Men’s basketball is ready to move past last year’s last-place finish with a revamped roster filled with new players and young returners ready to make leaps on the court.

After finishing with a 16-16 record in 2022-23, the first year under Head Coach Chris Caputo, the team went 15-17 last year, including a 4-14 Atlantic 10 record. From mid-January until early March, the team lost 12 games straight, the second-longest losing streak in program history.

Redshirt freshman guard Garrett Johnson and redshirt sophomore guard Maximus Edwards combined to miss a dozen games, leaving the team dominated by youth as Edwards and fifth-year guard James Bishop were the sole players with past experience playing for GW. As the losing streak continued, the team was forced to rely on a rotation that was thin and young.

In a March loss against La Salle, the last of the streak, the team played just six men. 

Caputo said he aimed to address the team’s injury and inexperience struggles in the offseason with seven new additions to the roster and more time to grow for returners. 

“We were having good success until the injuries hit,” Caputo said. “I also knew that being young, you’re going to still go through adversities. We certainly had our share.”

The team stood at 14-11 when Johnson played in his last game, although a lingering hip injury limited his minutes throughout the latter half of the season.

Bishop, who is third in program history in points scored, left the team after finishing his fifth collegiate season and is now playing professionally in Finland. The team will rely on a combination of players to fill his production after the guard started every game last year and led the team in minutes, points and assists.

Sophomore guard Trey Autry said it will be a team effort to make up Bishop’s scoring. Autry started 15 games last season, averaging 5.4 points per game, while sophomore guard Jacoi Hutchinson averaged 7.3 points and started 10 games. 

“James Bishop, obviously a GW legend,” Autry said. “Very hard to step into his shoes, but I know me personally, it wouldn’t be a personal goal, but as a team we can find a way to fit in what he did to GW, bring that excitement back to GW.”

The Revolutionaries will also be without guard Maximus Edwards, who transferred to fellow A-10 member Duquesne after two seasons at GW. Bishop and Edwards were first and third, respectively, in points scored last season and, according to KenPom, combined for 55.1 percent of GW’s shots taken. Their absences will leave major gaps on offense and force new players to carry the scoring load.

The potential man to take on the point-scoring role is redshirt sophomore forward Darren Buchanan Jr., who had a stellar rookie campaign with an average of 15.6 points per game, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Buchanan earned All-Rookie Team honors in 2023-24 and was named to this season’s Preseason All-Conference Second Team.

“Darren’s such a focal point,” Caputo said. “Such a diverse, unique player. We’ve got to always be thinking about ways to use him and make him effective and then surround him with guys that can make defenses pay for putting two guys on there.”

The team will also look to a collection of new transfers and freshmen, who will be tasked with making immediate impacts. Redshirt junior forward Rafael Castro joins the Revs from Providence College, where he averaged 2.9 points per game. His 6’11” frame will make him a key fixture in the paint on both sides of the court.

Graduate student guard Gerald Drumgoole Jr. also joins GW from University of Delaware, the third transfer of his college career. He averaged 13.9 points per game this past season and looks to bring experience to a younger roster. Graduate student Sean Hansen joins the Revs from Cornell University, where he started all 30 games last season — stamina that should help the Revs after injuries throughout last season.

“Gerald’s shooting is a great compliment,” Caputo said. “I think having those two big guys that can play alongside him, one in Castro, who can catch lobs and finish plays behind the defense. Hansen, who shoots it from the five position, playing all three of those guys together at times, I think, is going to be unique.”

The Revs will be without Johnson for the season after he suffered a torn ACL over the summer. Johnson’s absence will be felt most strongly behind the arc. He shot .403 from deep last season, which would have been good for 11th in the A-10 had he taken enough shots to be eligible. Despite his absence, Caputo said he hopes a combination of the transfers and returners will lead the team to better results than last season. 

“I think by adding those guys and returning a good group, we got a little bit older, a little bit more experienced, and I think maybe we can do what I hope we would have done last year,” Caputo said. 

Caputo said he hopes the Revs dominate the conference and compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament this season. 

“Our goal is to be towards the top of our league,” Caputo said. “To be a team that can compete for the postseason every year, a team that can be legitimately in contention for a top-four seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament. Those teams, whether you're winning a league or you're in a double buy situation, are going to be in the postseason.”