After making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nine seasons, SMU head coach Andy Enfield is looking to make the Field of 76 a regular occurrence for the Mustangs. Enfield, who owns a 44-25 record with the Mustangs, is close to finalizing his 2026 recruiting class, though he is still reportedly looking to add two more players.
SMU Mustangs Close to Finalizing 2026 Recruiting Class
Southern Methodist (SMU) got off to a great start to the season this past year. While SMU took advantage of a pretty nondescript non-conference schedule, it started the season winning 12 of its first 14 games. The Mustangs did pick up two big victories during the stretch with wins over Texas A&M and North Carolina.
SMU was considered a solid bet for the 2026 NCAA Tournament until they lost five of its last six games. The Mustangs finished a disappointing 8-10 in conference play and were ousted in the second round of the ACC Tournament. However, the Mustangs still earned an NCAA bid, ending an eight-season bidless stretch, though they fell to the Miami RedHawks in the First Four.
Enfield knew he would have to replace four of his top five players from this past season. Senior guard Jaron Pierre Jr. and junior guard Boopie Miller are currently testing the draft waters. Two other standout seniors, BJ Edwards and Corey Washington, are looking to be drafted as well. But 7-2 sophomore center Samet Yigitoglu was one of five Mustangs to enter the NCAA Portal and transferred to Indiana.
On the plus side, 6-10 freshman Jacob Toombs and 6-7 freshman Jermaine O’Neale Jr. were among four players who decided to return. Enfield secured his sixth transfer and seventh newcomer overall with the commitment of Santa Clara transfer Gehrig Normand on Friday.
Normand has struggled with injuries throughout his collegiate career and redshirted this past season. has at least two years of eligibility left. The 6-5 guard, who was the consensus No. 83 recruit in 2023, started his career at Michigan State and spent two seasons with the Spartans. However, he appeared in only 13 games and played just 26 minutes during his stint. He will have two years of eligibility left.
Rowan Brumbaugh (Tulane), David Terrell Jr. (North Texas), Johan Munch (Oregon State), Jaylin Stewart (UConn), and Nic Codie (Texas) are the Mustangs’ other transfers. Consensus four-star point guard Cameron Lomax is the lone true freshman in SMU’s 2026 class.
Mustangs Looking To Add Two More Players With Specific Targets
SMU is looking to add two more playersccording to Bill Embody of On The Pony’s Express. Embody said Enfield is specifically targeting Utah transfer Jacob Patrick, and international big men Jakub Szumert and Alexandros Samodurov.
Patrick is a 6-6 sharpshooting wing from Ludwigsburg, Germany. Patrick was limited to 10 games as he suffered a season-ending injury in December in his freshman season with the Utes. The 22-year-old averaged 7.2 points and 2.0 threes a game with shooting splits of 47.2/46.5/50.0. He scored in double figures twice.
“Utah transfer guard Jacob Patrick, who would come in and immediately be one of the top 3-point shooters on the team,” Embody said. “It’s not a done deal just yet, per a source, but things continue to move in the right direction.”
Szumert is a 20-year-old Poland native.
The 6-8 forward, who is the top prospect in the Polish OBL, averaged 12.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks this past season. He also posted four double-doubles with shooting splits of 48.5/31.9/76.4
“Polish big man Jakub Szumert, one of the top available prospects from Europe, is a top target, and sources are optimistic he ends up a Mustang. The pursuit has been on for at least a month, and things remain in a good spot.”
Though the Mustangs remain in contact with Samodurov, Embody adds that North Carolina (UNC) is also interested in the 21-year-old, 6-11 Greek center. Samodurov averaged 3.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in 10 minutes over 31 appearances for Panthinaikos.
He is considered the top prospect in Greece
Robert Edwards-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
