Central Missouri men’s basketball reloads roster
Published 4:39 am Friday, October 23, 2026
Central Missouri men’s basketball made a series of leaps over the course of its 2025-26 season.
Entering their fourth season under Adam Bohac, the Mules will look to keep the trend going in 2026-27.
“I’m not certain where we’re at compared to last year’s group, but I like where this year’s group is at,” Bohac said. “We’re getting better each day. We have some really good pieces to work with. I think this time of the year you’re trying to figure out what each guy does best and how do we play to give your team the best chance.”
Central Missouri is coming off a 24-10 season that included the program’s first NCAA Division II postseason win since 2014-15.
They fell to eventual regional champion Oklahoma Baptist in the regional semifinals.
From last year’s team, UCM returns two of its five starters: junior Jake Fritz and sophomore Trinell Parker. It also brings back junior AJ Lux, sophomore Carter Kaifes, senior Noah Martin, junior Kyree Polk and senior Judah Sault.
The Mules lost three key players in the transfer portal: Washington State’s Lazerek Houston, San Diego’s Jevon Hill and Louisiana Tech’s Kyran Tilley.
The three were UCM’s leading scorers last season and were among the leading four rebounders.
Houston was the MIAA Freshman of the Year, MIAA Player of the Year and First Team All-MIAA, while Tilley was on the All-MIAA Defensive Team and Third Team All-MIAA. Hill was Second Team MIAA.
“I think our returners, we bring seven guys,” Bohac said. “Six of them played meaningful minutes in big games and have all of that experience. I think all seven of our returners have really improved. Some of them, it’s on the floor. Some of them found their voice and their role way more.”
Parker is UCM’s leading returning scorer and rebounder. Last year, he averaged 11 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game. He had a program-leading 21 blocks.
Kaifes was UCM’s first man off the bench, playing 20.9 minutes per game while averaging 5.1 rebounds per game.
Fritz leads UCM’s returners in assists with 50 and steals with 37.
“If you watched us work out last year, Carter Kaifes never said a word and he’s been the second-loudest guy in practice,” Bohac said. “No one will ever be louder than Jake Fritz, right? You just can’t be. Carter has grown so much in that way. Trinell, obviously a tremendous player last year. The number of ways Trinell has grown off the floor, on the floor, his body has improved and his game has improved.”
UCM brought in six new players through the transfer portal along with one true freshman.
UCM hopes to use the newcomers as a way to take over for the ball-handling workload via the loss of Tilley and Houston.
The list of potential players includes fifth-year guard CJ Evan (Kansas City), junior Clayton Jackson (Lindenwood) and junior Jack Reddick (Florida Gulf Coast).
“All three of those guys had moments this fall where they really made their teammates better by how they’re playing,” Bohac said. “Jack kind of does it by stretching the floor. CJ and Clayton do it by touching the paint and spraying the ball around. Those guys will play a factor at the guard spots.”
The Mules also signed sophomore Max Rieger, a transfer from Columbia College and freshman BJ Bradford, a Lincoln, Nebraska, native from Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga.
“Nobody practices harder than Max,” Bohac said. “He brings something new every day to the table. Then a freshman guard from Lincoln, Nebraska, who has had moments too.”
UCM will be looking to replace Hill’s height and 3-point shooting ability.
Newcomer options in that capacity include sophomore Dodge Davis (Northeastern Junior College) and fifth-year Kye Dickson (Texas Rio Grand Valley).
“Kye was an all-region performer earlier in his career in Division II,” Bohac said. “He certainly has some great experience and has made a bunch of baskets in big games. Then Dodge just kind of plays with his hair on fire at 6-7 and does some things really well.”
UCM also welcomes a new assistant to its staff in Tim Peete. Charlie Wilson was elevated to associate head coach, taking the role from Ryan Mahoney. Graduate assistants include Karson Weymuth and Eddie McPhee.
“I’m excited to add Coach Peete,” Bohac said. “He has previous experience in the league. He was at MoWest back in the day for a little bit. He has a bunch of really good experiences. He was at Division I the last several years. He was a tremendous player at the University of Tulsa. He’s from Memphis, so he brings all of the recruiting ties from that area of the country. He’s just a great guy. He fit seamlessly into our staff. Along with Coach Wilson, they are just grinders and guys that work at it.”
The Mules were picked second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll behind Washburn and third in the Media Poll behind Rogers State. UCM received Washburn head coach Brett Ballard’s first-place vote.
The Mules open their season in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic against Gannon at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, in Lakeland, Florida. They will play Cal State East Bay on Nov. 8.
UCM’s home opener is Nov. 19 versus Columbia College.
“I love our character,” Bohac said. “I love the pieces that we have. We’re just in the process of trying to figure out how we need to play to maximize that.”
.Joe Andrews can be reached at 660-747-8123.
