When the team walked off the court after a subpar performance at the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago, Oregon men’s basketball finished its season with one clear message: things needed to change. 2025-26 became the only season in head coach Dana Altman’s tenure in which the Ducks failed to reach the 20 wins benchmark, finishing 12-20 when the dust settled.

That’s not the only reason Oregon desperately needed a switch up. In the weeks after the season concluded, the Ducks lost nine players to the transfer portal, which left them with just one scholarship player and two walk-ons.

The lone scholarship athlete, forward Sean Stewart, started 23 games this season in place of an injury-riddled starting frontcourt. In line with his starting role toward the conclusion of the season, Stewart should man the center spot for Oregon in 2026-27, a season which will come to define the future for Altman in Eugene. With that in mind, here are the four other players that Altman brought in who will most likely round out the starting lineup:

Jasper Johnson, guard, University of Kentucky

Likely manning the major ball handling role will be University of Kentucky transfer Jasper Johnson, who left Lexington looking for a slightly larger part to play. He looks to be in line to start at the point for Oregon after playing in all but one game in 2025-26, averaging 4.9 points off the bench in his 12 minutes per game. A five-star recruit in the 2025 class, Johnson still maintains a ton of upside, especially after learning for a full year under the tutelage of Wildcats head coach Mark Pope. Replacing Jackson Shelstad will prove no easy feat, especially given his ability to score at a high level, but Johnson’s skillset matches up well.

Tyrone Riley IV, guard/forward, University of San Francisco

Rounding out the backcourt is a new look for Oregon in Tyrone Riley, a 6-foot-6-inch forward who adds a great
deal of shooting and versatility that the Ducks lacked on the wing this season. A top-100 player in the portal, Riley is the second-highest per game scorer that the Ducks brought in this offseason, averaging 12.2 points in his sophomore season at USF (Boston College transfer Fred Payne averaged 15.8 points last season; he will likely come off the bench). Given his variety of offensive weaponry, Riley will likely end up as the top scoring option in the offense next season.

Dwayne Aristode, guard/forward, Arizona

Another former highly-touted recruit, Dwayne Aristode moved on from national championship contender Arizona, where he enjoyed a sixth-man role, to step into a starting spot in Eugene. Aristode never filled up the statsheet during his time with the Wildcats, but made his mark as an incredible on-ball defender. As well as his defense, Aristode’s 3-point shooting is one of his most important attributes, as he shot 46% from beyond the arc in 2025-26. His size also becomes an intriguing factor for Oregon, considering his ability to switch onto any ball handler while never sacrificing height or strength. Last season, the Ducks had no effective two-way wings; this season, they might start two.

Taylor Bol Bowen, forward, University of Alabama

Bol Bowen took a step back from sophomore to junior year, but that might be why his transfer to Oregon could be- come a smart move for his career. For one thing, Bol Bowen being a stretch-four (he shot 3.2 3-pointers a game at the University of Alabama last season) makes him a must-start for Oregon given Stewart’s lack of shooting touch. Bol Bowen’s rim protection remained consistent in his junior year in Tuscaloosa, to the tune of 1.0 blocks a game, while also having the athleticism to switch onto
ball handlers and make an impact at all levels. While he’s not being employed to add a great deal of scoring, Bol Bowen runs the floor incredibly well for his size, which will make him a formidable presence in transition for the Ducks.

Along with the starters, Oregon’s ad- ditions of Boston College point guard Fred Payne, San Diego State University forward Pharoah Compton and five-star high school prospect Tajh Ariza should create a roster that can start to compete in the Big Ten.

It’ll be an important season for Altman’s future, and his activity in the portal suggests he’s felt some of the intensity of the hot seat.