Delaware — yes, Delaware — made a massive splash on the recruiting trail on Friday afternoon as Amarillo (Texas) Palo Duro four-star quarterback Julian Reese II announced his commitment to the Blue Hens.

The CUSA program was able to beat out UNLV, UTEP, Houston and others for the coveted athlete who’s got his sights set on being a signal-caller at the next level. It’s one of the bigger recruiting victories for the entire Group of Six in the 2027 cycle.

$19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage

Reese is the No. 399 overall prospect and No. 28 QB in the cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s the third blue-chip senior to commit to a G6 program.

There have been some intriguing recruitments this cycle that have gone the way of the “little guy.” Rivals breaks down the 10 highest-ranked prospects who are currently committed to a G6 school, as of Aug. 28:

ATH Justin Murphy — Georgia State

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 287 NATL. (No. 8 ATH)
School:North Clayton (Ga.)

About: Murphy is quite the dual-threat playmaker who wants to play quarterback at the college level. As a junior, he rushed for over 1,100 yards and 18 touchdowns and also threw for more than 1,500 yards and 11 scores to just five interceptions. The 6-foot, 200-pounder committed to Georgia State at the end of official visit season. West Virginia and Vanderbilt were among some of the bigger names giving him a look.

OT Rashaun Lavata’i — Washington State

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 354 NATL. (No. 30 OT)
School:Curtis Senior (Wash.)

About: The 6-foot-6, 270-pounder opted for new head coach Kirby Moore and the Cougars over Washington, Utah and Oregon State. Lavata’i credited his relationships with the staff in Pullman when discussing his commitment with Rivals’ Brandon Huffman. Rivals ranks the four-star higher than other recruiting services; he checks in as the No. 118 recruit and No. 9 OT in the updated Rivals300.

QB Julian Reese II — Delaware

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 399 NATL. (No. 28 QB)
School:Palo Duro (Texas)

About: Programs like Houston and Wake Forest were after Reese, but Delaware emerged as a finalist as the Blue Hens targeted him as a QB rather than an athlete who would likely slot in elsewhere. Reese accounted for more than 3,000 yards passing with 31 passing touchdowns and 12 more rushing scores in 12 games last fall. He’s dynamic with the football and will begin his senior season on Friday. Reese discussed his commitment with Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman — that can be seen here.

RB Daylon Gordon — Texas State

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 431 NATL. (No. 32 RB)
School:Wylie (Texas)

About: Gordon is another Swiss-Army knife playmaker in the Lone Star State. He’s coming off a junior season that witnessed 11 rushing touchdowns, four receiving touchdowns and over 1,500 total yards. The likes of Houston and Rice got him in for official visits, but he’s headed for San Marcos in a big-time win for Texas State as it embarks on competing in the new Pac-12.

EDGE Andrew Rogers — East Carolina

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 500 NATL. (No. 47 EDGE)
School:Grimsley (N.C.)

About: Originally committed to the old staff at Virginia Tech, Rogers flirted with reclassification and putting his name back on the board throughout the fall. He eventually did weigh his options once more and the in-state East Carolina Pirates emerged as a realistic option, leading him to a late-June commitment. The 6-foot-6, 240-pounder plays for one of the top HSFB programs in North Carolina and is coming off a 50-tackle, eight-sack junior year.

WR Jordan Christie — Liberty

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 528 NATL. (No. 73 WR)
School:Southwest DeKalb (Ga.)

About: Christie is someone who’s impressed many in the Peach State for years and his recruitment was previously down to Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech and UCF. Things were quiet over the summer for The Opening Finals invitee, however, and on June 18, Liberty swiped his commitment. As a junior for Southwest DeKalb, he hauled in 48 catches and turned them into 927 yards and 11 touchdowns.

QB Kevin Verpaele — USF

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 537 NATL. (No. 32 QB)
School:Merritt Island (Fla.)

About: In the middle of his junior year at Merritt Island, Verpaele made an early commitment to the Pitt Panthers. That pledge held strong for over seven months, but after taking some visits and hitting a reset button of sorts, the passer decommitted. It was USF and new head coach Brian Hartline that immediately began to trend and he locked in his commitment to the Bulls one day later on June 10. A Rivals300 four-star, Verpaele threw for over 2,700 yards and had 31 total touchdowns last season.

WR Demaje Riley — Fresno State

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 599 NATL. (No. 80 WR)
School:Tulare Union (Calif.)

About: Riley has been on the California HSFB radar for a while now. As a freshman, he broke out with 67 catches, over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. He hauled in 12 receiving TDs as a sophomore, then took it up a notch with over 1,500 yards and 13 more scores last fall, averaging over 126 yards per game. He also had four interceptions last fall and doubles as a great basketball player. Fresno State is right down the road and it landed Riley’s commitment on April 9.

RB Victor Scott — North Texas

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 641 NATL. (No. 48 RB)
School:Lancaster (Texas)

About: Playing for a prominent Texas HSFB program, Scott made the most of his opportunities as a junior last fall, turning less than 50 carries into 275 yards while also hauling in 10 receptions. He’ll get to lead the Lancaster backfield as a senior this fall. The 6-foot, 190-pounder toted his fair share of Power Four scholarship offers — including SMU, Baylor and Georgia Tech — but North Texas prioritized him and he committed on May 12.

WR Sheldon Isaac — USF

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 646 NATL. (No. 85 WR)
School:McComb (Miss.)

About: Isaac is a top-20 senior prospect in the Magnolia State and he’s also headed for South Florida after committing on June 24. As a junior for McComb, he caught 56 passes and had 1,158 yards and 14 touchdowns. That followed a breakout 50-catch, 11-score sophomore campaign. He’s also got 70 total tackles to his name across the last two seasons. Isaac chose the Bulls despite possessing offers from in-state Ole Miss, Mississippi State and others.

It’s time for our next category of Spurs villains. This time, we’re looking for your votes on “dirty” players. These are the players who committed aggressive plays against the Spurs, injuring (or attempting to injure) a player, or altering a playoff match-up. Readers will vote for the biggest villain in a poll, and the winner of each match-up will advance to the next round, with the eventual winner crowned as the Biggest Spurs Villain of all time. Let’s get to the voting!

1. Zaza Pachulia (The Slide) vs. 8. Lu Dort (West Finals shenanigans, Barnes trip in regular season)

The play so famous the NBA literally had to change its rules. It’s not a stretch to say that Zaza Pachulia taking out Kawhi Leonard on that jump shot completely altered the direction of the Spurs franchise. San Antonio was swept in the series after winning 60+ games that year, and Leonard forced his way out of town very shortly afterwards. The slide is one of the most negatively impactful plays in franchise history and literally changed the league.

