Heading into the 2025-2026 season, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) men’s basketball team has just two returning players from last year compared to 13 incoming transfers and first year players. The team boasts first year head coach Gus Argenal, who was previously the head coach at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) for the past two seasons.
While UCR basketball fans can expect to see many fresh faces on the court, Gus Argenal is very familiar with rebuilding a team composed of mostly newcomers. He commented, “I took over a team that went to the [NCAA Division II] Final Four and we only had two or three returners, and the next year I only had two or three returners … I’ve done this before.”
In the process of rebuilding a team at UCR, Argenal emphasized, “[We] understand there’s going to be a learning curve, but [we’re] still trying to run a race as fast as we can so we’re ready to win at the start of the year.”
One face that won’t be new to Argenal is graduate transfer Andrew Henderson, who also comes from CSUSB. Henderson averaged 17.3 points per game last year with CSUSB in 35 games while being named an All-California Collegiate Athletic Association First Team selection.
“Drew has been great so far [in the summer]. He plays the two [guard], and he’s brought a calming sense because he knows what I want,” noted Argenal.
Henderson is a player who can put the ball on the floor and create his own shot, while being a strong attacker who can finish at the rim. He’s also a good catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter, a trait that Argenal values a lot in his team.
Other players that have stood out to Argenal include transfers BJ Kolly, Marqui Worthy, Osiris Grady and Jailen Daniel-Dalton.
In the preseason Big West coaches poll, UCR was picked to finish ninth out of 11 teams. UCR finished last year as the third seed before losing to Cal Poly in the Big West Tournament.
The Highlanders begin the regular season on Monday, Nov. 3 at home versus La Sierra University.
