Four Colorado Freshmen Prepare for Bench Duty

The Colorado men's basketball team will field a thinner rotation this season. The Buffaloes finished the previous campaign 17-16 and relied on a deep bench, with 11 players appearing in at least 20 games. That level of constant shuffling is unlikely to repeat in 2026-27. Four freshmen have accepted roles primarily as practice players for the upcoming season.

The season opener is set for Nov. 2, when Colorado hosts Abilene Christian. This marks the start of head coach Tad Boyle's 17th year leading the program. Boyle has not finalized minutes, but the primary rotation will likely feature guards Barrington Hargress, Alex Dickeson, Jalin Holland, Josiah Sanders, and Ian Inman. Forwards Justin Neely, Noah Feddersen, Goc Malual, and David Gomez will also see significant time. Gomez's early minutes may be restricted due to a recovery from foot surgery performed a year ago.

The four freshmen preparing to anchor the back end of the bench are Chase Hill, Amir Jones, Rider Portela, and Eric Jacobsen. Their paths to Boulder varied. Portela, a wing from Phoenix, signed with the team last November. Hill, Jones, and Jacobsen were added to the roster late last spring. Hill, a forward from a coaching family, cited his father's success at Division III Trinity University and his grandfather's NBA career as influences. Jones reopened his recruiting process after a coaching change at Georgia State.

Jacobsen, a 6-foot-1 post who played at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, faced a recruiting setback when he tore his ACL during his junior season. He described accepting a limited role as difficult initially. "I'm realizing I can go as hard as I can every single day and I don't really have anything to lose," Jacobsen said. "Just trying to earn what I can."

Hill stated his goal is simply to develop. He noted that he could have attended a Division III school with the same aim and transferred later, but chose Colorado to develop over his four or five years there. The group is not expected to play regularly barring injuries or other setbacks. Their daily work in practice will support a team hoping to perform well in the Big 12.

Boyle described the situation as fluid to ensure the players do not feel permanently shut out. He noted that Jones had a strong practice on Friday and that Jacobsen and Hill have also performed well. The coach said the players have capability but lack consistency due to their age. He added that their standing in December could differ significantly from mid-to-late October. Boyle asked the group to prepare daily so they are mentally ready when called upon.