Lu Dort, on the other hand, is an annoying, scrappy player who, from time to time, has some egregious moments. The sheer volume of incidents from Dort against the Spurs could make a case for him here. Let’s count them:

1. Sticks out his leg to trip Victor Wembanyama AND Harrison Barnes on separate three-point shots
2. Seemingly dives into De’Aaron Fox’s injured ankle in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals
3. Nearly smacks Wembanyama in the face after he’s already on the ground in Game Two of the WCF
4. Flying knee kick into Barnes’ side jumping on a pump fake (I don’t think this one is dirty per se, but it’s physical

Dort is the 8th seed here because his antics didn’t ultimately add up to anything. San Antonio still defeated the Thunder and advanced to the Finals. His impact on the franchise isn’t anywhere close to Pachulia’s dirty play.

2. Karl Malone (The Elbow) vs. 7. Raja Bell (battles with Manu)

Sometimes a dirty play has some gray area. There is no gray area when a player is knocked unconscious. Karl Malone’s elbow is one of clear frustration that knocked out Robinson. It is somehow not the worst thing that Malone has ever done in his life!

Raja Bell and Manu Ginobili had some battles during their time. The most famous play between the two is probably the double flop. There are a few hard fouls here and there, but nothing that is overtly dirty. Malone is the clear winner here.

3. Eduardo Najera (Mavs enforcer, hurt Rose in 03, Manu in 10) vs. 6. DeJuan Blair (Tiago kick)

Eduardo Najera mentioned in 2026? Only in a Spurs dirty player draft. Najera’s most famous play is probably when he used both of his arms to throw Ginobili to the ground in the 2010 playoffs (this is while Manu had a broken nose). But he also smacked Tony Parker in the face in the playoffs, and collided with Malik Rose in the 2003 playoffs. There is enough volume and severity of dirty plays here to make him a top-three seed.

We also have the rare former-Spur make the list! DeJuan Blair’s full-on donkey kick to Tiago Splitter’s head is an insane play. It’s a move you’d see in the UFC octagon, not on the basketball court. It’s bad enough to potentially upset Najera in the first round.

4. Juwan Howard (Derek Anderson karate chop) vs. 5. Kevin Garnett (trash talker)

I was initially surprised to see Kevin Garnett on this list. Yes, I know he has the reputation as one of the NBA’s finest trash talkers, but I never considered him to be overly dirty toward the Spurs. That was until I read this alleged story about Garnett telling Tim Duncan “happy Mother’s Day” during a game on the holiday, nine years after Duncan’s mother had passed away from breast cancer. There is no way to corroborate if that story is true, but if it is, he more than deserves the five seed on this list.

The Juwan Howard play does not look good 25 years later, but in this interview he seems genuinely remorseful, and even went as far as to visit the Spurs’ locker room to apologize for the play. Plus, San Antonio did go on to win the series against the Mavericks 4-1. Would Anderson have helped San Antonio defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals? He was only averaging 7.7 points in the playoffs prior to the injury, and the Spurs did get swept. We will never know.

The Garnett story is a legitimate low blow, vs. a seemingly innocent, but overaggressive play from Howard. I know which way I would lean here.

With the addition of Missouri transfer forward Mark Mitchell (pending his eligibility case), Kentucky Basketball’s 2026-27 roster is now finalized.

After an offseason filled with roster movement, Mark Pope and his staff have assembled a team that combines proven college production, size, shooting, and versatility.

With the roster set, here is a look at Kentucky’s projected starting five and several key players who could play important roles off the bench.

Kentucky Basketball Projected Starting Five

PG: Zoom Diallo

Diallo enters his third collegiate season after taking a significant step forward at Washington in 2025-26.

He started 29 of 33 games and averaged 15.7 points and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 48.9% from the field. He scored in double figures 23 times and recorded three double-doubles.

Diallo showed he can take over games, including a 26-point performance against USC and a 22-point, 11-assist effort against the Trojans in an overtime victory. He also recorded a career-high 12 assists against Iowa.

After averaging 11.1 points and 2.7 assists as a sophomore, Diallo appears ready to take on an even larger role at Kentucky.

One interesting storyline will be whether Diallo can help Kentucky reverse his college winning fortunes. Despite his individual production, he has yet to play on a winning college team. With this roster around him, that could change in Lexington.

SG: Alex Wilkins

Wilkins comes to Kentucky after an outstanding freshman season at Furman.

The 6-foot-6 guard started all 35 games he played and averaged 17.8 points and 4.7 assists per game. He earned second-team All-Southern Conference honors, NABC All-South Atlantic District First Team recognition and SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.

Wilkins averaged 21.7 points per game during the SoCon Tournament, including a career-high 34 points against UNC Greensboro.

He finished the season with 622 points, the most ever by a Furman freshman, while shooting 45.8% from the field, 32.1% from 3 and 83.5% from the free-throw line.

Wilkins also came close to helping Furman pull off a massive NCAA Tournament upset. As a No. 15 seed, Furman led No. 2 seed UConn at one point before eventually falling 82-71. Wilkins scored 21 points and knocked down four 3-pointers.

His combination of size, scoring ability, and playmaking should give Pope another versatile option in the backcourt.

SF: Milan Momcilovic

Momcilovic is arguably one of the most dangerous shooters on Kentucky’s roster.

The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 16.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game at Iowa State, while shooting an incredible 50.6% from the field, 48.7% from 3 and 87.8% from the free-throw line.

He started all 37 games and set an Iowa State single-season record with 136 made 3-pointers.

Momcilovic also showed that he can perform against elite competition. He scored 20 points and knocked down four 3-pointers against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament.

His ability to stretch the floor from the forward position could be extremely valuable alongside Kentucky’s bigger players.

PF: Mark Mitchell

Mitchell is the newest addition to Kentucky’s roster and arguably the most intriguing.

The 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward was a five-star recruit in the 2022 class and originally chose Duke over Kansas, UCLA, and Missouri.

After two seasons at Duke, Mitchell transferred to Missouri, where his production continued to rise.

As a senior, he averaged 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, while shooting 55% from the field and 38.8% from 3. He led Missouri in scoring, rebounding and assists while earning second-team All-SEC honors.

Kentucky has already seen firsthand what Mitchell can do.

He scored 21 points in Missouri’s 73-68 upset of Kentucky at Rupp Arena during the regular season. Kentucky eventually got revenge in the SEC Tournament with a 78-72 victory, but Mitchell exploded for 32 points and seven rebounds while shooting 13-of-21 from the field and 2-of-2 from 3.

