JMU men’s basketball’s 2024-25 season ended in the Sun Belt Tournament semifinals. The Dukes won 20 games, but they fell short of making any postseason tournaments. Year 1 of the Preston Spradlin era included positives, but the program wants to be better in the 2025-26 season. 

Those goals start this offseason with roster construction. Between graduating players like Mark Freeman and expected transfers, the Dukes roster will have some pretty large holes to fill yet again. Can the Dukes build a Sun Belt title contender? Will they be a top-100 team next season? Let’s track the Dukes’ moves in the portal. 

Transfer additions

None, as of April 22. 

Transfer departures 

Xavier Brown, G to USF – A three-year Duke, Brown is in the portal, according to Jeff Goodman. He averaged just over 10 points per game this season, while also leading the team with 46 steals. He played a key role for the 2023-24 team that won an NCAA Tournament game, too, starting 17 of the team’s 36 games. The vocal leader is a significant loss, and he’ll play next season in the AAC for former Arkansas State coach Bryan Hodgson.

AJ Smith, G/F to Bradley — The rising senior departs Harrisonburg after transferring in last offseason from Southern Indiana. He played in and started 32 games this season and averaged 7.3 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game. He scored in double figures 10 times and cracked 20 points once. He lands at a good mid-major school closer to home.

Bryce Lindsay, G to Villanova — The rising sophomore guard just earned Sun Belt Sixth Man of the Year, and Freshman of the Year honors after averaging 13.4 points per game on 45.5 percent shooting. He was one of the best 3-point shooters in the Sun Belt in 2024-25 and will play in the Big East next season.  

Redd Thompson, G to Longwood – A rising sophomore, Thompson played in just nine games for the Dukes in 2024-25. There was optimism he could develop into a future standout, but it he left the Dukes for a different in-state program.

Jerrell Roberson, F — The junior forward played sparingly during his JMU career and didn’t have an obvious path to playing time in Harrisonburg despite his 6’9 size. He’ll likely seek increased playing time at his next stop. 

Will Lovings-Watts, G — A late addition to the portal, Lovings-Watts spent just one year in Harrisonburg after starting his career at Northern Illinois. There was optimism among fans that Lovings-Watts would develop into a bigger contributor as a junior and senior.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications