Colorado basketball coach assigns four rookies to practice squad

Colorado head coach Tad Boyle has structured his 2026-27 roster with a clear hierarchy that leaves four freshmen with limited on-court opportunities. The Buffaloes will open their season on Nov. 2 by hosting Abilene Christian, marking the start of the program's 17th year under Boyle. While minutes are not yet set in stone, the coaching staff has identified a nine-player rotation that will form the core of the team.

The primary rotation is expected to feature guards Barrington Hargress, Alex Dickeson, Jalin Holland, Josiah Sanders, and Ian Inman. Forwards Justin Neely, Noah Feddersen, and Goc Malual will round out the group. David Gomez will also be part of this core, though his early availability may be reduced as he finishes recovering from foot surgery he underwent a year ago. This structure marks a shift from last season, when 11 players appeared in at least 20 games and seven players started at least 10 games.

Four freshmen will serve primarily as practice players for the upcoming campaign. The group includes forward Chase Hill, forward Eric Jacobsen, and guards Amir Jones and Rider Portela. These players accepted these roles to focus on long-term growth rather than immediate playing time. Hill, a forward from a coaching family, stated his goal is simply to develop over the four or five years he expects to spend at the school. He noted that he could have attended a Division III program with the same objective but chose Colorado first.

Jacobsen, a 6-foot-1 post who played at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, said accepting a limited role was initially difficult. He described his current mindset as trying to earn his way into the lineup through daily effort. "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." Portela, a wing from Phoenix, signed with the program last November, while the other three joined the roster as late additions in the spring.

Boyle emphasized that the playing roles are not permanent. He described the situation as fluid, noting that the four freshmen have the physical capability to contribute but lack the consistency of older players. The coach pointed to recent practice performances, including a strong showing by Jones, as evidence that the players are making progress. Boyle asked the group to stay mentally prepared, expecting their standing in December to differ significantly from their current position in October.