Mitchell brings size, physicality, scoring, passing, and improved shooting to the Kentucky frontcourt. His ability to attack the basket while also spacing the floor makes him a fascinating fit alongside Momcilovic and Moreno.

C: Malachi Moreno

Moreno enters his sophomore season as the anchor of Kentucky’s frontcourt.

The 7-foot, 245-pound Georgetown native appeared in all 36 games as a freshman and started 30. He averaged 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.47 blocks per game, while shooting 58.2% from the field.

Moreno recorded three double-doubles and led Kentucky in rebounding 18 times and blocks 17 times.

With another year of experience and an offseason to develop, Moreno could take a significant step forward.

Key Bench Players

Kam Williams

Williams could be one of Kentucky’s most important reserves if he can enter the season fully healthy.

The 6-foot-7 guard averaged 6.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 24 games last season, missing 12 games because of a broken foot.

Before his injury, Williams showed plenty of potential, including a career-high 26 points and eight 3-pointers against Bellarmine.

He also returned in time to contribute during the NCAA Tournament, but now he is coming off another foot surgery; his health will be something to monitor heading into the season.

Justin McBride

McBride arrives at Kentucky after an impressive season at James Madison.

The 6-foot-8, 250-pound forward averaged 15.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, while shooting 49.4% from the field, 40% from 3 and 78.2% from the free-throw line.

He scored at least 20 points in 10 games and recorded two 30-point performances, including a 33-point outing against Norfolk State.

McBride’s combination of size and shooting ability gives Kentucky another experienced forward who can provide offense off the bench.

Ousmane N’Diaye

Before Kentucky added Mitchell, N’Diaye was viewed by many as a potential starting option.

The 7-foot forward brings international experience after playing in Germany, Spain and Italy. Most recently, he averaged 9.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 0.9 steals for Vanoli Cremona in Italy’s top division.

N’Diaye also recorded four double-doubles and posted a season-high 24 points and 11 rebounds in one game.

His size, experience, and ability to stretch the floor could make him an important piece of Kentucky’s frontcourt rotation, even if he does not ultimately start.

Franck Kepnang

While Malachi Moreno will be getting most of the minutes at the 5 spot, Kepnang will be a quality backup if he can stay healthy. Durability has been an issue throughout his career, but he’ll have more limited minutes in Lexington so long as Moreno is healthy.

You won’t find many backup centers with the talent Kepnang possesses. If he can stay healthy and give Kentucky a good 10-15 minutes per game, that would be a massive boost for a roster that doesn’t really have another true center after Moreno and Kepnang.

Mason Williams

Williams was the first commitment of Kentucky’s 2026 recruiting class under Pope.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound guard averaged 15.1 points, 5.3 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 steals as a high school senior while shooting 60% from the field, 41% from 3 and 89% from the free-throw line.

He also helped Tennessee Collegiate Academy pull off an upset of No. 1-ranked Prolific Prep.

Williams has already drawn attention for his college-ready frame. Now, the next step is translating that physical development into production against Division I competition.

Braydon Hawthorne

Hawthorne redshirted the 2025-26 season, giving him four seasons of eligibility remaining.

The 6-foot-8 forward was a consensus four-star prospect and ranked No. 33 nationally in the final 2025 247Sports rankings.

At Huntington Prep, he averaged 23.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.

Hawthorne enters the season having had additional time to develop physically and adjust to the college level. His size and skill set could make him an interesting option in Kentucky’s frontcourt rotation.

Plenty of Depth Behind Them

Kentucky’s depth does not stop there, as they have transfer guard Jerone Morton and returning forward Trent Noah, aka Mountain Mamba, which will give Pope additional options as he determines how deep he wants to go into his rotation.

The biggest question may not be whether Kentucky has enough talent, but how Pope distributes the minutes among a roster with so many players capable of contributing.

Now, the focus shifts from building the roster to figuring out how all those pieces fit together and how to advance deep in both the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.

What if there’s no Mark Mitchell?

With Mitchell facing eligibility scrutiny from the SEC and the NCAA, there’s still a chance we won’t see him suit up for the entire 2026-27 season, if at all.

If Mitchell ends up sidelined, here’s what the starting lineup could look like:

PG: Zoom Diallo

SG: Alex Wilkins

SF: Milan Momcilovic

PF: Justin McBride

C: Malachi Moreno

Key bench rotation: Kam Williams, Ousmane N’Diaye, Franck Kepnang, Mason Williams, Braydon Hawthorne, Trent Noah

What do you think the starting lineup and primary bench rotation should look like? Let us know in the comments section!

The most consequential outcome of the NBA’s Kawhi Leonard investigation may not be the punishment. It may be the road map the league leaves behind.

After nearly a year examining whether the Clippers circumvented the salary cap through Leonard’s endorsement relationships with team sponsors, the investigation reportedly appears to be moving away from its most serious possibility.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said discussions between the league and Steve Ballmer’s lawyers have focused more on a potential “failure to supervise” and the Clippers’ introductions of Leonard’s representatives to sponsors than on direct evidence that Ballmer funneled money to his star.

Shelburne called direct cap circumvention the investigation’s “murder charge”—the most serious allegation and the hardest to prove.

The NBA has cautioned that the investigation remains unfinished and accused ESPN’s previous account of containing “numerous and significant inaccuracies.” Ballmer, Leonard and the Clippers have denied circumventing the cap.

That uncertainty matters. So does the direction of the reported investigation.

If the league concludes that an owner can introduce a player to team business partners, benefit from the resulting arrangement and avoid the harshest accountability unless investigators uncover a direct order or payment, it will create a dangerous blueprint.

Future teams would not need a secret contract. They would only need some distance.

An owner could connect a superstar with a sponsor, allow intermediaries to handle the terms and later claim no knowledge of what occurred. Plausible deniability would become a roster-building strategy.

That would undermine the salary cap’s purpose. Competitive balance becomes impossible if the wealthiest owners can use their commercial networks to arrange outside compensation that smaller-market or less-connected rivals cannot match.

The scrutiny has already expanded beyond Leonard’s deal with Aspiration to another sponsorship involving Clippers partner Daktronics.

Draymond Green identified the incentive created by weak enforcement.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

“If the punishments aren’t steep, everybody should do it,” Green said while discussing the Leonard allegations.

The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement permits fines, lost draft picks, contract voidance and suspensions for proven circumvention. Those deterrents mean little, however, if the evidentiary standard effectively requires a billionaire owner to leave written instructions explaining the scheme.

