Northwestern’s men’s basketball roster will look noticeably different next season.

Indeed, Chris Collins will enter his 14th season as the Wildcats' head coach, having overseen a massive offseason overhaul after the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign. Following a mass exodus that saw nine players enter the transfer portal — as well as the loss of leading scorer and four-year senior Nick Martinelli to the NBA Draft — Collins and his staff were tasked with rebuilding virtually the entire roster from scratch. 

The makeup of this team will mark a major departure from the formula that has largely defined Collins’ tenure in Evanston. For years, Northwestern relied heavily on veteran continuity, often featuring players who spent four or even five seasons on the team. In 2024-25, the Wildcats started three four-year seniors, two of whom were fifth-years. This season, however, the roster will not include a single four-year Northwestern player, and only one returning upperclassman remains.

As things currently stand, the Wildcats’ roster consists of eight transfer portal additions, three returning players, two incoming recruited freshmen and a legacy walk-on. With a new-look group set to take the floor — and a completely overhauled bench — here’s a closer look at what Wildcats fans can expect heading into next season.

PG: Jake West, 6-foot-3 sophomore (5.3 PPG, 2.8 APG and 0.8 RPG for Northwestern in ‘25-26)

West enters his sophomore season as the favorite to run Northwestern’s offense. The former four-star recruit flashed his potential as a freshman and will now be tasked with replacing much of the playmaking lost from last year’s roster. If the Wildcats are going to exceed expectations, it likely starts with West becoming a consistent double-digit scorer and taking another step as a facilitator.

SG: Angelo Ciaravino, 6-foot-6 junior (6.3 PPG, 1.2 APG and 3.9 RPG for Northwestern in ‘25-26)

Ciaravino is one of just three returning Wildcats and the lone returning upperclassman. His experience in Collins’ system should provide stability for a roster filled with newcomers, particularly on the defensive end.

SF: Jack Karasinski, 6-foot-7 graduate transfer (21.7 PPG, 1.2 APG and 4.7 RPG for Bellarmine in ‘25-26)

One of Northwestern’s most accomplished portal additions, Karasinski arrives with a reputation as a high-level scorer. His offensive production should immediately help a Wildcats team that struggled to generate points at times last season. The bigger question is whether he can hold up defensively against bigger, more athletic Big Ten competition.

PF: Colin Smith, 6-foot-8 senior (11.9 PPG, 1.5 APG and 4.2 RPG for UCSB in ‘25-26)

The UCSB transfer gives Northwestern another floor-spacing frontcourt player. His shooting should fit seamlessly into an offense that appears much improved on paper, though his adjustment to Big Ten physicality will be worth monitoring.

C: Okku Federiko, 6-foot-9 junior (8.6 PPG, 1.5 APG and 4.8 RPG for Drake in ‘25-26)

Federiko may be Northwestern’s most important offseason addition. The Drake transfer brings size, rebounding and rim protection to a roster that desperately needed all three, and he projects as the centerpiece of the Wildcats’ interior defense.

G: LA Pratt, 6-foot-5 graduate transfer (11.2 PPG, 2.5 APG and 3.6 RPG for Northeastern in ‘24-25)

Pratt may be Northwestern’s biggest X-factor. Before a foot injury ended his 2025-26 campaign after just two games, the Northeastern transfer appeared poised for a breakout year. If healthy, he should become one of the Wildcats’ top reserves, thanks to his ability to attack the basket and create for teammates.

G: Aleksej Kostić, 6-foot-4 sophomore (4.4 PPG, 0.4 APG and 0.9 RPG for BYU in ‘25-26)

Kostić arrives from BYU with a simple calling card: shooting. The sophomore should help space the floor alongside fellow newcomers Karasinski and Smith, though earning a larger role may depend on his defensive development.

F: Jayden Hodge, 6-foot-6 freshman (Graduates from Montverde Academy in ‘26)

Hodge enters Evanston as the highest-rated recruit of the modern Northwestern era, but an ACL injury clouds his immediate outlook. Whenever he returns to full health, his athleticism and two-way potential could make him one of the roster’s most impactful players.

F: Luke McEldon, 6-foot-10 senior (11.7 PPG, 1.3 APG, 6.2 RPG for Mount St. Mary’s in ‘25-26)

McEldon brings a level of size Northwestern has lacked in recent years. The Mount St. Mary’s transfer projects as a valuable depth piece thanks to his rebounding, physicality and defensive instincts, particularly against the Big Ten’s larger frontcourts.

F: Ryan Soulis, 6-foot-10 junior (5.8 PPG, 1.5 APG and 4.6 RPG for Columbia in ‘25-26)

Soulis is an intriguing frontcourt option who showed flashes as a passer and rebounder at Columbia. The biggest question is where he fits defensively, as he possesses the size of a center but needs a bit more physicality to thrive in the Big Ten.

G: Phoenix Gill, 6-foot-2 sophomore (0.5 PPG, 0.3 APG, 0.5 RPG for Northwestern in ‘25-26)

Gill saw limited action during his freshman season, but remains one of the roster’s more intriguing returning players given how few returnees are on the roster. His clearest path to playing time may come on the defensive end, where his energy and effort could earn him situational minutes. 

G: Elijah Eschmeyer, 6-foot-7 freshman (Graduated from Peak Charter HS in ‘25)

The lone walk-on on Northwestern’s roster, Eschmeyer earned his opportunity after a post-graduate year at Lake Forest Academy. His perimeter shooting stands out, though he’ll likely spend most of the season developing behind Northwestern’s scholarship players.

F: Symon Ghai, 7-foot-3 freshman (Graduates from The Academy of Central Florida in ‘26)

Standing 7-foot-3, Ghai is impossible to miss. The freshman’s length, shot-blocking ability and long-term defensive upside make him an intriguing developmental piece, though he’s unlikely to be a regular contributor right away.

More than anything, Northwestern’s 2026-27 season will be an experiment.

For years, Chris Collins built his best teams around veteran continuity, physical defense and players who spent four or five years developing in Evanston. This roster is the almost complete opposite. The Wildcats are betting on transfers, shooting, and offensive versatility to carry them forward.

On paper, it seems like talent is there for the Wildcats to be a much more dangerous offensive team than they were a season ago. However, the bigger question is whether or not this brand-new roster can develop the defensive toughness and chemistry necessary to survive a Big Ten schedule — and Big Ten offenses.

If the newcomers mesh quickly, this team could surprise people. If not, the growing pains that often come with a roster overhaul may be unavoidable.