Richard Pitino had his baptism by fire in his first season as Xavier’s head coach. He led the team to a 15-18 record (6-14 in Big East play), including notable wins over rival Cincinnati and Big East foes Georgetown and Marquette.
Pitino will face a monumental task of reshaping the Musketeers’ roster and making the team a conference power like UConn and St. John’s. He will have several returnees, transfers, and high school recruits to build around this season.
Xavier Musketeers’ 2026 Transfer Portal Tracker
Pitino aims to help Xavier return to the NCAA Tournament after missing it in the 2025-26 season. His predecessor, Sean Miller, led the team to the second round in 2025 and will be hard-pressed to match that showing in the 2026-27 season and make the tournament this time.
The Musketeers, however, will see 11 players depart, either because they have exhausted their college eligibility or because they have entered the transfer portal. Here is the list as of April 21, after the portal window closed.
Confirmed Departures
- Tre Carroll – Exhausted college eligibility
- Filip Borovicanin – Exhausted college eligibility
- Isaiah Walker – Exhausted college eligibility
- Ian Sabourin – Exhausted college eligibility
- Michael Wolf – Exhausted college eligibility
- Ali Wright – Committed to Loyola Marymount
- Roddie Anderson III – Committed to Seton Hall
- Anthony Robinson – Committed to Pepperdine
Carroll was Xavier’s top offensive producer last season, averaging 17.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. The 6’7″ forward from Punta Gorda, Florida, shot 50.1% from the field and 70.9% from the free-throw line.
Borovicanin was Xavier’s top rebounder and passer, averaging 7.4 rpg and 4.2 apg this past season. The 6’9″ Belgrade, Serbia, native also averaged 10.8 points and 1.2 steals, shooting 43.3% from the field and 34.9% from the free-throw line.
Walker played in 32 games for the Musketeers last season, averaging 4.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. The 6’5″ guard shot 47.3% from the field, 41.1% from 3-point range, and 80.0% from the free-throw line.
Sabourin suited up in six games for Xavier this past season, averaging 1.2 points per game. The 6’4″ senior played in 13 games over four seasons as a Musketeer. Meanwhile, Wolf appeared in four games last season, averaging 0.3 rpg and 0.3 apg.
Wright, a 6’3″ transfer from Valparaiso, made a meaningful contribution to Xavier’s cause this past season. The sophomore guard started in 28 of 33 games and averaged 22.2 minutes per game. He averaged 7.5 ppg, 1.6 rpg, and 2.0 apg, shooting 46.2% from the field and 42.2% from 3-point range. He committed to Loyola Marymount on April 22.
Anderson was an effective bench player for Xavier this past season, averaging 10.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.2 apg, and 1.3 spg. The 6’2 guard shot 39.8% from the field and 31.4% from long range. He made 72.2% of his free-throw attempts. He committed to Seton Hall on April 20.
Robinson played 26 games for Xavier this past season after transferring from Virginia. The 6’10” forward/center averaged 10.0 mpg and tallied 2.3 ppg and 2.4 rpg. He announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on March 19 and committed to Pepperdine on April 13. He signed with the Waves on April 22.
Players Leaving in the Transfer Portal
- Malik Messina-Moore – Exhausted eligibility but needs a waiver to play for the 2026-27 season.
- Mier Panoam
- Pape N’Diaye
Messina-Moore led the team in minutes played, averaging 33.2 per game this past season. He was the team’s third-leading scorer, averaging 10.9 points per game. The 6’5″ guard also averaged 3.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
Messina-Moore entered the transfer portal on April 20, even though he had already exhausted his collegiate eligibility. He needs special permission from the NCAA to play an additional year next season.
Panoam had a forgettable junior season at Xavier, averaging 0.9 ppg, 0.9 rpg, and 0.7 apg over seven games. The 6’2″ North Dakota transfer entered the portal on April 8 and is seeking his fourth college program in four years. He first played at Tulane during the 2023-24 season.