None of this means the NBA should punish Ballmer without sufficient evidence. It means “failure to supervise” cannot become a convenient safe harbor for owners who benefit from arrangements they claim not to understand.

If the league cannot prove this so-called murder charge, it must still establish clear disclosure rules for sponsor introductions, owner investments and endorsement agreements—and impose meaningful consequences when those safeguards are ignored.

Otherwise, the lesson will not be that cap circumvention is forbidden.

It will be that it is permissible when structured carefully enough.

The non-conference portion of the Gopher Men’s team is reportedly set. Ryan James of Gopher Gazette was the first to report it and it has now been released. Last season, Minnesota played two teams from power conferences in their non-conference portion of the schedule (Stanford and Missouri) and their non-conference strength of schedule ranked 355th out of 365 teams.

I have some good news and some bad news.

The good news is that the Gophers are playing a much more challenging non-conference schedule.

The bad news is that the Gophers are playing a much more challenging non-conference schedule.

The opinion here is that Nike Medved has intentionally chosen to amp up his non-conference schedule because he believes he has a more talented team that has a chance to make the NCAA Tournament. There are likely five Power Five teams on this schedule and the resume should be strong for the Gophers…if they can win the games.

11/2 – North Dakota
KenPom: 279
Record: 18-17

The first official game of the year is hosting the Fighting Hawks out of the Summit. Last season the Hawks finished 3rd in the Summit and were runner-ups to North Dakota State in the conference tournament. I saw UND play when they came to play St. Thomas and had a dramatic win in the final seconds. They were led by Greyson Uelmen and Eli King…both are gone. Uelmen has transferred to Northern Iowa and King has graduated. A couple of promising younger players also hit the portal in Anthony Smith and George Natsvlishvili.

There are three guys who Minnesota should be most concerned with. Zach Kraft, a junior guard who is likely to be their primary scorer. Josh Jones, a 6’9” center/forward. And transfer Tyler Wagner, a sophomore coming from Austin Peay and a former Champlin Park Rebel.

The losses of Uelmen, King and Smith are significant and it doesn’t appear that Paul Sather is bringing in the necessary pieces to make them competitive this year.

Prediction: Gophers start the season 1-0

11/6 – St. Thomas
KenPom: 115
Record: 24-10

The only benefit to the Gophers in this matchup is if the Tommies can find their way to 75th in the NET rankings and this becomes a Quad 2 win for Minnesota. The problem is that the Tommies are losing five of their top six leading scorers. Nolan Minessale was one of the top mid-major players in the country last year, averaging 19.8 points per game and he is headed to Marquette. Nick Janowski (16.1 ppg) is transferring to Davidson. Isaiah Johnson-Arigu (10.5) is heading to Northern Iowa. Ben Oosterbaan (7.6) wants to be a Don in San Francisco. And Waseca’s Ryan Dufaul (5.7) no longer has any eligibility.

The top returners will be Carter Bjerke, a 6’9” senior from Wayzata who averaged 9.4 ppg last season. And Austin Herro, brother to Tyler Herro. Herro originally began his career at South Carolina before transferring to the Tommies, where he started 24 games last year as a sophomore.

A couple of transfers are expected to make an impact. Jeremy Lorenz is a forward transferring down from DePaul. And Brogan Madson is a high-scoring guard, transferring up from D2 Sioux Falls. And it is always important to note that Johnny Tauer always has a team that executes and can do more with less.

I have strong opinions on scheduling this game, but too late to change anybody’s mind about this season. The Tommy fans will fill the barn; they’ll be very proud of themselves and Roll Tom back home with a loss.

Prediction: A Gopher win, but it’ll be too close for comfort.

11/9 – Cincinnati
KenPom: 43
Record: 18-15

Side Note: Utah State has not had the same coach for more than three seasons since 2015. Craig Smith was there for three years and left for Utah. Ryan Odom was there for two years before leaving for VCU and now Virginia. He was succeeded by Danny Sprinkle for 1 year before he left for Washington. His successor was Jerrod Calhoun for two years and he now leads the Cincinnati Bearcats. Whoever the Utah State coach is…I want him to make my next basketball hire.

This is the first season for Calhoun with Cincy and he has a fully rebuilt roster. Every major contributor from last season is gone. But what makes this team interesting is that Calhoun has four players from Utah State coming with him. Most notably, MJ Collins led the Aggies with 17.5 points per game and will likely be a key player for Calhoun and the Bearcats. And transfer Tylen Riley averaged 15 points for Tulsa last year and he will likely pair with Wake Forest transfer Myles Colvin on the perimeter, and Riley Allenspach is a 6’11” center from George Mason who could pose a problem inside.

It is a roster rebuild, but there are some nice pieces that Calhoun has added, along with four former Aggies to help implement his system and culture.

Prediction: If this were at the Barn, I’d be tempted to take the Gophers. But I think Cincy wins this one at home.

11/12 – Southern
KenPom: 277
Record: 17-17

After a decently challenging first three games, Minnesota gives themselves a couple of games to get right. The Jaguars finished 2nd in the SWAC last season, but they are losing several seniors. I would not expect their 2026-27 KenPom rank to be as high 277 this year.

Prediction: A comfortable Gopher win.

11/16 – Western Illinois
KenPom: 364
Record: 5-26

This is one of the toughest jobs in D1 basketball and the Leathernecks bottomed out last year as the 2nd worst team in basketball, according to KenPom. They somehow managed to beat North Dakota last season and they earned one conference win. But their three other wins were against a D3 school and two NAIA teams.

Another team that is losing a bevy of seniors, and this team was terrible last year.

Prediction: Don’t play with your food. Put this one away early and

11/20 – Charleston Classic – Dayton/VaTech/Utah/Ok State
11/22 – Charleston Classic – Dayton/VaTech/Utah/Ok State

Three more teams are yet to be added and then there will be two 4-team brackets played over those two days. We don’t really know who we will be playing, but here is a quick blurb about the four potential teams we know.

Dayton – Anthony Grant’s Flyers are looking to replace a couple of scoring guards to pair with their 7’1” big man from France, Amaël L’Etang. Travis Perry is a former Kentucky recruit who is coming to Dayton after a year at Ole Miss. He looks like their potential starting point guard.

Virginia Tech – Weirdly, a team that is returning its top two scorers from last year. Amani Hansberry and Ben Hammond combined for 27.5 ppg last year and will be back for the Hokies. They have added a few younger forwards to the team and this team should be pretty good.

Utah – After four seasons, Craig Smith was let go at Utah and Alex Jensen takes over. With a typical roster makeover, Jensen has added a couple of dangerous transfer guards in Taison Chatman from Ohio State and Jackson Holcombe, a 6’7” wing from Utah Valley.

