Wright State Takes the Top Spot in 2026-27 Under Armour #HLMBB Preseason Poll
Rachel White
INDIANAPOLIS (October 7, 2026) – Wright State earned the top spot in the 2026-27 Under Armour #HLMBB Preseason Poll in voting conducted by the League’s head coaches, SIDs and media members. WSU’s Kellen Pickett collected Preseason Player of the Year honors.
Dig Deeper:
- Wright State posted a 23-12 overall record and was 15-5 in #HLMBB play last season, earning both the regular season and tournament titles.
- Preseason Player of the Year Kellen Pickett was the Freshman of the Year in 2025-26, averaging 8.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, shooting 55.6 percent from the floor.
- Preseason All-League First Team selection CJ O’Hara posted 14.1 points per game last season at Green Bay.
- Dominic Pangonis was voted to the Preseason All-League Second Team after posting 8.9 points per game for the Raiders in 2025-26.
- RMU advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 #HLMBB championship, collecting 13 League wins during the regular season and 22 total wins last season.
- 2025-26 All-Freshman Team honoree Darius Livingston and League newcomer Ace Valentine represent the Colonials on the Preseason All-League Second Team.
- Livingston scored 9.6 points per game in his first season in Moon Township.
- Valentine joins RMU from UMBC where he averaged 12.0 points per game last season.
- Green Bay was 18-15 last season, posting a 12-8 record in League play.
- Preseason All-League First Team honoree Marcus Hall returns to lead the Phoenix after averaging 13.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in 2025-26.
- Oakland won 16 games last season, going 12-8 in #HLMBB play.
- Head coach Greg Kampe enters his 43rd season leading the Golden Grizzlies and is the longest-tenured men’s basketball coach in the country.
- Milwaukee posted two student-athletes on the Preseason All-League Teams.
- Danilo Jovanovich averaged 12.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in 17 games last season before a season-ending injury.
- Chandler Jackson posted 9.7 points per game for the Panthers in 2025-26.
- DeAndre Craig Jr. scored 14.0 points and added 2.6 assists per game for Purdue Fort Wayne last season.
- 2025-26 All-Freshman Team honoree Tyler Spratt started 28 games for the Titans last season, averaging 9.9 points per game.
- NIU joins #HLMBB this season with first-year head coach Matt Majkrzak at the helm.
- The regular season starts on Monday, Nov. 2 with Horizon League play scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Dec. 2.
- The 2027 Horizon League Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships are scheduled to culminate at the Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile in Noblesville, Ind. from March 7-9 with the mantra #MarchStartsHere.
- More information on the championships can be found at HorizonLeague.com/Noblesville.
2026-27 Under Armour #HLMBB Preseason Poll
Pl. Team – Pts.
1. Wright State – 492
2. RMU – 446
3. Green Bay – 367
4. Oakland – 354
5. Northern Kentucky – 336
6. Milwaukee – 309
7. Detroit Mercy – 271
8. Purdue Fort Wayne – 244
9. Youngstown State – 192
10. NIU – 142
11. Cleveland State – 121
12. IU Indianapolis – 80
#HLMBB Preseason Player of the Year
Kellen Pickett, Wright State
Preseason All-League First Team
Marcus Hall, Green Bay
Danilo Jovanovich, Milwaukee
DeAndre Craig Jr., Purdue Fort Wayne
CJ O’Hara, Wright State
Kellen Pickett, Wright State
Preseason All-League Second Team
Tyler Spratt, Detroit Mercy
Chandler Jackson, Milwaukee
Darius Livingston, RMU
Ace Valentine, RMU
Dominic Pangonis, Wright State
Returning 2025-26 #HLMBB All-League Selections
Tyler Spratt, Detroit Mercy (All-Freshman Team)
CJ O’Hara, Wright State (All-League Third Team)
Darius Livingston, RMU (All-Freshman Team)
Kellen Pickett, Wright State (Freshman of the Year/All-Freshman Team)
Returning 2025-26 #HLMBB All-Academic Team Selection
Marcus Hall, Green Bay