent from the field. He should be a focal point of the Orediggers offense.
Evan Ramsey, UVA Wise
UVA Wise Athletics
Ramsey is listed as a forward, but at 7-foot, he’s a dominating presence in the paint. He had a big (pun intended) freshman season last year, averaging a double-double per game posting 14.5 points and 10.0 rebounds. He got stronger as the season went on and recorded four of his 11 double-doubles in his last five games. Ramsey also doesn’t miss a lot, shooting 64.1 percent from the floor, a top-10 mark in DII last year. Expect him to be even more productive with a season under his belt.
Conrad Luczynski, Lenoir-Rhyne
Luczynski is about as big as a big man gets. The Bears center is listed at 7-foot-2 and is rather intimidating down low. Prior to arriving in Hickory, North Carolina, Luczynski was on the LSC All-Freshman team at Eastern New Mexico. He scored 12.0 points per game on 59.8 percent shooting in his Bears debut last year, adding 7.3 rebounds per game and 43 blocks. If the Bears want to have another deep run like last year’s romp to the DII Men’s Elite Eight, Luczynski will need to take another step forward and become a monster force in the paint.
Benjamin Bill and Justin Hemphill, Daemen
Daemen Athletics
It is still shocking that Daemen didn’t make a return trip to the DII Men’s Elite Eight last year, but their dynamic duo down low returns for another run. The Wildcats should be favored in the East Region with two of the more dominant players at their positions. Bill (pictured), a 6-foot-10 center, was a consensus All-American, the ECC player of the year and Bevo Francis candidate. He averaged 16.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, to go with 62 blocks while shooting 70.8 percent, third-best in DII. Hemphill, a 6-foot-6 forward, chipped in 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. The two are a force in the paint — and nothing should change in 2025-26.
David Jolinder, Fairmont State
Fairmont State should compete in the high-scoring MEC this season, and Jolinder will help get them to the top. The 6-foot-6 forward has been a scorer since his freshmen campaign and had another nice season last year for the Fighting Falcons. He scored 15.7 points per game on 50.7 percent shooting while posting career-highs in rebounds (205), assists (61) and steals (44). He earned First Team All-MEC honors and should be a leader on one of the strongest teams in DII this season.