Oklahoma State – The Cowboys have a monster recruiting class coming in, with four 4-star kids, two of them ranked in the top 35 in the nation. And in the transfer portal, they added a starter from UNC, a seven-footer who started 28 games at Georgetown, a scoring wing from UCF, and a 6’11” kid who started 27 games for Arizona State. This team is going to have some talent.

11/28 – Cal @ Sioux Falls – Sat
KenPom: 75
Record: 22-12

Mark Madsen’s Cal Bears are traveling to Sioux Falls to face the Gophers at the Sanford Pentagon. Last season, they finished in the middle of the ACC pack and ended up going 1-1 in the NIT to finish their season. Their top two leading scorers both decided to transfer and their next two leading scorers have no more eligibility.

So they hit the portal, like everybody else. Michael Cooper was Wright State’s leading scorer and he should be a significant contributor. Jordan Ross started 25 games for Georgia last season, he also is a likely starter for Madsen. Maden’s top returner is 6’10”, Lee Dort who I expect to be a handful for the Gophers.

It is easy to overvalue the transfers coming into the Gopher program without knowing much about the Cal incoming transfer or how they will fit. But this game feels fairly winable for Minnesota, especially with three returning starters and adding a transfer like Kyan Evans.

Prediction: Gophers with a win and potentially a Quad 1 win (though more likely a Quad 2).

12/12 – SMU – neutral site in Texas
KenPom: 48
Record: 20-14

Moving on to another program where most of the team’s returning starters and leading scorers need to be replaced. Andy Enfield loses his top four returning scorers to graduation and Samet Yigitoglu, who started all 34 games for the Ponies, is transferring to Indiana.

Enfield’s top two returning players, forward Jermaine O’Neil Jr and big man Jaden Toombs, will both be sophomores, and yes, his father was THAT Jermaine O’Neil. And he has a couple of guards who are transferring in, looking for the opportunity to make an impact in the ACC. Guards Rowan Brumbaugh averaged 19.2 ppg for Tulane last year and David Terrel Jr averaged 13.5 for North Texas last year.

Prediction: This is a tough one to predict. SMU was pretty good last year. On paper, the Mustangs lost more than the Gophers did and it will all come down to who incorporates the transfer. But I’ll go with SMU for this one.

12/16 – Texas Southern
KenPom: 314
Record: 12-18

Last year’s roster for the Tigers was senior-laden and they leveraged that experience to finish 10-8 in the SWAC. Following the season, their head coach, Johnny Jones, took an assistant coach role at LSU, his alma mater, and Shyrone Chatman took the interim title for this season.

Prediction: This will be a win for the Gophers.

12/20 – Alcorn State
KenPom: 346
Record: 9-23

Up next is another SWAC opponent. The Braves finished 7-11 and 11th in the league in coach Jake Morton’s first season. But to be fair, 10 teams finished between 11-7 and 7-11, so it was a highly competitive league.

Unlike Texas Southern, Alcorn could have returned a number of their top players. But they all decided to transfer, so they are also tasked with rebuilding their roster.

Prediction: This will be a win for the Gophers.

12/29 – UT-San Antonio
KenPom: 338
Record: 5-25

It was a rough season for the Road Runners last year as they finished 1-17 in the American and just five winsj (one of those being over something called Biblical Studies). And of course, they had six players transfer out and six players transfer in.

I am not expecting a 5-25 team to bounce back and beat a Big Ten team on the road.

Prediction: This will be a win for the Gophers.

The Atlanta Braves have announced that injured starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep will have to undergo “Tommy John” surgery and fellow starter Spencer Schwellenbach will also have surgery on the same elbow fracture he suffered last year.

Waldrep will likely miss all of 2027. No timetable on Schwellenbach is available.

This is a developing story.

---

Ahead of today’s press conference with Walt Weiss, the Atlanta Braves broke the news that both Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwelenbach were officially ruled out for the rest of the 2026 season. They made sure to mention that Waldrep was having Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow and that Schwellenbach was having surgery to repair the same elbow fracture that has already kept him on the shelf for so long.

While it may not be all that surprising, it’s certainly not shocking considering how things have gone. We never really got any updates about Schwellenbach getting any closer to returning to the mound outside of vague updates about how he was throwing. With September on the horizon, this was as good of a time as any to unfortunately shut the door on any talk about Schwellenbach returning this season. It’s definitely unfortunate that this all stems from a freak accident last season. Now it’s cost him all of 2026 and is likely going to cost him a chunk of the 2027 season as well. It’s a real bummer.

Meanwhile, it sure seems like Waldrep had a serious setback between now and back when he was given the “all clear” to resume throwing. No matter what happened, it’s still a bit of a bummer to see that the setback did occur and that Waldrep can be ruled out for this season. Waldrep only managed to get through 10.2 innings here in 2026 and he gave up 10 runs during that time, so it was clear that something was up during that time. Now Waldrep will be on the shelf for a considerable period of time while getting back into action.

In other injury news, Walt Weiss was asked about the status of Spencer Strider and he didn’t have much to proivde in terms of an update. He didn’t say as to whether or not Spencer Strider has been throwing off of a mound yet, so we’re still very much unclear on a return timetable for Strider any time soon — much less here in the 2026 season. We did get a tiny bit of an update on Robert Suarez, though — Weiss shared that he’s been throwing from 120 feet lately and that whenever that’s starting to happen, you’re really “putting something on it,” as the manager explained when he was discussing Suarez’s status.

So of all four pitchers, the only one who appears to have a remotely positive outlook is Robert Suarez since he’s slowly but surely ramping up. Spencer Strider’s status is unclear and both Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep are done for the season and then some. It’s lame but that’s baseball for you! Hopefully everybody involved can continue to move in the right direction in terms of recovery and that there are no more setbacks in the future.

New Hearts striker JJ Williams says he was ready to "run through a wall" for his new team-mates after watching them secure Conference League football until Christmas in dramatic fashion.

The American watched Wednesday's penalty shootout victory over Rapid Vienna from his hotel room after completing his move to the Tynecastle club from Rhode Island.

The 25-year-old was particularly impressed by goalkeeper Beau Reus and Calvin Miller, who battled through cramp before scoring his penalty in the shootout.

"I watched it in my hotel room and you talk about, I felt like a kid again because I was jumping on the bed," Williams said.

"The saves that Beau made at the end, but the performance and the absolute shift that the guys put in. Calvin was cramping everywhere possible and he was still running at 120 minutes and then steps up and smashes a penalty in the back of the net.

