Who the featured players are changes most years for The College of Wooster men's basketball team, yet the result remains the same – consistent excellence for Div. III's winningest team of the 2000s. This year's Fighting Scots are an experienced team with four veteran seniors leading the way. However, the main cast will look remarkably different with four graduations to players who logged significant minutes the last two years.

"While we lost a lot with graduation, we have seniors who have played a lot of basketball for us, especially as sophomores and juniors" said head coach Doug Cline. "We have the experience, just the roles are changing for our returnees."

"I like our team, continued Cline. "We are a very athletic team with good length. We have a good mix of older guys and newer guys in our program. It is sort of fun right now as a team trying to put it together. I think we have really good potential. This group is working really hard and is fun to coach. It is going to take some time to put it all together because we do lack some experience and we have a really tough schedule."

Senior Jaiden Cox-Holloway is the lone returning starter. He ranked fourth on the team with 11.4 points per game last winter and was the team's leading rebounder for the second time with 6.6 boards per night.

"Jaiden has continued to work really hard in the offseason," said Cline. "I expect him to have his best year yet because he does put in his time to work at improving. He got better at scoring off the dribble last year, and I think he could be a more all-around scorer this year. I think his best basketball is still ahead of him."

Rising sophomore Breckman Oakley provided a big spark to the Scots as a first-year. He played the most minutes outside of the starting lineup and ended the year with 6.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. While Oakley is an all-around versatile player, Cline projects him to be the starting point guard.

"Breckman was thrown in there where he had to start because of Ashton's injury and that will only help him for this year," shared Cline. "He has improved in a lot of ways. He can play multiple positions and has the athleticism to be a good defensive player. We are really expecting big things from him. He is going to be a really important piece of the team this year."

Senior EJ Kapihe has embraced his roles throughout his career. As Wooster's leading reserve forward the last two years, he has played an integral part in the Scots' success. He averaged 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds as a junior. Kapihe is someone Cline could utilize in more of a swing role between the four and five spots this year.

"We have a lot of team guys and EJ is the epitome of that," said Cline. "He knows his role has to change a little bit this year. We are trying to get him to improve his confidence in his shooting so he can maybe swing from a five to a four and play either one of those positions. We really need EJ as a leader and he has tremendous abilities in that area. The guys in our program really respect him."

Seniors Isaac Roeder and Isaiah Johnson round out the players with significant game experience. They have been consistent regulars in the rotation, especially the last two years. Johnson averaged 4.4 points and 2.1 rebounds as a junior, while Roeder had 3.9 and 1.8 per-game averages, respectively.

"Isaac has been more aggressive in practice and playing with more confidence," shared Cline. "He improved in those areas last year. Isaac leads by example, and we are expecting big things from him."

"Isaiah has really helped us the last two years," continued Cline. "He has unbelievable ability and skill. I think his best basketball is ahead of him. He has played every position in our program. We are excited to see where he is going to go this year with more opportunities. It is about putting it all together and being more consistent on a daily basis."

Jonathan Diederich and Anthony Gomes round out the senior class, while Robbie Cass and Bryce Sewell are the other returning juniors.

"Jonathan and Anthony have been tremendous for our program," added Cline. "I am not sure there are guys who play harder than them in practice. They have been tremendous for our team the last three years with what they give us in practice, with how they do the scout team, and all that. They are good college basketball players."

"Robbie and Bryce will battle for time at the point guard spot," continued Cline. "Robbie has the ability to score off the dribble and can shoot the three. He is more of a scoring point guard. Bryce is athletic, high motor, and a defensive guy, who can push the ball in transition. We are looking for that from him. They give us depth at the point guard position. There was not much opportunity there the last few years with Jamir playing a lot of minutes."

Wooster's ability to land impact transfers has played a huge role in the team's success the last few years. Juniors Quincy Jones and Patrick Gale are the latest to transfer in to the program. Jones started his collegiate career at Westminster College, where he was an All-Presidents Athletic Conference selection.

"We needed more depth inside with losing Nick," stated Cline. "Quincy had two really good years at Westminster. He has the ability to score. He is extremely athletic, strong, and aggressive. He fits in well with our other guys, which is key when you are going after transfers and having guys transfer in. Quincy is a great fit for our program."

"Patrick gives us really good size and length," shared Cline. "For a guy his size, he has good skill. He can shoot and has good touch around the rim."

Also back are sophomores Damon Curry, Si Kielian, and Francis Nwokonko, who will be competing for increased roles.

"College basketball is a huge adjustment," said Cline. It is not easy as a first-year to play, especially coming into a program that had all these veteran guys like we had last year. It is just a different game from a physicality and speed standpoint. Damon, Si, and Francis are all team guys. They all improved last year and are in better shape and stronger this year."

Wooster has five first-years on this year's roster.

"Our first-year class is very athletic, long, and has some guys there with really good potential," previewed Cline. "They are continuing to get better and adapt to the college game."

Wooster starts its season on the road with a Nov. 7 game at the University of Hartford, which recently transitioned from Div. I to Div. III. Wooster is home for the first time on Nov. 21 against State University of New York College at Geneseo, which caps night one of the program's annual Al Van Wie/Wooster Rotary Classic. Wooster opens North Coast Athletic Conference play at Oberlin College on Dec. 3 and takes on John Carroll University in its first home conference game on Dec. 17.
The program's annual E.M. "Mose" Hole/Wooster Kiwanis Classic takes place Dec. 29-30. The University of Wisconsin-Platteville, which made the national quarterfinals in 2024, is one of the teams in the field for that event. Wooster kicks off 2026 with a Jan. 3 date with Wittenberg University in Springfield, while the Tigers make the return trip to Timken Gymnasium on Jan. 31.

"It is a very tough schedule," concluded Cline. "We are playing a lot of really good teams non-league. We are on the road a lot early, and winning on the road is not easy in college basketball. We will be challenged, and it will make us a better team in the long run. We want to win the league, but we want to win the conference tournament because that is what gets us in the NCAA Tournament. We want to use the non-league games to prepare us for the league."