Colorado Basketball Narrows Rotation to Nine

Colorado men's basketball is starting the 2026-27 season with a nine-player rotation, leaving four freshmen on the practice squad. The decision cuts the active roster in half compared to last year, when 11 players appeared in at least 20 games.

Head coach Tad Boyle has not locked in specific minutes, but the core group is likely to consist of guards Barrington Hargress, Alex Dickeson, Jalin Holland, Josiah Sanders, and Ian Inman. Forwards Justin Neely, Noah Feddersen, Goc Malual, and David Gomez round out the lineup. Gomez may see limited time on the floor while he recovers from foot surgery performed a year ago.

The four freshmen who will practice but not play regularly are forward Chase Hill, guards Amir Jones and Rider Portela, and forward Eric Jacobsen. Hill described his goal as simple development. He noted that he could have played Division III basketball to achieve the same growth before transferring up, but chose Colorado to spend four or five years there.

The group arrived in Boulder through different paths. Portela, a wing from Phoenix, signed with the team in November 2025. Jacobsen, Jones, and Hill joined the roster as late additions in the spring of 2026. Jacobsen, a 6-foot-1 post, played at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire after moving to Colorado Springs. His recruiting prospects changed after a torn ACL during his junior year in the Midwest.

Hill comes from a basketball family. His father is the all-time winningest women's basketball coach at Trinity University in San Antonio. His grandfather, Bob Hill, coached in the NBA and helped recruit Boyle to Kansas 45 years ago. Portela's father is also a coach. Jones joined Colorado after a coaching change at Georgia State, where he had originally signed.

Jacobsen said accepting a limited role was difficult at first. He said he is trying to earn what he can by going as hard as possible every day without worrying about losing anything. Boyle said the situation is fluid. He pointed to a strong practice performance by Jones on Friday and noted that Jacobsen and Hill have also shown good work.

Boyle said the players have the capability but lack consistency because of their age. He expects their standing in December could look different from mid-to-late October. He asked them to prepare daily so they are mentally ready if he calls on them. The team hosts Abilene Christian on Nov. 2 to open its 17th season under Boyle.