N’Diaye appeared in 29 games for the Musketeers, coming off the bench. The UNLV transfer averaged 2.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, and 1.0 bpg for Xavier this past season. He entered the portal on April 7 and is expected to have two years of eligibility remaining at his next school.
Expected To Return
- Jovan Milicevic
- Gabriel Pozzato
- Kason Westphal
Milicevic was Xavier’s second-leading scorer, averaging 12.4 ppg this past season. The 6’10” New Mexico transfer started in 31 of 33 games under Pitino, posting 3.9 rpg and 1.4 apg. Milicevic shot 44.3% from the field and 42.9% from long range. Keeping him is important for Xavier, as he will be a top offensive option for the team.
Evansville transfer Pozzato announced his return to Xavier on April 9 via X. The 6’7″ Italian wing averaged 14.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.3 apg, and 1.3 spg for the Purple Aces in the 2024-25 season before transferring to the Musketeers ahead of the 2025-26 season. Pozzato did not play for Xavier last season due to injury and was granted a medical redshirt, preserving three years of college eligibility starting in 2026-27.
Westphal, a 7’0″ center, announced on April 14 that he would return to Xavier for the 2026-27 college basketball season. He redshirted the 2025-26 season to develop his skills.
Incoming Transfer Players
- Nikolaos Chitikoudis (from Robert Morris)
- Rolyns Aligbe (from SIU Carbondale)
- Chance Westry (from UAB)
- Tru Washington (from Miami, FL)
- Ruben Dominguez (from Texas A&M)
- Michael Nwoko (from LSU)
Robert Morris transfer Chitikoudis expressed his commitment to play for Xavier on April 23. The 6’9″ forward from East Thessaloniki, Greece, averaged 11.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 26.2 minutes per game for the Colonials. He also recorded 10 double-doubles this past season. He initially played two seasons at North Carolina A&T.
Aligbe broke out in his second season at SIU, averaging 9.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg, and 1.0 spg. He played 24.5 minutes per game for the Salukis, shooting 46.7% from the field and 34.8% from beyond the arc. His signing was reported on the team’s website on April 16.
Westry committed to Xavier on April 15, following a breakout season at UAB. The 6’6″ combo guard averaged 15.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.5 apg, and 1.3 spg, starting in 27 of 32 games for the Blazers last season.
Washington saw action for Miami (FL) in the 2025-26 season, appearing in 31 games. The 6’4″ guard, who played his first two seasons at New Mexico, averaged 11.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.8 apg, and 1.8 spg as a junior. He signed with Xavier on April 13, two days after announcing his commitment to the Musketeers.
Dominguez committed to Xavier on April 10 after playing a season at Texas A&M, where he averaged 10.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, and 1.4 apg. The 6’6″ incoming junior was an excellent 3-point shooter, shooting 40.0% from beyond the arc and 40.7% overall. He also made 87.1% of his free throws.
Nwoko, a 6’10” forward/center from Milton, Ontario, committed to Xavier on April 8 after a breakout season at LSU. The big man started in 29 of 32 games for the Tigers, averaging 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds in 21.8 minutes per game. He shot 61.0% from the field and 76.1% from the foul line.
Incoming Freshmen
- Kalek House
- Asher Elson
- Gedeon Basson
- Harrison Aligbe
House is a four-star combo guard from Compass Prep in Arizona and the son of NBA veteran Eddie House. The 6’3″ incoming freshman is also the nephew of former national champion Mike Bibby and is known for his perimeter shooting and strong defense.
Elson is a 6’10” power forward from Overtime Elite. He is rated a four-star prospect for the Class of 2026 by Rivals, ranked as a top-20 power forward in the nation, and No. 114 overall.
Basson is a Cameroonian point guard who played for Victory Rock Prep in Bradenton, Florida. The 6’1″, 200-pound playmaker had a breakout performance at the 2025 U19 World Cup, averaging 18.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.
Harrison Aligbe, the brother of SIU transfer Rolyns, signed with the team on April 16 after serving as a team captain at St. Andrews Prep in Barrington, Rhode Island, this past season. Aligbe averaged 17 points and nine rebounds, earning a Class AA All-NEPSAC First Team selection.
