Northwestern enters the 2025-26 season facing significant roster turnover after losing key contributors, including Brooks Barnhizer, Matthew Nicholson and Ty Berry. However, head coach Chris Collins has
assembled his most talented recruiting haul ever, a No. 29-ranked class according to the latest 247Sports ranking, combined with three experienced transfers to keep the Wildcats competitive in the Big Ten. With Nick Martinelli returning as the conference’s leading scorer (20.5 PPG), these newcomers will play crucial roles in determining whether Northwestern can return to the postseason.
First-Year Recruits
Tre Singleton (F)
Singleton arrives as a four-star prospect and the No. 92 player nationally according to 247Sports—marking the Wildcats’ highest-ranked recruit in program history. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward from Jeffersonville, Indiana, embodies the modern basketball player that Collins covets.
Singleton averaged 14.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists as a junior while leading his team to the IHSAA tournament semifinals. During the Adidas 3SSB Championship, he further elevated his game, averaging 17.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest. What makes Singleton special is his versatility, where he can handle the ball like a guard while defending a wider range with his combination of size, strength, and quickness.
Don’t be surprised if Singleton cracks the starting lineup immediately. His college-ready traits suggest he won’t need much adjustment time. Even if he begins as a sixth man, we can still expect him to get major minutes later.
Tyler Kropp (F/C)
Kropp brings an old-school, physical style that should translate well to Big Ten play. The Argentina international dominated Ohio high school basketball as a junior with 22 points and 11 rebounds per game at Olentangy Liberty, then backed it up with plenty of international experiences representing Team Argentina at the FIBA U17 and U19 World Cups.
His U19 World Cup performance this past summer was particularly impressive: 21.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game over seven contests, including a 29-point, 8-rebound effort against Italy. Other than multiple ways to score, he also showcased consistency in protecting the rim on the international level.
While listed as a power forward, Kropp could see minutes at center with Northwestern if Collins plays small-ball lineups. With Northwestern losing its entire frontcourt rotation from last year, Kropp will be a valuable asset immediately.
Cade Bennerman (F/C)
At 6’11” with an outstanding 7’5″ wingspan, Bennerman provides the size Northwestern desperately needs after losing frontcourt bigs like Matthew Nicholson. The Tennessee native was the No.2 center in the state and the No. 38 center nationally, per 247Sports.
Bennerman’s skill set extends beyond typical big man play. He can run the floor, handle the ball, shoot from the high post and has a soft touch around the rim. As Collins called him a “huge upside player”, his senior season stats (13.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks) don’t fully capture his potential.
His 205-pound frame is something to worry about when compared to other Big Ten centers. However, that elite wingspan provides defensive versatility and shot-blocking potential. Expect Bennerman to earn 10-20 minutes per game as Arrinten Page’s primary backup, with the opportunity to expand his role as he adds strength.
Jake West (G)
The Mr. Pennsylvania Basketball award winner arrives in Evanston with elite speed, quickness, and a smooth shooting stroke. West averaged 14.3 points as a junior while leading William Penn Charter in both assists (116) and steals (45), later leading his school to a 24-win season his senior year. On the Nike EYBL circuit, he demonstrated his scoring ability in front of other national prospects with 14 points and four assists per game.
West’s ball-handling and finishing suggest he could contribute immediately, but Northwestern’s backcourt logjam presents a challenge. With eight other guards piling up the backcourt ladder, including transfers Jayden Reid and Max Green and returners like KJ Windham, minutes will be scarce for him.
Collins may have him developing physically and learning the system for the first year. However, his talent could force the coaching staff’s hand. If injuries or performance issues arise in the backcourt, West can step in and produce.
Phoenix Gill (G)
Another possible victim of the guard surplus, but Gill has a reason to shine. Averaging 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists as a junior at Chicago’s St. Ignatius. The son of former NBA player Kendall Gill could bring an aura beyond his father.
Other than the athleticism, Gill’s smooth shooting stroke and ability to attack the basket make him an offensive weapon, while his defensive intensity fits Northwestern’s identity. Playing for Mokan Elite on the Nike EYBL circuit also provided high-level competition experience.
Like West, Gill faces an uphill battle for minutes and represents another potential redshirt candidate. However, his two-way skills and shooting could prove valuable if Northwestern needs backcourt depth. His development year could pay dividends when the guard rotation thins out in future seasons.
Transfers
Jayden Reid (G)
The 5-foot-10 point guard from USF immediately addresses Northwestern’s need for experienced ball-handling and perimeter shooting. After a mediocre first year, Reid surged with 10 more starts as he led the Bulls in scoring with 12.6 points per game while adding 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals.
Despite his smaller stature, Reid plays with confidence and toughness on both ends. He’s projected as the starting point guard, bringing much-needed stability and shooting to a backcourt that lost significant production. His ability to space the floor will be crucial for creating driving lanes for other wingers.
Reid’s experience as a primary scorer means he won’t be overwhelmed by Big Ten competition. I expect him to play around 30 minutes per game as the primary ball-handler and secondary or third scoring option behind Martinelli.
Max Green (G)
A massive recruit under Collins. Green started all 31 games of his freshman season at Holy Cross (14.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists), showcasing remarkable versatility as a 6-foot-6 guard, earning him the Patriot League Rookie of the Year. He even filled in as the team’s point guard when injuries struck, demonstrating exceptional ball-handling for his size.
Green shot 38% from three-point range and showed the ability to create space, a valuable skill for the Wildcats that need scoring options beyond Martinelli. His clean shooting form and basketball IQ should translate well to in Big Ten.
Projected as either a starting small forward or shooting guard, Green provides flexibility and is another capable ball-handler. Lining up with Reid in the backcourt will be a Northwestern threat to opponents.
Arrinten Page (C)
The 6-foot-11 center will carry the heaviest burden of any newcomer—replacing the entire Northwestern frontcourt. Page, a former top-40 recruit, has shown flashes at USC and Cincinnati but limited production, averaging 3.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.4 blocks in roughly nine minutes per game with the Bearcats last year.
While not expecting him to fill the void from Nicholson, what makes Collins optimistic is Page’s skill level. He has soft touch with both hands around the rim, a smooth shooting stroke (44% from three on limited attempts), and pick-and-roll ability. Defensively, Page’s value lies in his mobility and athleticism, allowing him to effectively hedge ball screens, move laterally in space, and even guard quicker players on the perimeter. If he can elevate to a 6-point, 6-rebound average level while providing physicality on interior defense at Northwestern, it would represent a significant value.
Page will likely play 20-25 minutes per game as the starting center, with Bennerman and potentially a smaller Kropp filling the remaining minutes. His ability to stay out of foul trouble and provide a consistent interior presence will be critical to Northwestern’s success.
