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2026 BIG EAST Summer Check-In Series - DePaul

Weekly throughout the summer, the BIG EAST will check-in with each of its 11 men's basketball programs for a Summer Check-In.  Highlighted by a one-on-one interview with each head coach and NBC Sports' John Fanta, the BIG EAST Summer Check-In will cover a wide range of topics from roster changes, highlights from summer workouts, and scheduling updates.

This week, the Summer Check-In series features DePaul's Chris Holtmann. Entering his third season, Holtmann has his sights set on the continued growth of the Blue Demons' program entering the 2026-27 campaign.

“It's a big reason why I took the job.  I knew this place had a very loyal fanbase, I also knew they were so hungry.  I have a great President, I have a great A.D. - Rob Manuel, DeWayne Peevy - and we've got a great Board.  We're not totally where we need to be in every area and we understand that, that's why we're trying to do some things.  Building a practice facility - we've had to share a practice facility for our first couple of years with a number of sports and that can bring challenges.  But they are so committed - I think what has happened in these first couple of years, we've been able at least create a sense of 'this is what can happen' when there is alignment, when there is energy around the program.  

It can elevate the spirit in and around the school, with the students.  I got stopped maybe 10-15 times by the students throughout the course of the winter and spring walking around campus, 'Coach, we're so excited, we're behind you, we can't wait until next year.' We had two busloads of students for the Marquette game and our players were pointing up at them at the very end of the game saying 'thank you for coming and making that trip.'  That energy, that's got to continue to grow.  

That doesn't happen without a President, an A.D., and a Board who understands it.  We know we have giant steps to take and we're excited for the challenge and what's in front of us.”

Head Coach Chris Holtmann on the importance of alignment on his campus

DePaul's 2026-27 Scheduling

“This year's non-conference schedule is completely different that the previous two DePaul schedules.  We are now playing four to five non-conference NCAA Tournament teams - Saint Louis on the road, Purdue in a neutral, SMU at home, South Florida at home.  All those teams went to the tournament, we also play Pitt and go at Northwestern.  The schedule is so much more challenging than what it was in the previous two seasons, it's really not even comparable.”

Holtmann on the Blue Demons' 2026-27 non-conference slate

Notable 2026-27 non-conference matchups:

  • Nov. 5 vs. USF
  • Nov. 13 at Northwestern
  • Nov. 24-26 vs. Purdue; Pittsburgh (Fort Myers)
  • Dec. 5 vs. SMU
  • Dec. 12 at Saint Louis
DePaul's 2026-27 Roster
The Blue Demons look to continue their climb, returning several key components - including veteran point guard Layden Blocker.  Kruz McClure is poised to be one of the BIG EAST’s breakout players as a sophomore, while Fabian Flores and Theo Pierre-Justin shore up the post entering 2026-27. DePaul’s 2026-27 class of nine newcomers is comprised of six transfers poised to make an immediate impact and three talented freshmen.

Transfers 
#0 Ade Popoola - Sr. - G - 6-5 - 204 - St. Louis, Mo. 

  • Four-star ranked transfer (EvanMiya.com) from Tulsa; logged 99 3-pointers and 50 steals in 2025-26
  • Started all 38 games for the Hurricanes, averaging 13.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game

"Clearly, we needed to address shooting and scoring in general.  We prioritized him very early on.  As soon as we knew he was going to be in the portal, he was a priority for us.  With 99 made threes at over 40 percent on a very good Tulsa team, really speaks well on what we think he can be in a DePaul uniform."

Holtmann on Ade Popoola's shooting ability and its impact on the lineup

#1 Magoon Gwath - Jr. - F - 7-0 - 210 - Euless, Texas

  • Three-star ranked transfer (EvanMiya.com) from San Diego State; 2025 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year
  • Appeared in 25 games (16 starts), averaging 8.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 19 minutes per game in 2025-26

"You look at that (San Diego State) program, those guys are coached very well.  There's obviously a defensive culture there, a culture of winning, and I think that's one of the things we love about Kahmare, Ade, and Magoon - all three of them did win at their previous place.  I think with Magoon, it's all going to come down to health and his continued development.  He's got to develop more offensively.  He was a tremendous defensive asset.  The biggest thing for him is health and continued offensive development in terms of how he can impact the game."

Holtmann on the defensive prowess and winning pedigree of Magoon Gwath and the transfer class

#4 Koree Cotton - Sr. - G - 6-6 - 225 - Miami, Fla.

  • Four-star ranked transfer (EvanMiya.com) from UTRGV; 2025-26 First Team All-Southland and All-Defensive teams
  • Averaged 13.9 points and 5.3 rebounds, connecting on 40.3% of his 3-point attempts (54 3FGM) last season

#9 Noah Meeusen - Jr. - G - 6-5 - 198 - Zandvliet, Belgium

  • Four-star ranked transfer (EvanMiya.com) from Arizona State; averaged 5.9 points, 3.2 boards, and 2.6 assists in 2025-26
  • Represented Belgium at the 2024 FIBA U20's, averaging 10.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.6 steals

#11 Kahmare Holmes - Jr. - G - 6-3 - 210 - Charlotte, N.C.

