Northwestern has nine players currently signed to its 2026-27 men's basketball roster, with room for up to six more.
The Wildcats suffered an unprecedented exodus this spring when all but three players departed from the program, either via graduation or the transfer portal.
Chris Collins has been hard at work to rebuild Northwestern, and while he still has several more roster spots to fill, the 'Cats' head coach has already inked four transfers to set his team's foundation.
Via press release, here's what Collins said about each of his incoming portal acquisitions:
G LA Pratt (Northeastern)
Graduate Student | 6-foot-5, 185 lbs
Collins: "LA Pratt is a dynamic playmaking guard who will bring great size and athleticism to our backcourt. His ability to attack off the dribble and make plays will be a huge boost for us. LA can also score at a high level and brings a wealth of experience to our program. Defensively, LA is a ball hawk who will be able to match up with the tremendous backcourt players in the Big Ten. He’s a tireless worker who loves to play and will set a great tone for our team culture. We can’t wait to see the impact LA can make on our team next year."
F Colin Smith (UC Santa Barbara)
Graduate Student | 6-foot-8, 220 lbs
Collins: "Colin Smith is a versatile forward who can make an impact all over the court. After a highly successful season at UC Santa Barbara, Colin will bring tremendous experience, high-level shooting, and a strong basketball IQ to our team. His ability to guard multiple positions and rebound will also be a huge asset. Colin is a great teammate with a high level of work ethic and character that represents everything we value in our program. We’re excited to see the impact that Colin can have on next season’s team."
Mar 1, 2023; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores forward Colin Smith (1) shoots the ball during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn ImagesF Jack Karasinski (Bellarmine)
Graduate Student | 6-foot-7, 215 lbs
Collins: "Jack Karasinski is a highly competitive, tough-minded forward coming off an All-Conference season at Bellarmine. He was one of the most efficient offensive players in the country last year and has proven he can score from all three levels. Not only is Jack a high-level shooter, but he also has a great knack for attacking the basket and getting to the foul line. His four years of college basketball experience will be invaluable to our team as we look toward next season. We can’t wait to get Jack to Evanston to join our Northwestern basketball family."
F Luke McEldon (Mount St. Mary's)
Redshirt Junior | 6-foot-10, 255 lbs
Collins: "Luke McEldon is a physical frontline player coming off an outstanding season at Mount Saint Mary’s. Luke brings an element to our team that is in high demand: a low-post presence. His ability to match up with the size and physicality of post players in the Big Ten is essential to competing at the highest level. Luke fits in perfectly with his high character and work ethic, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him in a Wildcat uniform next season."