Johnny Dawkins has a real lineup puzzle on his hands this season, and Lewis Walker is the piece that could make it a little more interesting.
UCF has a shot to reach March Madness in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history, but the roster churn has left Dawkins sorting through a new look again. There is still a core to work with, though. Riley Kugel is expected to be granted a fifth year of eligibility, while junior big man John Bol is projected to hold down the starting center spot once more.
Kugel, UCF’s leading scorer last season, and Dior Johnson, who is back for his second stint with the program, appear set to anchor the backcourt. But Walker’s arrival gives Dawkins another high-level scoring option, and that opens the door to the possibility of three guards in the starting five.
The sophomore guard already flashed in UCF’s 85-81 loss to LSU, finishing with 13 points, five rebounds and a block. He looked smooth operating with the ball, attacking downhill for layups and getting to the free-throw line with regularity.
Walker brings proven production with him, too. The 6-foot-6 combo guard averaged 18.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game last season at North Carolina A&T, earning All-CAA Third Team and All-Rookie Team honors. He also finished second in the CAA in free throws made with 187 and shot 50.8 percent from the field.
Before that, Walker redshirted at Massachusetts in the 2024-2025 season, then erupted at North Carolina A&T with five straight games of at least 16 points to start the year. The scoring outbursts kept coming from there.
In mid-January against William & Mary, he went off for 33 points on 11-of-14 shooting, a night where the shot just kept falling. He mixed rim pressure with long-range shooting, knocking down three 3-pointers along the way.
Nine days later, Walker matched that season-high with another 33-point performance, this time on 9-of-15 shooting. That game also showed more of his all-around game, as he added seven rebounds and four assists.
His work on the glass was another big part of his season. The Winston-Salem product had multiple double-digit rebounding games, including an 18-point, 14-rebound double-double against North Carolina Central.
In Other News...
UCF Homecoming Just Got Bigger Than Any Bounce House Test Yet
UCFs bye week has been anything but quiet, with the Knights staring down a homecoming showcase against No. 2 BYU on Saturday afternoon at the Bounce House. The 3:30 p.m. kickoff on FOX already gives the matchup a big-stage feel, and for UCF it comes with an extra layer of significance as the highest-ranked home opponent the program has ever hosted.
The Knights are still hoping to get starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III and linebacker Lewis Carter back in the lineup after the break, which would obviously help against a BYU team that just beat Notre Dame and arrives with real national momentum. The Cougars, though, will be without senior tailback LJ Martin because of injury, adding another wrinkle to a game that has quickly become much more than a routine conference Saturday. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Backcourt Battle Just Got Tougher For Johnny Dawkins
The backcourt picture at UCF just changed in a meaningful way, and it gives Johnny Dawkins one more proven option to sort through before the season. Veteran guard Riley Kugel is headed back to campus after a successful legal challenge cleared the way for another college season, adding another experienced piece to a guard group that already features recent transfers Dior Johnson and Lewis Walker.
Kugel brings a different kind of resume to the rotation after spending time in the professional ranks, including limited NBA experience, and he was UCFs top scorer a year ago. For Dawkins, the appeal is obvious, but so is the logjam. With three players all vying for meaningful minutes in the same part of the floor, UCFs guard battle suddenly looks a lot more complicated than it did a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Just Got A Late Boost That Changes Everything For Johnny Dawkins
Riley Kugel is back in the fold for UCF men's basketball, giving Johnny Dawkins a late roster lift as the Knights move deeper into their preseason preparations. After going undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft and remaining unsigned following summer league, Kugel has rejoined the program and is expected to be part of the teams next stretch of work, a development that adds experience and talent to a group still taking shape.
Kugel's return comes after an Indiana Circuit Court judge granted him and other former college athletes an additional year of eligibility, a ruling that reopened the door for a second collegiate stop. Dawkins and several teammates have already shown clear excitement about having him back, and the timing matters with exhibition play approaching as UCF continues sorting out roles and lineup options. [Read more 🡒]