Cincinnati’s 2026-27 roster is just about complete, and the last spot appears to belong to one of the best defensive guards in the country.
On3’s Joe Tipton reported Saturday that Bowling Green transfer Javontae Campbell is headed to Cincinnati, giving Jerrod Calhoun his final piece for the Bearcats’ first roster. Tipton called Campbell the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and noted that the 6-2 guard averaged 18.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.0 steals per game this past season, while leading all of Division I in steals.
Campbell gives Cincinnati another tough perimeter stopper alongside Trevian Carson, and the Bearcats are set to have all 15 roster spots filled once MJ Collins’ eligibility case is finalized. That matter has another court date scheduled for Sept. 22.
The addition brings a proven college guard into a program that is starting preseason practice this week. Campbell spent the last two seasons at Bowling Green after earlier time at junior college Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa, where he did not log any minutes. He also recently received an extra season through a temporary restraining order granted in Oklahoma.
At Bowling Green, Campbell carved out a big role right away. He started 32 games last season and led the Falcons with 18.7 points per game, including 21.4 points per game in MAC play. He shot 50.0% from the field, which ranked ninth in the league, and finished with 163 assists, tops on the team and eighth in program history.
Todd Simon praised Campbell earlier this offseason, saying, "We are extremely happy for Javontae's opportunity with the 76ers," said BGSU head men's basketball coach Todd Simon earlier this offseason. "He's put the work in for two years here and has earned every success along the way. We will be following him and are honored to have him as part of the Falcon family."
Cincinnati is banking on that mix of scoring, playmaking and defensive pressure to strengthen a backcourt that already has a reputation for being hard to deal with. Campbell’s 52.5% effective field goal rate last season also points to a guard who can do damage without wasting possessions, something the Bearcats will be eager to lean on as they keep pushing to end their NCAA Tournament drought.
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Cincinnati Just Made Its Jizzle James Split Even Messier
The breakup between Jizzle James and Cincinnati has taken on a new layer of awkwardness, with the university moving quickly to cut off any suggestion that he still represents the program. After his dismissal from the mens basketball team, the school told James to stop using or promoting the Bearcats name, logos or merchandise, and also issued a broader message making clear he cannot imply any current affiliation with Cincinnati.
James answered on social media with vulgar language rejecting those restrictions, turning what might have been a routine post-dismissal separation into something far messier. For Cincinnati, the issue is no longer just a roster change, but a brand and message question, and it remains to be seen how far the school will go to enforce the line it has drawn. [Read more 🡒]
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Cincinnati Just Got An Early Glimpse Of What This Team Could Be
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A big part of that came from the ground game, where Notre Dame transfer GiBran Payne gave Cincinnati a burst it can build around. He found space repeatedly and gave the Bearcats a physical edge that traveled well into the second half, the kind of performance that hints at a deeper identity if this group can keep stacking weeks like this. [Read more 🡒]