Johnny Dawkins Rebuilds UCF with 11 Transfers, Ignites Record 8-1 Start
After coming up just short in last season’s College Basketball Crown Championship game, UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins had every reason to feel the pressure heading into the offseason. Fourteen players departed the program - some graduating, others chasing new opportunities in the transfer portal - and with them went nearly all of the Knights’ scoring power.
Keyshawn Hall, who led the Big 12 in scoring at 18.8 points per game, is now at Auburn. Jordan Ivy-Curry and Darius Johnson, both double-digit scorers, are gone too. That’s a massive offensive void to fill - the kind of turnover that usually signals a rebuild year, not a breakout one.
But Dawkins didn’t just patch the holes - he reengineered the roster. And so far, it’s working.
UCF is off to a scorching 8-1 start, the best under Dawkins, and it’s not just about wins. It’s how they’re winning.
A New Roster, A New Identity
The Knights brought in 11 transfers - yes, 11 - and they’ve wasted no time making an impact. Guards Riley Kugel, Themus Fulks, George Beale Jr., Kris Parker, Chris Johnson and Carmelo Pacheco have brought firepower and flexibility to the backcourt. Up front, forwards Jamichael Stillwell, Devan Cambridge and Jordan Burks, along with centers Jeremy Foumena and John Bol, have added size, strength, and defensive grit.
What’s more impressive? Nine of those 11 are upperclassmen.
That experience has translated into early chemistry - something rare for a group that’s only been together a few months. They're averaging 88 points per game while holding opponents to just over 75.
That’s not just efficient basketball - that’s a team that’s learning how to win together.
“I thought we had a team that had good talent,” Dawkins said. “I thought we had a team that had good depth. Those are things I had seen in studying these young men when they were in the portal.”
Dawkins knew the challenges of building a team in today’s transfer-heavy landscape. You’ve got a narrow window - often just six to nine months - to teach a system, build a culture, and get everyone pulling in the same direction. And yet, his group has bought in early.
Culture, Chemistry, and Coaching
The quick turnaround isn’t just about talent. It’s about culture.
It’s about leadership. And it’s about a coaching staff that’s found a way to make a new group feel like a cohesive unit.
“My assistant coaches are amazing,” Dawkins said. “They’ve done a great job at helping these young men understand what we want. Everyone’s system is different, and they’re having to adjust to that.”
Dawkins, who knows firsthand how long it can take to fully grasp a new system from his own playing days, sees how quickly these players are adapting. That kind of buy-in doesn’t happen by accident - it’s a credit to the staff and to the players who’ve embraced the grind.
And the results speak for themselves. UCF is riding a seven-game win streak, with their only loss coming against Vanderbilt. Considering the roster turnover, that’s remarkable.
Eyes on Conference Play
Now comes the next test: Big 12 play. The Knights will face top-tier competition starting in January, including matchups against No.
19 Kansas and No. 10 BYU - teams stacked with future NBA talent.
But if the early returns are any indication, UCF isn’t just trying to keep up - they’re ready to compete.
Dawkins took a team that lost nearly everything and turned it into one of the hottest starts in program history. The transfers have brought scoring, toughness, and - most importantly - belief. And as conference play looms, UCF looks less like a team in transition and more like one that’s just getting started.