Colorado Basketball: Shifting to Nine-Player Core as Four Rookies Focus on Growth

Four Colorado basketball freshmen will spend the 2026-27 season primarily on the practice squad. The Buffs host Abilene Christian on Nov. 2, starting their 17th year under head coach Tad Boyle. The team finished last season 17-16, but the playing style is expected to change.

Boyle has not set exact minutes, but the core rotation likely includes nine players. The group consists 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 is recovering from foot surgery, which may limit his early playing time.

Last season, 11 players appeared in at least 20 games for Colorado. The team went 7-11 in the Big 12, and seven players started at least 10 games. That level of rotation depth is unlikely to return. Instead, four freshmen have accepted limited roles to focus on growth.

The four players are forwards Chase Hill and Eric Jacobsen, and guards Amir Jones and Rider Portela. Portela, a wing from Phoenix, signed in November 2025. The others joined the roster as late additions in spring 2026. Jacobsen is a 6-foot-1 post who tore his ACL during his junior year at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire.

Hill comes from a basketball family. His father is the all-time winningest women's basketball coach at Trinity University. His grandfather, Bob, was an NBA coach who helped recruit Boyle to Kansas 45 years ago. Jones re-entered recruiting after a coaching change at Georgia State. Hill described his goal as simple development, noting he could have gone to Division III but chose Colorado for a longer path.

Jacobsen said accepting a limited role was initially difficult. He is now trying to earn minutes through daily effort. Boyle called the situation fluid, noting that Jones had a strong practice on Friday. He said the group has talent but lacks consistency due to their age. Their status in December may differ from their status in late October.