"You talk about a performance to watch for the first game, seeing as a signed player, I was ready to run through a wall for those guys, so it was good."

Williams has been on Hearts' radar for more than a year and arrives after playing in the United States. He will go straight into the squad for Saturday's Scottish Premiership meeting with St Johnstone and is relishing the prospect of playing in front of a packed Tynecastle.

"It was giving me goosebumps while I was there in an empty stadium," he said. "So, I can't even imagine whenever it's packed. I'm super excited.

"There are ups and downs along the way. It wasn't a straight path for me to get here.

"But I can tell you, because of all those ups and downs, you want it so much more now that I've landed in this spot."

After landing in sixth place on the top-20 defensemen in the NHL right now list, the Montreal Canadiens defenseman has made another NHL top-15 assists list for the last season. The puck-moving defenseman lands at number eight with a play that goes beyond the counter-attacking pass he made to sniper Cole Caufield.

This superb stretch pass from Lane Hutson clocks in at No. 8 on our list of the top assists of the season! 🍎 pic.twitter.com/Cd9gWpzgmv

— NHL (@NHL) August 27, 2026

In a home game against the Nashville Predators in which the Habs were trailing 2-1, coach Martin St-Louis had pulled his netminder Jakub Dobes for an extra attacker. Jonathan Marchessault had an empty net to shoot at, but Hutson made the save, and for a split second, it looked like he thought, “Ouch, that hurts,” but then his mind instantly shifted to attacking mode. It’s a perfect example of how Hutson will do anything to help his team win. If you need him to defend, he will; if you need him to make a save or a good first pass, he can do it too; and if he needs to do it all at the same time, he will.

Captain Suzuki May Get A Bit Tougher This Year
Canadiens: The Goalie Market May Start Heating Up
On Canadiens Lane Hutson And The Chase For Hardware

He spotted Caufield racing his way to the Preds' territory, fed him the puck, and the winger came down the wing at full speed, beating Juuse Saros with a wrist shot down low to tie the game. The sniper would go on to score the game-winning goal in overtime at 4:57, showing just how clutch he can be.

That game-tying goal certainly won’t be the last one we see Caufield and Hutson score and orchestrate; both players will be with the Canadiens for a long time and play important roles for the organization. And one day, sooner or later, the American pair will make their way onto Team USA. The Americans might have won gold at the Milano Cortina Olympics, but had it not been for Connor Hellebuyck’s clutch performance, the result could have been very different. At the end of the day, goals are needed to win a hockey game, not just grit.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Indiana Fever look to complete the season sweep of the Connecticut Sun when the teams meet for the third and final time of 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday, Aug. 28.

Connecticut’s “Sunset Season” has been one to forget, and Caitlin Clark will take full advantage of the visiting team’s poor defense as the Fever win in blowout fashion.

Read on in my free WNBA picks & Sun vs. Fever predictions to see why I’m taking Clark and Co. to cover a massive spread and why I’m climbing the ladder on a plus-money combo line for the superstar guard.

Sun vs Fever prediction

Sun vs Fever best bet: Caitlin Clark to Record a Double-Double +121

Caitlin Clark has been more productive at Gainbridge Fieldhouse than any other location this season, averaging 23.9 points, 9.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds at home compared to 20.4 points, 7.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds on the road.

Clark has 12 double-doubles, reaching that milestone in eight of 17 home games but just four of 18 road games.

Clark’s 31 double-doubles are the 9th-most in the WNBA since she joined the league in 2024.

I price this one at +110, making it a profitable value at +121.

Sun vs Fever same-game parlay

This is a monster spread, but the team disparity warrants it. The Indiana Fever lead the league with 96.6 ppg, while the Connecticut Sun are dead last at 78.8. Connecticut is 3-8 ATS as a double-digit dog, and the Fever won the last meeting 123-88 at home. Play to 19.5.

Indiana sports the league’s best Offensive Rating at home (116.9), and Connecticut’s 10th-ranked defense will have a tough time getting stops. Blowouts offer a clear Under risk, but the Fever’s offense is so potent that it can propel this line to 179+ points. Play to 179.5.

Sun vs Fever SGP +440

• Caitlin Clark to Record a Double-Double
• Fever -17.5
• Over 178.5

Want more basketball parlays? Check out our WNBA parlay picks page!

Sun vs Fever player prop pick

Caitlin Clark to Record a Triple-Double +2800

The odds are long here for a great reason — triple-doubles are hard to come by in the WNBA. Only eight players in league history have recorded multiple, and only four players have recorded 4+.

Clark is a member of the elite second group, and she ranks third all time with four triple-doubles. She reached that mark in only 88 games, becoming the fastest player in history to do so.

Clark is a strong bet to record a double-double with points and assists, but rebounds will be the deciding factor. Over the last two games, Connecticut has surrendered the third-most boards to opposing guards, and with Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Aliyah Boston banged up, more opportunities will be available on the glass.

Returning home after five games on the road and jockeying for playoff position, I expect Clark to be at her best, so I’ll take a shot on this lottery-ticket prop.

Sun vs Fever odds

• Spread: Sun +17.5 | Fever -17.5
• Moneyline: Sun +1100 | Fever -2100
• Over/Under: Over 178.5 | Under 178.5

Sun vs Fever trend

Indiana has won and covered in both matchups with Connecticut this season. Find more WNBA betting trends.

How to watch Sun vs Fever

Sun vs Fever latest injuries

Sun:Kennedy Burke (Out), Brittney Griner (Out), Olivia Nelson-Ododa (Questionable).
Fever:Damiris Dantas (Out), Caitlin Clark (Probable).
Find our latest WNBA injury reports.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The San Diego Padres desperately needed a win to get back their momentum. After sweeping the Minnesota Twins, they were on the verge of being swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates thanks to an uncharacteristically quiet offense. That offense returned just enough to edge out the Buccos and stave off the sweep.

What was more impressive was the pitching staff’s ability to navigate themselves out of some difficult jams. After starter Randy Vásquez pitched three perfect innings, he ran into trouble in the fourth, loading the bases on a single and two walks. With two outs, Vásquez struck out Nick Gonzales to end the trouble.

Then, in the sixth, Kyle Hart allowed the first two batters to reach before inducing a lineout from Bryan Reynolds. In almost any other world, Reynolds’ lineout would have been a hit. Instead, Jake Cronenworth dove and caught the ball, keeping the Pirates off the board. Hart got the final two outs to end the inning.