  • Three-star ranked transfer (EvanMiya.com) from Wofford; 2025-26 First Team All-SoCon
  • Averaged nearly 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals; reached double figures in 24 of 26 games

"It's interesting because we talked about the physicality required in our league.  Positional size.  I've talked with a lot of people who study the analytical side of transferring up - who transfers up and has success and who doesn't - and positional size plays a big role in that when you talk to guys who really understand it.  Kahmare has great positional size, he is a physical body and that's really going to help him in this league.  As his skills have continued to grow and develop - you saw it at Wofford in year two with the jump he took - there will be a transition for him but he's a young man we're really excited about."

Holtmann on his roster's positional size and Kahmare Holmes adjusting to the physical play in the BIG EAST

#16 Wilson Jacques - Sr. - C - 7-0 - 273 - Metz, France

  • Three-star ranked transfer (EvanMiya.com) from Fresno State
  • Averaged a near double-double per game in 2025-26 - 8.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game

Freshmen
#5 Noah Smith - Fr. - G - 6-8 - 210 - Plainfield, Ind.

  • Four-star recruit (ESPN) rated No. 72 overall per Rivals150; one of five finalists for 2026 Indiana Mr. Basketball
  • Finished his prep career at Plainfield H.S., averaging 19.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game as a senior

#8 Andrew Jensen - Fr. - F - 6-10 - 221 - Kaukauna, Wis.

  • No. 3 overall player from Wisconsin in the 2026 class; averaged nearly 19.0 points per game as a senior
  • First Team All-State selection by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association

#23 Mason Lockett IV - Fr. - 6-5 - 191 - Plainfield, Ill.

  • Averaged 18.3 points, 5.0 boards, 5.0 assists, and 2.0 steals as a senior at Oswego East
  • Earned All-State accolades and was the Beacon-News/Courier-News Boys Player of the Year

Returnees
#2 Layden Blocker - Sr. - G - 6-2 - 190 - Little Rock, Ark.

  • Veteran point guard ranked among the BIG EAST leaders in assists, steals, and free throw percentage
  • Averaged 11.1 points and 3.5 assists per game a season ago; reached double figures on 20 occasions

"He's an everyday worker.  He's one of the most durable guards I've coached.  He's available in every drill, every practice, every game.  He's got a real competitive spirit.  One of the things he's worked on is having emotional control because he can get really competitive.  As a point guard, having emotional control is so important.  We brought in Noah Meeusen from Arizona State who will be able to play a primary ballhandling and point guard role and enable Layton to play off the ball some.   I think that will ultimately help to have some playmaking around him with his continual development, going into year three."

Holtmann on the value of Layden Blocker's experience and work ethic

#3 Nate Kasher - So. - G - 6-1 - 183 - Glenview, Ill.

  • Saw action in five games (nine minutes) a season ago; sat out the 2024-25 season

#6 Jonas Johnson - So. - F - 6-7 - 215 - Chicago, Ill

  • Sat out the 2025-26 season

#15 Fabian Flores - Jr. - C - 7-2 - 265 - Murcia, Spain

  • Appeared in 28 games as a freshman, playing nearly 11 minutes per game 
  • Connected on better than 68% of his field goal attempts in 2025-26

#21 Théo Pierre-Justin - Jr. - F - 6-10 - 230 - Coudures, France

  • Made nearly 40% of his 3-point attempts (25 3FGM) as a sophomore in 2025-26
  • Earned 22 starts in 30 appearances, committing only 14 turnovers in 466 minutes played 

#22 Kruz McClure - So. - G - 6-6 - 235 - Westerville, Ohio

  • Made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2025-26, playing in 28 games
  • Averaged 5.0 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists; poured in 22 points vs. LSU, the most by a DePaul frosh in six seasons

#52 Amsal Delalic - So. - G - 6-8 - 220 - Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina

  • Three-star ranked transfer (EvanMiya.com) from Pittsburgh; missed 2025-26 campaign due to injury
  • Saw action in 21 games as a freshman, connecting on better than 46% from the floor and 35% from the perimeter

Departures

  • Kaleb Banks - F - eligibility expired; Brandon Maclin - G - eligibility expired; NJ Benson - F - eligibility expired; CJ Gunn - G - eligibility expired; Jeremy Lorenz - F - transfer; Khaman Maker - C - transfer; Isaiah Medina - F - transfer; Ilija Milijasevic - G - transfer; RJ Smith - G - transfer
By The Numbers
105 - Over the last two seasons, Magoon Gwath's 105 blocked shots rank 25th nationally.  In 51 games over the last two seasons, the 7-footer is averaging 2.06 blocked shots per game - 14th-best nationally. 

1.63:1 - Layden Blocker has registered a 1.63:1 assist/turnover ratio, dishing out 217 assists over 65 games for the Blue Demons from 2024-26 - fourth-best among all returning BIG EAST players 

0.1% - The 2026-27 DePaul roster features three players who are at least 7-feet tall.  With an estimated 2,800 people who stand 7-feet or taller in the world, the Blue Demons make up roughly 0.1% of the world's population of 7-footers.