The TCU Horned Frogs failed to make the NCAA Tournament during the 2024-25 season, finishing 16-16 and 9-11 in the Big 12 Conference. It was the worst season since 2020-21 for the Horned Frogs, who had
won at least 21 games in each of the previous three seasons. Once again, TCU’s roster underwent a major transformation over the offseason, as the Horned Frogs lost multiple starters including guards Frankie Collins, Vasean Allette, Noah Reynolds and big man Ernest Udeh Jr. Wing players Trazarien White, Brendan Wenzel and Isaiah Manning have also departed from the program, meaning TCU’s returning players and new transfers will need to make an early impact. The Horned Frogs will begin the 2025-26 season with a No. 3 home game against New Orleans.
The bulk of TCU’s talent on the 2025-26 roster is in the backcourt, where incoming guard transfers Brock Harding (Iowa), Jayden Pierre (Providence) and Tanner Toolson (Utah Valley) are expected to take on big roles. With two years of Big Ten experience, Harding (8.8 points, 5.3 assists) made 29 starts for the Hawkeyes and shot nearly 40 percent from 3-point range last season. Also a talented 3-point shooter, Pierre (12.3 points, 3.2 assists, 2.8 rebounds) owns a career mark of 36.4 percent and has started 63 games in the last two years with the Friars. Toolson (13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds), who started his career at BYU, started 65 games over two seasons at Utah Valley and shot 34.9 percent from 3-point land last season. The Horned Frogs should be a better shooting team.
Returning from last year are redshirt freshman guard Ashton Simmons, sophomore guard Jace Posey (4.3 points and 2.3 rebounds) and third-year guard R.J. Jones (2.4 points), who redshirted in his first season with the Horned Frogs after transferring in from Kansas State. On the wings, TCU will lean on returning sophomore Micah Robinson (5.3 points, 1.8 rebounds), a former four-star prospect who showed promise as a freshman. Oregon State transfer Liutauras Lelevicius (8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists) posted solid shooting numbers for the Beavers last season, making 48 percent of his field goals and nearly 38 percent of his 3-pointers. A player to watch in the backcourt will be true freshman Kayden “Bugg” Edwards, a four-star recruit and the third-highest ranked recruit to sign with TCU in program history. Edwards should make an immediate impact.
Moving into the frontcourt, sophomore forward David Punch (6.5 points, 4.4 rebounds) will be a player to watch after turning in a very promising freshman campaign. At the center position, TCU will need production from 6-foot-9 sophomore Malick Diallo (2.2 points, 2.7 rebounds) and FIU transfer Vianney Salatchoum (10.3 points, 5.1 rebounds), who started 28 games and converted over 51 percent of his field goals. A new frontcourt player to watch is three-star JUCO forward Xavier Edmonds, who signed with TCU as the No. 1 rated JUCO prospect in the nation after two seasons at Salt Lake CC. Edmonds averaged 19.2 points and 8.2 rebounds last season.
TCU’s season unofficially tipped off with a 88-54 exhibition victory against Tarleton State on Oct. 19. During the game, Punch led the Horned Frogs on 15 points and six rebounds, while Lelevicius added 11 points and four rebounds. Edwards was the third TCU player in double figures, scoring 10 points. The Horned Frogs will play notable nonconference games against Michigan (Nov. 14 at home) and at the Rady Children’s Invitational, where TCU will see Florida (Nov. 27) and either Providence or Wisconsin (Nov. 28). TCU will also face Notre Dame (Dec. 5 at home) and North Texas (Dec. 7 at Dickies Arena). Big 12 play starts on Jan. 3 against Baylor.
