Columbia, MD - With the winter season quickly approaching, Howard Community College's men's basketball team is gearing up for a season of major changes.

Howard finished the 2025-26 season 17-12, second in Region 20. A disappointing first round exit ended a season where the Dragons admittedly fell short of their own standards. Following the season, head coach Mike Smelkinson announced he was stepping away from coaching duties to focus on his administrative duties as Associate Vice President of Athletics.

With Smelkinson's departure came the announcement of new head coach Jamaal Wise, an assistant with the Dragons during the 2025-26 season and former head coach at Montgomery College. Wise brings a wealth of experience to the position, along with a stacked staff of HCC regulars assisting him. He and the staff have worked hard over the offseason to assemble a roster capable of bringing the Dragons back to the top step of Region 20 and a possibly a berth in the national tournament.

"I have an alliterative saying - prior preparation prevents poor performance," said Wise. " I truly feel that if our guys are fully prepared and work hard in practice all season, we can beat anyone."

Returning for the Dragons this season will be sophomores Evin Thompson and Lorcan Hyndman. Thompson is the highest returning scorer for the Dragons, averaging 6.1 points per game last season. Hyndman started 17 games for the Dragons and was a deadly three-point shooter. Also back from last season are redshirt freshmen Aaron Elliott and potentially Harper Lewis. Elliott was a four-year starter at Lake Taylor High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, averaging 13 points per game and eight assists per game. Lewis helped Cardozo High School win the 2024-25 DCIAA championship, and averaged 11.8 points per game during his career. After sitting last season out, both Elliott and Lewis are eager to begin their collegiate careers.

The Dragons also return redshirt sophomore Aiden Igwebe, who missed last season due to injury. Igwebe played his freshman season at Frederick Community College, averaging 13.7 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game in 24 appearances. Now healthy and active at last, Igwebe will provide an extra level of depth to the Dragons.

Along with the five returners, the Dragons also bring in a stacked recruiting class with six true freshmen joining the program. Jordan Noel of Miramar, Florida, has put up impressive numbers in the preseason. Fernando Garcia averaged 20 points and 6.7 rebounds per game during his high school career, leading to a 2026 Washington County Private School Defensive Player of the Year award. Julian Jean-Jacques averaged 6.2 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game at Urbana High School, and he, Zach Mansel, and Seyon Harsley will provide excellent depth to the Dragons bench. Outside of Maryland recruits, the Dragons have added 2023 Florida 6A State Champion Lubin Jastrome and Canadian star Arvin Batsinda from St. Frances Academy. Batsinda led his team to the BCL championship last season and averaged 11 points per game and six rebounds per game during a dominant season.

If the recruiting class wasn't stacked enough, Coach Wise and his team have worked hard to bring in a phenomenal transfer class. Sophomores RJ Greene and David Rushing come to HCC from rival WVU Potomac State College, where they averaged 12.8 and 6.7 points per game respectively. Jamar Payen started 20 games for Baltimore City Community College last season, and brings his 10.5 points per game average to Howard''s lineup. Kalvyne Eby averaged 5.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game during his freshman season at Southeastern Community College, and is looking to be a major force for the Dragons in the front court. Howard has also pulled from four-year schools, with two notable transfers from NCAA Division I programs. Devin Thomas averaged 18.8 points per game in high school prior to redshirting at UMES. He'll be looking forward to his first collegiate action for the Dragons. Sophomore transfer Patrick Curtin was a high school phenom at Glenelg Country School, and put together a historic season at Bucknell last year. His 12.8 points per game and 4.3 rebounds could provide a deadly option for the Dragons if he's on the court.

With one of the most talented rosters in program history, the Dragons have been ranked #22 in the nation by the NJCAA. They will be tested right out of the gate, as their schedule features five ranked teams all within the first three months of the season. Howard faces a brutal out-of-conference schedule with matches against nationally-ranked Monroe Community College, Iowa powerhouses Kirkwood, Ellsworth, and Iowa Central, New York superpower SUNY Orange, and east coast JUCO challengers Harcum, Raritan Valley, Delaware Tech, Westchester, and Bryant & Stratton. The conference schedule is just as tough, with showdowns against rivals Potomac State, Catonsville, Dundalk, and Chesapeake. The Dragons will once again host their annual field trip game on January 13, which will see ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi on the mic as color commentator. Howard will face several former players when they take on Harford late in the year, and will have to go on the road to play both defending Region 20 champions Prince George's and the team that eliminated the Dragons last season, Montgomery.

Howard begins their 2026-27 campaign at home on Friday, October 30 at 7:00 PM as they face second-year Division III school Tidewater Community College.