Yale Men's Basketball Retains Nine Players

Head coach James Jones leads a retooling roster after losing four starters to graduation and the transfer portal.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Basketball

Yale Men's Basketball Retains Nine Players

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The Yale men's basketball team has retained nine players for the upcoming season following the departure of four starters. Despite losing core talent to the transfer portal and graduation, the squad enters the season looking to build on a 24-7 record.

Why it matters

The program aims to secure another Ivy League championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Head coach James Jones is also pursuing the Ivy League career win record currently held by Pete Carril.

Yale returns Trevor Mullin, who averaged 11.5 points per game, and Riley Fox, who averaged 10 points per game last season. James Jones currently holds a career coaching record of 442-326.

The players

James Jones

He is the long-time head coach of the Yale men's basketball team and currently serves in his 28th year at the helm.

Trevor Mullin

He is a returning guard for Yale who averaged 11.5 points per game during the previous campaign.

Riley Fox

He is a returning player for the Bulldogs who averaged 10 points per game last season.

Pete Carril

He is the former Princeton coach whose career record of 514-261 remains the benchmark for Ivy League coaching success.

The details

Players have been training to refine skills in the post while veteran members work to instill the team's culture in newcomers. The Ivy League restriction against fifth-year eligibility continues to present a structural challenge for team continuity.

Yale won the Ivy League regular season championship between 2019 and 2021.
The team secured the Ivy League Tournament title in 2019, 2022, 2024, and 2025.
Yale shared the Ivy League regular season title in 2023.
The Bulldogs open the 2026-2027 regular season against Howard on November 2, 2026.

Season Trajectory

James Jones is chasing the career coaching record held by Pete Carril, needing 73 more wins to surpass the benchmark of 514. This season serves as a pivotal step in that pursuit while the team navigates the loss of four starters.

The departure of four starters means the rotation will rely heavily on returners like Trevor Mullin and Riley Fox to maintain scoring output. Fans should monitor how the new lineup adjusts to the Ivy League's prohibition on fifth-year players as the season approaches.

The takeaway

The transition period highlights the importance of veteran leadership in maintaining institutional consistency during roster turnover. Developing younger talent remains the priority as the team balances championship goals with long-term program sustainability.