The Monmouth Hawks men's basketball program is navigating the whirlwind of the 2026 offseason, a period defined by significant roster transformation. In today's era of college basketball, where the transfer portal creates constant movement, keeping track of the comings and goings is essential for any dedicated fan.

This past season, the Hawks finished with a 19-15 record, coming agonizingly close to an NCAA Tournament bid before falling to Hofstra in the Coastal Athletic Association championship game. That run marked the end for key contributors like Jack Collins, who exhausted his eligibility, and Kavion McClain.

While players depart, stability remains at the helm. Head coach King Rice will be back on the sideline after speculation linked him to his alma mater, North Carolina. The Tar Heels ultimately hired former NBA coach Michael Malone, keeping Rice firmly entrenched in West Long Branch to guide the Hawks through this transitional phase.

The transfer portal, however, has claimed several major pieces from last year's squad. The biggest loss is Second Team All-CAA guard Jason Rivera-Torres. The 6'7" Bronx native was a stat-sheet stuffer, averaging 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and leading the conference with 2.1 steals per game.

He's joined in the portal by two other significant contributors. Forward Andrew Ball, a 6'9" presence from Marlton, NJ, departs after three seasons, having started nine games and averaged 7.9 points this past year. Sophomore guard Justin Ray, who started 21 games and appeared in all 34, also entered the portal. Ray averaged 11.3 points and was a clutch shooter, memorably dropping 25 points in a game against Syracuse.

As the Hawks bid farewell to these key players, the focus now shifts to rebuilding. The offseason tracker will be vital as Coach Rice and his staff look to the portal and recruiting trails to reload the roster, aiming to build a team capable of finishing the job and cutting down the nets in the CAA next season.