It’s been an eventful offseason thus far. Here’s a recap of what the roster currently looks like.
In the era of the transfer portal, there is no such thing as the offseason. Coaches all over the country are scrambling to inject as much talent into their programs as possible before the well runs dry.
For Liberty, the Flames still have as many as two roster spots for next year’s team, but we’re beginning to get an idea of what the 2025-26 Liberty basketball roster will look like. The final product is still a work in progress, but the foundation for Ritchie McKay’s squad in its third year in CUSA has been laid.
Here is a quick look at the current roster with a projected starting line-up, which will surely change and we will update once the roster is finalized.
Colin Porter – For the first time since the 2019-20 season, Liberty will have a fourth year starting point guard. It was Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz then and it is Colin Porter now. You can’t put a value on the experience of playing in and starting 103 games like Porter has coming into his fourth season. He averaged a career-high 9.1 points and shot 42.9% from three this past year.
Kaden Metheny – With Metheny electing to return to Liberty this season, the Flames will have the most experienced and arguably the best backcourt in all of CUSA entering this season. Metheny is entering his sixth season of college basketball and third in Liberty’s system. He’s averaged over 13 points per game in his first two years with the Flames while shooting right near 40% from three.
Zach Cleveland – Like Porter, Cleveland now enters his fourth year in the program. Having Porter, Metheny, and Cleveland as the core nucleus for the team once again is invaluable. They know their role and know the system. Cleveland has averaged over 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists each of the past two seasons. He has first-team all-conference potential as he enters his senior season.
Isaiah Ihnen – It’s been several months since Ihnen went down to injury and was lost for the season and it could be easy to forget his impact. Assuming he is able to fully recover and be ready to go when the season starts, he is a game-changer for the Flames and will be playing his 7th year of college basketball (granted he missed two full seasons due to injury). Ihnen was arguably the team’s most talented and most important player when he went down to injury. He was averaging 10.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 39% from three.
Brett Decker – It’s not an unpopular opinion to think that Noah will have an increased role as a sophomore. By the end of the season, he had supplanted Gabriel McKay in the rotation at guard. He flashed with his offensive potential at times, scoring 8 in the NCAA Tournament against Oregon, 16 in the regular season finale against Western Kentucky, and scoring 16 or more in each of the four games against non-DI opponents when he had increased playing time. He can score. Maybe he takes over the Taelon Peter role as the first guard off the bench.
Josh Smith – Another player entering his 6th collegiate season, it could be easy to forget about Smith. The 6’9″ forward transferred to Liberty from Stetson a year ago where he helped the Hatters get to the Big Dance. He’s started 60 career games and played in 94 over four seasons at Stetson. As a senior, he averaged 8.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 33.3% from three. He missed this past season with an injury suffered at Stetson late in the season, but he should be counted on to make a big impact this coming season.
JJ Harper – Harper seems poised to step into the role left vacated by Jayvon Maughmer. He is a veteran that comes from the D2 ranks and can slide into that 3 & D role. This past season at West Liberty, Harper averaged 15.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 46.5% from the field, 34.7% from three, and 83.1% from the free throw line.
Zander Yates – Zander become a strong rotation piece for the Flames late in the season as the first big off the bench after Ihnen went down to injury. He ended up shooting 39.2% from three on the season.
RJ Jones – The 6’8″ transfer from Virginia Tech provides security behind Ihnen and Smith, who are both coming off injuries. The former 4-star recruit also has incredible upside and could work his way into the rotation in the frontcourt this season.
JC Shirer – Shirer is entering his fourth year in the program.
Zander Carter – Before they arrive on campus, it appears Carter is the most likely freshman to be able to earn a role on the team this coming season. Plus, the Flames currently have more of an opening at guard than at forward.
TJ Drain – At 6’8″, Drain has the length to make an impact in the frontcourt for the Flames during his career.
Andrew Grimes – Grimes is another forward who joins the program as a freshman.
Projected Starting Lineup (as roster is currently constructed)
- PG: Colin Porter
- G: Kaden Metheny
- G: JJ Harper
- F: Zach Cleveland
- F: Isaiah Ihnen
The starting five will likely fluctuate and at this point it looks like the Flames have six capable of starting if all healthy by adding Josh Smith to this group. Keep in mind the roster is not complete, and the Flames will likely more pieces to the roster and we still don’t know with absolute certainty that Taelon Peter and Jayvon Maughmer won’t be coming back.
