UND Athletics

Men's Basketball Slotted Sixth in Summit League Preseason Poll

10/6/2026 9:00:00 AM | By: Kaitlyn Parsons, FightingHawks.com

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Summit League released its 2026-27 preseason poll Monday, with the University of North Dakota men's basketball team picked to finish sixth in the conference with 194 points.

North Dakota State was selected as the preseason favorite with 418 points and 13 first-place votes.

The Fighting Hawks enter the season looking to build on a strong 2025-26 campaign that saw the squad finish second in the Summit League.

North Dakota welcomes seven transfers and four freshmen to this year's roster. Luke Winkel joins the Hawks after spending two seasons at St. Cloud State, where he was one of the Huskies' starting guards. Tyler Wagner (Austin Peay) and Samuel Hincaipe (Le Moyne) also join the Fighting Hawks after spending last season at their respective Division I institutions.

Daemon Ely (Angelina), Zach Parts (Mid-Michigan) and Jayden Thomas (Lee) join the Hawks after competing at the junior college level.

Andrija Radojevic comes to North Dakota after playing professionally in his native Serbia. Radojevic spent time with Mladost SO and is expected to make an impact in the Hawks' frontcourt.

The freshman quartet of Carter Evens, Jayden Moore, DeAngelo Dungey and Sage Hanson will look to make an immediate impact in their first collegiate seasons.

North Dakota opens the 2026-27 season Nov. 2 at Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Below is the Summit League Preseason Poll and Preseason Awards.

2025-26 All-Summit League Men's Basketball
Preseason First Team
Carter Bjerke, St. Thomas
Kendall Blue, St. Thomas
Connor Dow, Oral Roberts
Austin Herro, St. Thomas
Joe Sayler, South Dakota State
Andy Stefonowicz, North Dakota State

Preseason Second Team
Jesse Van Kalsbeek, South Dakota State
Kalen Garry, South Dakota State
Grant Stubblefield. Omaha
Vince Buzelis, South Dakota
Jaylen Smith, Kansas City

Preseason Player of the Year
Joe Sayler, South Dakota State

Poll