If you haven’t checked the umass men's basketball roster lately, prepare for a bit of a shock. The Mullins Center has a revolving door these days, and Frank Martin has spent the last year basically rebuilding the engine while the car is still speeding down the highway. Honestly, it's a lot to keep track of. One day you’re cheering for a guy, and the next, he’s in the portal and you're googling a junior college transfer from Florida or a 6-foot-10 big man from Switzerland.
It's chaotic. It's modern college hoops.
But here’s the thing—this specific group for the 2025-26 season feels like the most "Frank Martin" team we've seen in Amherst yet. It’s gritty. It’s got size. And it's leaning heavily into the "under-recruited with a chip on the shoulder" vibe that Martin loves.
The New Faces Defining the UMass Men’s Basketball Roster
The biggest story this year isn't just who stayed; it's the massive infusion of talent from the transfer portal and the JUCO ranks. Frank Martin isn't just looking for stars; he’s looking for adults. He wants guys who have played real minutes against grown men.
Take Dimitri Clerc, for instance. The guy is a 6-foot-10, 255-pound mountain from Lausanne, Switzerland. He came over from Pensacola State, and people call him "Ghost." Don't let the nickname fool you; he isn't invisible in the paint. He averaged 11 points and over 7 rebounds in JUCO, and he brings a level of physicality that UMass has frankly lacked. Then you’ve got Charles Outlaw. If the name sounds familiar, yeah, he’s Bo Outlaw’s son. He’s 6-foot-9 and, much like his dad, he’s built to cause problems on the defensive end.
✨ Don't miss: Simona Halep and the Reality of Tennis Player Breast Reduction
The backcourt got a major facelift too. K’Jei Parker and Donovan Brown are the names you need to remember. Parker is a 6-foot-2 guard from Florida Southwestern who can absolutely light it up, and Brown—an Illinois native who put up massive numbers at Florida Tech—is expected to be a primary ball-handler.
Why Experience Matters More Than Stars
You’ll notice a pattern when you scan the names:
- Isaiah Placide: A 6-foot-4 guard from Eckerd College who is a walking bucket.
- Leonardo Bettiol: A 6-foot-9 veteran from Italy who has 86 games of college experience under his belt.
- Marcus Banks Jr.: A 6-foot-3 guard who brings senior leadership and a proven ability to score from the perimeter.
These aren't 18-year-olds trying to find their way. These are 21 and 22-year-olds who know how to play through contact. In the MAC (yes, UMass made that move), that's going to be the difference between winning ugly and losing close.
The Returners: The Glue Holding it Together
While the new guys get the headlines, the umass men's basketball roster would fall apart without the handful of guys who actually know the system.
🔗 Read more: NFL Pick 'em Predictions: Why You're Probably Overthinking the Divisional Round
Daniel Hankins-Sanford is the big one. He’s a 6-foot-8 senior now, and he’s basically the heartbeat of the defense. He’s one of those guys who doesn't need to score 20 points to be the best player on the floor because he's usually busy grabbing every offensive board in sight. Alongside him is Jayden Ndjigue, a 6-foot-4 junior from right here in Massachusetts (Ayer). Ndjigue is a Swiss Army knife. He defends, he rebounds, and he makes the "extra pass" that coaches drool over.
And we can't forget the freshmen. Danny Carbuccia, a 6-foot guard from New York, is the one to watch. He’s got that classic NYC point guard flair—tight handle, fearless going to the rim. Dwayne Wimbley Jr. and Bilal Osman also round out a class that provides some much-needed youth and athleticism to balance out the veterans.
The Frank Martin Factor
Let's be real: playing for Frank Martin is not for everyone. He’s loud. He’s demanding. He’ll stare a hole through you if you miss a rotation. But that’s exactly why this roster is built the way it is.
Martin has moved away from the "get the best talent available" strategy to a "get the best fits for my culture" strategy. He wants guys who don't mind the 6:00 AM film sessions or the defensive drills that feel like a wrestling match. This roster is heavy on forwards—Clerc, Outlaw, Bettiol, Hankins-Sanford—because Martin wants to dominate the glass. If you can't rebound, you can't play for him. It's that simple.
💡 You might also like: Why the Marlins Won World Series Titles Twice and Then Disappeared
What to Expect on the Court
Expect a lot of "bully ball." With guys like Clerc and Damjanac (the 6-foot-10 sophomore from Austria) in the middle, UMass is going to try to wear teams down physically.
The shooting is the big question mark. Isaiah Placide and Marcus Banks Jr. are going to have a lot of pressure on them to hit outside shots. If they can keep the defense honest, the big men will have room to work. If not, teams are going to pack the paint and make life very difficult for the Minutemen.
Actionable Insight for Fans
If you're heading to the Mullins Center this season, keep an eye on the substitutions. Martin likes to play a deep rotation early in the season to see who can handle the pressure. Don't get too attached to a starting lineup in November; it'll likely look different by January. Also, watch Danny Carbuccia—he’s the future of the program at point guard, and his development will dictate how high this team's ceiling actually is.
For those tracking the stats, focus on rebound margin and points in the paint. If UMass is winning those two categories, they’re probably winning the game. That is the identity of this 2025-26 squad. It might not always be pretty, but it’s going to be tough.
Track the box scores for the "points off turnovers" stat. In Martin's system, defense should generate offense. If that number is high, the new-look roster is clicking. If it’s low, they’re still figuring out how to communicate on the floor.
Keep an eye on the injury report for the big men, too. With a roster this reliant on size, keeping Clerc and Bettiol healthy is the only way this experiment works.