By William Coffman, Local & National News Editor
Richard Pitino and the Xavier men’s basketball team have started the off-season strong, picking up a few notable names from the transfer portal as the team looks to return to March Madness next season.
Pitino, who is entering his second year with the Musketeers after going 15-18 in his first season, has filled some much-needed gaps in the roster. The Musketeers have also benefited from the confirmed return of forwards Jovan Milicevic and Gabriel Pozzato. Center Kason Westphal will also be returning for the Musketeers next season.
The return of these three players helps Pitino, who now does not have to start completely from scratch with the team. Last season, Pitino took over the team after the departure of coach Sean Miller and had to create an almost entirely new roster for the Xavier Musketeers. Pitino picked up some strong players, including Tre Carroll, who was selected for a spot on the All-Big East First-Team. The team as a whole, however, finished with a losing record, something Pitino looks to change for next season.
Keeping Milicevic was a win for Pitino. The sophomore forward averaged 12.4 points on 43% shooting from three and will continue to be an offensive threat for the Musketeers next season. Pozzato and Westphal have yet to log minutes for the Musketeers, but both promise to contribute to the teams’ efforts in returning to the tournament.
Richard Pitino has led an aggressive offseason early on.
Pitino has made sure to give these three some help so far. The Musketeers had a quick commit from the Louisiana State University Tigers, forward Mike Nwoko, a 6-foot-10 260-pound forward who averaged 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Tigers in SEC competition.
The Musketeers have also picked up some strong recruits for the back court. Ruben Dominguez, a guard from Texas A&M Aggies and the MVP of the FIBA U16 European Championship in 2019 is joining the Musketeers. At his side will be guard Chance Westry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Westry averaged 15.5 points and 5.6 assists for the Blazers, and before UAB played at Syracuse and Auburn. Westry set an American Conference record of most assists in one basketball game with 15 against Charlotte.
The Musketeers also have some more help from the Miami University Hurricanes guard Tru Washington. Washington previously played for Pitino at New Mexico and averaged 11.9 points and 1.8 steals per game for the Hurricanes.
Also joining the Musketeers are brothers Rolyns Aligbe from Southern Illinois University and Harrison Aligbe from St. Andrews. Rolyns averaged 9.5 points and 7.4 rebounds, while his younger brother Harrison is the No. 2 ranked prospect in Rhode Island.
“I think that this transfer portal is exciting for us. I feel that with Pitino at the helm and with the experience we’re bringing back, this class can bring us back to the tournament or at least on the bubble,” junior exercise science major Isaac Burkin said.
Xavier basketball will also welcome Kalek House, Asher Elson and Gedeon Basson for their freshman season of college basketball. House is a top 100 ranked player and a four-star recruit from Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona. Elson is a three-star recruit from Atlanta, GA, while Basson is from Victory Rock Prep in Florida. Basson has also been a part of the Cameroon U19 National Team, playing for them in the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in 2025.
“With a good, well-rounded team, I am excited for next year,” Burkin said.
The Musketeers will have their work cut out for them with a Big East that will look a little different from last year.
Providence, Butler and Creighton will all have new coaches and Providence under new coach Bryan Hodgson has created a strong recruiting class so far from the portal. St. Johns under Pitino’s father Rick and the national runners-up, the UConn Huskies remain the team to beat in the Big East. Pitino has created a good roster, one that can compete in the Big East. Xavier hopes the roster he is compiled will be the one to bring the Musketeers back to March Madness and go blow for blow in battle against its fellow Big East teams.