As soon as a college basketball team’s end, the conversation immediately turns to roster construction for the next season. It’s always been that way, but it has become increasingly more of a conversation in the wake of NIL and the transfer portal. Many teams see considerable roster turnover each and every year.
Liberty has not been immune to this roster turnover in recent seasons. Over the next several days and weeks, we will learn more of what the Liberty roster will look like in 2026-27. One thing to keep in mind, the former NCAA limit of 13 scholarship spots is gone, and teams now have 15 roster spots, whether walk-on or scholarship, moving forward. Keep in mind that the college basketball transfer portal window officially opens on April 7 though players can announce their intentions of entering prior to that date.
Here is what we know so far of how the Flames’ roster will look like next season:
Expected to return:
6’3″ G Brett Decker
6’6″ G Zander Carter
6’7″ F Torr Sorensen
6’8″ F RJ Jones, Jr.
6’8″ F TJ Drain
6’8″ F Brady Kester
6’9″ F Drew Grimes
Like most, Liberty has not been immune to losing players to the portal in recent seasons and it is likely there will be some attrition this off-season, as well. The most notable name on this list to watch is Liberty’s leading scorer from this past season in Brett Decker. If he returns, Decker will be the key piece the Flames will build around, but there will certainly be some suitors for the guard who shot nearly 50% from three this season.
After him, Zander Carter proved to be a reliable weapon off the bench and was the team’s 7th man as a true freshman. We still don’t know what the rest of the roster looks like, but Carter will certainly be a key part of the plans. Expect to see his role increase next season, probably penciled in as a starter and could even be the team’s starting point guard depending on how the rest of the roster shakes it. Regardless, Carter will be a key piece.
RJ Jones, a transfer from Virginia Tech a season ago, is likely to step into a larger role this coming season. As a redshirt-freshman, he showed flashes on the court throughout the year. With a year in the program under his belt, he could certainly be fighting for a starting spot this coming season.
The other freshmen from this past season didn’t see significant playing time on the court, especially once we got to conference play. Coach McKay frequently mentioned TJ Drain and Drew Grimes as forwards that were developing. The hope would be that they could have a role on the team this upcoming season.
Incoming freshmen:
6’4″ G Eli Herbert
6’5″ G Eli Sancomb
6’9″ F Reece Davidson
Herbert is from Grain Valley, Missouri and is rated by 247Sports as a three-star prospect. During his junior season of high school, Herbert averaged 24.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 88% from the free throw line and making 73 threes. He was a Missouri Class 6 all-state selection and also the Missouri Class 6 District 7 Player of the Year. He is a really good shooter and should be able to make an impact immediately.
Sancomb is is rated as a 0.9578 in the 247Sports Composite, easily the highest rated recruit in school history. He is also a four-star rated prospect on ESPN, where he is the top player in West Virginia and the 30th best at his position in the Class of 2026. On3 rates Sancomb as a three-star prospect. He is from Wheeling, West Virginia where he attends Central Catholic High School. The lefty guard set a top five of Liberty, Iowa, Colorado State, Saint Louis, and Loyola before committing to the Flames. There could certainly be a path for him to start day one.
Davidson is rated as a three-star prospect from North Laurel High School in London, Kentucky. The 2026 prospect is 6’8″ and 220 pounds with offers from Western Kentucky, Toledo, Miami Ohio, Central Arkansas, Tennessee Tech, Eastern Kentucky, and Youngstown State. He is rated as the 4th best prospect in his class in the state of Kentucky according to 247Sports. As a junior last season, Davidson was a first team all-state, all-region, and all-district selection for North Laurel and earned 13th Region Tournament MVP honors. He averaged 21.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game for the season while leading his team to the 49th District title, 13th Region crown, and Elite 8 appearance at the KHSAA state tournament.
Rest of the roster:
The way the roster is currently constructed, Liberty has five open spots for next year’s team. That is a number which can certainly grow if there are additional departures. Expect the Flames to be very active in the transfer portal looking to upgrade the roster for next year’s team as the Flames have to replace 8 departing seniors and, honestly, have more questions than answers currently.