In the seventh, Griffin Canning walked the first batter and hit the next before striking out Rafael Flores Jr. Yuki Matsui took over and gave up a single to load the bases. He struck out the next two batters. In the eighth, Bradgley Rodriguez gave up back-to-back singles before striking out the next two batters and ending the inning on a forceout.

All in all, Pittsburgh went a ridiculous 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position, but got blanked by the Friars. It was an incredible performance that (though quite long to regale here) deserves a full explanation in order to appreciate it.

Taking the mound

Shane McClanahan (TB) v. Casey Mize (SD)

McClanahan has stormed back into the league after his Tommy John surgery in 2023. When he was rehabbing his way back, he suffered a freak nerve injury that kept him out for the 2025 season as well. That pushed his return to this year, and he has been fabulous. McClanahan has been a major part of the Tampa Bay Rays’ stellar starting rotation.

The lefty has surged back, with a 3.10 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across 107 1/3 innings. It’s not otherworldly numbers, but for a guy who hasn’t pitched in two calendar years, it’s a fantastic comeback story. McClanahan has been even better lately, with a 2.67 ERA in his last seven starts. Hopefully the Friars will be able to turn their offense around and string some hits together.

Mize is expected to make his scheduled start after twisting his ankle on the dugout steps during his last outing. That forced him to exit his start early, but everyone in the organization felt confident that it wouldn’t affect him too much. That remains to be seen, but it seems like San Diego dodged a bullet on that front.

The righty has been fantastic this season, splitting time between the Detroit Tigers and the Padres. Since being traded to the Friars, Mize has looked electric. He’s one of the most consistent staters in the game and has looked just as good in the brown and gold. All eyes will be on Mize as he pitches his first outing since his ankle injury.

Batter up!

The lineup has been quiet lately, scoring just six runs against the Pirates after scoring 21 versus the Twins. They’ll need to regain their previous form in order to best Tampa Bay, who has been one of the best teams in baseball this season. Their rotation is lethal, and could easily sweep San Diego if the Padres aren’t careful.

1. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
2. Jake Cronenworth, 2B
3. Manny Machado, DH
4. Ty France, 1B
5. Jackson Merrill, CF
6. Luis Campusano, C
7. Luis Rengifo, 3B
8. Xander Bogaerts, SS
9. Dustin Harris, LF

After a tough stretch. Merrill won the Friars the game on Wednesday afternoon. The center fielder went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and a walk. It was a resurgent performance it what has been a two-faced second half for the Padres’ young star. San Diego will need this version of Merrill in order to get where they want to go.

Relief corps

With the off day on Thursday, the Padres should have everybody available to pitch in the series opener against Tampa Bay. That said, they used plenty of arms in the series finale against Pittsburgh, so some will be used ahead of others. Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, David Morgan and Wandy Peralta will be readily available to pitch once Mize departs.

Morgan was just called up to San Diego on Wednesday to replace Jeremiah Estrada on the roster. Estrada was sent to the injured list for the third time this season as he continues to struggle through the year. Morgan hasn’t looked great in Triple-A (5.79 ERA, 18.2 IP), but he was fantastic in his most recent stretch with the team, authoring a 2.08 ERA in his last seven big-league appearances.

After a long off-season, Vancouver Canucks hockey is almost back. Vancouver will kick off its 2026 training camp in a few weeks, once again hosted in Penticton. This year's event will take place from September 17-20 and will include the annual blue vs. white scrimmage. 

Fans who want to attend training camp can buy tickets at  ValleyFirstTix.com. As per the Canucks press release, "tickets for Thursday, Friday and Sunday practices will be $10.00. Fans can purchase tickets for Super Saturday's scrimmage for $20.00. A select number of Full Training Camp Packages, featuring tickets to all four days through the event, will also be available for $30.00."

Vancouver's training camp will take place at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Doors are scheduled to open every day at 9:00 am PT. As per the press release, there will also be "a Q & A with select members of the team's leadership group."

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Vancouver Canucks 2026–27 Player Preview: Ty Mueller

Former Canucks Forward Gives Insight Into 2024 Locker Room Issues

Canucks Sign Veteran Goaltender To PTO, Add Sean Finn As An Amateur Scout

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

In the final part of this series, we’ll take a look at the very best of what the Anaheim Ducks prospect pool has to offer. This list features four players drafted in the first round of the last three NHL Entry Drafts, as well as the 2025-26 CHL Player of the Year.

These five players are not only expected to complement the Ducks’ current young core, which includes stars like Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke, and Jackson LaCombe, but also to add to and stabilize it as the Ducks lean into their hopefully long competitive window.

These players all have top-of-the-lineup NHL potential, and if any number of them reach it, the Ducks will be in a position of luxury moving forward in their build.

Author’s Note: To qualify for this list, players must be rookie-eligible in 2026-27. Unfortunately, that disqualifies Tristan Luneau from this particular exercise.

Catch up on Prospects 6-20 here:

2026-27 Anaheim Ducks Top Prospects: 6-10

2026-27 Anaheim Ducks Top Prospects: 11-15

2026-27 Anaheim Ducks Top Prospects: 16-20

In reverse order, let’s dive into the Anaheim Ducks’ top five prospects heading into the 2026-27 season:

5. Maxim Masse, 20, University of Massachusetts (NCAA)

RW, 6-foot-3, 198 pounds, 66th overall in 2024

Masse ended his junior career on an impressive note, leading the QMJHL in scoring with 102 points (51-51=102) in 63 regular season games and adding 24 (6-18=24) in 20 playoff games as his Chicoutimi Sagueneens won the QMJHL Championship. He was only able to add a goal in four Memorial Cup games, but he was the QMJHL Most Valuable Player and CHL Player of the Year for his performance in 2025-26.

Masse isn’t necessarily a playmaker or driver, but his off-puck skills are what will likely carry him as a college player next season and a professional in the future. He’s an effective straight-line skater and is an adept forechecker, affording him a versatile skill set. He possesses one of the better releases in the Ducks pipeline, and he finds his way to soft ice consistently to get it off.

Masse was able to manufacture more puck touches in his final junior season and will look to build on that in his first NCAA season at UMass. To thrive at the next level, he’ll need to round out his cycle game, but his knowledge of angles, lanes, and pressure raises his ceiling to that of a top-six forward.

NHL Arrival Prediction: 2027-28

4. Marcus Nordmark, 18, Djurgardens IF (SHL)

LW, 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, 28th in ’26

Nordmark is the epitome of “boom or bust” and was one of the most talented forwards in the 2026 Draft, based on pure skill. The Ducks even traded a fourth-round pick to the Vegas Golden Knights to move up a single spot in the first round to draft him. He was highly productive at the J20 level in Sweden during his draft year and signed his ELC with the Ducks this summer, but it’s likely he’ll head back to play in the SHL this autumn.

