Imagine a basketball team hitting the reset button after years of knocking on the door of greatness, only to be denied time and again. That’s exactly where the UMass Lowell River Hawks find themselves as they embark on a bold new chapter in their America East Basketball journey. For three seasons, they were tantalizingly close to their first conference championship and a coveted NCAA Tournament berth. Yet, fate had other plans: the Vermont Catamounts twice shut the door, and the Maine Black Bears ended their dreams last season in the quarterfinals. With that defeat, a successful era closed, but a fresh, ambitious one has begun—and it’s unlike anything fans have seen before.
But here’s where it gets controversial: This offseason, the River Hawks faced a stark reality—zero returning points, rebounds, or assists from the previous season. It’s a complete teardown and rebuild, a top-to-bottom makeover that has left many wondering: Can this team rise from the ashes? Head coach Pat Duquette and his staff have leaned heavily on the transfer portal and recruiting to craft a 2025-26 roster that’s as unrecognizable as it is promising. (For the full schedule, visit https://goriverhawks.com/news/2025/8/19/mens-basketball-river-hawks-announce-complete-2025-26-slate.aspx)
The weight of this new chapter rests on the shoulders of three returning players—forward Keenan Bey and guards Isaiah Walters and Kris Johnson—who saw limited action last year. They’ll be joined by a staggering influx of talent: eight transfer portal additions and two highly touted recruits. And this is the part most people miss: This isn’t just a collection of new faces; it’s a carefully curated blend of international, collegiate, and prep stars, each bringing unique skills and experiences to the table.
The Recruits:
- Victor Okojie, a 6-foot-8 forward from Castlebar, Ireland, brings a global pedigree. After reaching the national finals in Ireland as a sophomore, he competed against top U.S. teams at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy.
- JJ Massaquoi, a 6-foot-6 guard from Maryland, was a scoring machine at Jackson Reed High School, averaging 22 points on 67% shooting while grabbing eight rebounds per game. His accolades include Second Team All-Met and First Team All-DCIAA honors.
The Portal Additions:
Coach Duquette didn’t hold back in targeting proven talent from mid-major and high-major programs:
- Darrel Yepdo, a 6-foot guard from Dracut, MA, was a top-15 scorer at Saint Michael’s College, earning All-League Second Team and Defensive Team honors.
- Xavier Spencer, a 6-foot-1 guard from Canada, dominated at Carleton University, winning U Sports Rookie of the Year and multiple All-Rookie Team selections.
- Shawn Simmons II, a 6-foot-6 forward from Philadelphia, scored 1,000 points in three years at Hillcrest Prep before playing two seasons at St. Joseph’s.
- Austin Reed, a 6-foot-8 forward from New Jersey, showcased his potential at Texas State with a double-double against Georgia State.
- Jared Frey, a 6-foot-6 guard from Ohio, averaged 6.8 points per game at Stony Brook and earned Rookie of the Week honors in 2023.
- Angel Montas Jr., a 6-foot-6 guard from the Dominican Republic, joins after a season at Mercer.
- Jerrell Roberson II, a 6-foot-9 forward from Maryland, brings three years of experience from James Madison.
- Khalil Farmer, a 6-foot-3 guard from Philadelphia, contributed at Hofstra with solid all-around play.
The Road Ahead: A Baptism by Fire
Like many mid-major teams, the River Hawks face a grueling non-conference schedule, with 10 of their 12 Division I games on the road. This includes three matchups against Power-Four opponents: Connecticut, Wake Forest, and Iowa. It’s a challenging slate, but also a fascinating experiment in team-building—can this patchwork roster gel quickly enough to compete?
Here’s the question for you: Is this drastic rebuild a recipe for disaster, or the bold move UMass Lowell needs to finally break through? Let us know in the comments—this season promises to be a rollercoaster, and we’re just getting started.