Nordmark’s defining features include some of the most important attributes a scoring winger in the NHL can possess: quick, heavy release, vision, and hockey sense. His deficiencies include consistency, skating, and willingness to physically engage. If he’s not in a scoring role, he’s unlikely to succeed in the NHL. However, if the Ducks can refine his motor and tenacity, they’ll have a bona fide star on their hands. These are the kinds of gambles teams are asked to take by their fanbases in the late first round and into the middle rounds of the draft. He’ll either become a Kyle Connor-type offensive juggernaut or an Arthur Kaliyev-type inconsistent, one-dimensional player. There appears to be no in-between, but it was a good bet for the Ducks to make at that point in the draft, given the well-rounded nature of their current pipeline and young core.

NHL Arrival Prediction: 2028-29

3. Stian Solberg, 20, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

LHD, 6-foot-2, 207 pounds, 23rd in ’24

Playing for the Gulls in the AHL in 2025-26 was Solberg’s third straight season with a different team after he was drafted in 2024 from Valerenga of his native Norway’s top professional league and spent most of 2024-25 with Farjestad BK in the SHL. In his rookie AHL season, he notched 24 points (12-12=24) in 71 games and accumulated a substantial 102 PIMs.

Operating like a young, modern-day Jacob Trouba, Solberg’s signature trait is his physicality; he thrives in the tough areas of the ice while manufacturing a surprising number of goals by activating along the blueline and downhill into the high slot. He’s incredibly difficult to play against, and he forces opponents to earn inside ice in the defensive zone. He can fend off a forecheck and ignite a breakout with a crisp, accurate first pass, but he’ll need to iron out his gap control and angling to thrive as a shutdown defender at the NHL level. He’s currently firmly No. 4 on the Ducks organizational depth chart on the left side of their blueline, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s the first call-up among defensemen should Anaheim be in need.

NHL Arrival Prediction: 2026-27

2. Nikita Klepov, 18, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

RW, 6-foot, 180 pounds, 15th in ’26

Significant pressure was placed on Klepov’s shoulders when, after he was selected with a pick acquired in exchange for Mason McTavish, general manager Pat Verbeek stated that had he been unavailable at 15th overall, the Ducks would not have made the trade.

Klepov was the OHL’s leading scorer in 2025-26, notching 97 points (37-90=97) in 67 games and adding five (1-4=5) in four playoff games. He was involved in a surprising turn of events following Ducks development camp, as he was originally committed to attend Michigan State University for the 2026-27 season to kick off his collegiate career, but the Ducks decided to ink him to his three-year ELC, rendering him ineligible for NCAA hockey. Now the options for the Ducks this season are to either keep him in the NHL or send him back to Saginaw to resume his junior career.

The Ducks also have the option to utilize the “Shane Wright Plan,” where he spends the first portion of the season in the NHL, perhaps joins the Gulls on a conditioning stint, plays in the World Junior Championship, and finishes the year in the OHL. Where he plays will ultimately be determined by how he arrives at and performs in Ducks rookie and training camps.

Klepov has an NHL-ready brain, motor, and skill set. He’s a cycle quarterback, always with the puck on his stick, working low in the zone, moving to the top of the circles, across the blueline, and initiating give-and-gos as a true offensive tactician. He consistently wins pucks back in the offensive zone and along the walls, but will need to increase his strength and add to his frame to carry that to the NHL level.

Klepov’s ceiling is that of a top-line, highly productive player who could see NHL minutes as early as Oct. 2.

Ducks director of amateur scouting and assistant general manager Martin Madden once said of Beckett Sennecke (before his rookie season) that he was one good summer of strength training away from becoming a full-time NHL player. Pat Verbeek said of Klepov that he could be on a fast track to the NHL. If the same logic applies and Klepov arrives at camp after a good summer of adding strength, there’s a real possibility he’s on the Ducks’ opening night roster. The team will certainly need a boost after a summer where they were unable to add significantly to their group, and with top-six forward Troy Terry expected to miss the first 2-3 months of the season.

NHL Arrival Prediction: Opening Night 2026-27

1. Roger McQueen, 19, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

C, 6-foot-5, 197 pounds, 10th in ’25

Of the Ducks prospects who haven’t “graduated” to the NHL, McQueen was selected the highest (10th overall) and had the talent to go top-five in the 2025 draft were it not for a back injury that cost him the majority of his draft year. It’s clear who the top two prospects in the Ducks system are, and it’s a coin flip on any given day who holds the title at the top. The reason McQueen edges out Klepov in this particular exercise is the premium position McQueen plays (center) vs. Klepov on the wing.

McQueen signed an ATO with the San Diego Gulls to finish his 2025-26 campaign, where he played his freshman season at Providence University and scored 27 points (11-26=27) in 36 games. The production wasn’t necessarily impressive, but given that he was coming off a significant injury, with significant development time lost, and played in a pro-style program in the NCAA, where he still finished third on his team in points (two points behind the leader), one would be hard-pressed to label his season as anything but a success.

Talent-wise, McQueen has it all. He’s long, powerful, has elite puck skills, a quick, heavy release, covers a lot of ice with his stride, and has the brain to make plays at high speeds or in tight spaces. Providence elevated his details and habits to the point where there wasn’t much of an adjustment period to the AHL when he made the jump to San Diego.

Like with the vast majority of prospects, adding strength will be necessary to play the style he’ll project to play at the NHL level, which is that of a player hard to defend due to his protection skills, IQ, and change-of-pace ability. In the flow of a game, he could stand to be stronger on his edges to drive more power through his lower half, as well as move his feet more consistently with the puck on his stick, dictating play to a higher degree.

Though Verbeek has mentioned his preference to give McQueen a long runway, if he proves to progress quickly in rookie camp, training camp, and/or the start of the season, he could fill an important, immediate need on the Ducks’ depth chart with Terry injured and the team’s previously relied-on secondary scoring (Chris Kreider, Alex Killorn, Frank Vatrano) either due for another subtraction or facing potential regression caused by advanced age.

NHL Arrival Prediction: 2026-27

Anaheim Ducks Leo Carlsson Ranked as NHL Network's 14th-Best Center Right Now

Joel Quenneville's Future with the Anaheim Ducks, Enters 2026-27 Season on Expiring Contract

Who Will Be The Next Anaheim Ducks Captain?

Anaheim Ducks Jackson LaCombe Ranked as NHL Network's 17th-Best Defenseman Right Now