Burnsville, Minn. - The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference released its 2026 Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll on Friday. The University of Jamestown men's basketball team was picked to finish 13th overall and fifth in the NSIC North Division.
The Jimmies made quite the statement in the 2025-26 season during their first season as an NCAA Division-II institution and in the NSIC. Expectations were low for UJ in their transition year as they were selected 14th in the preseason poll, and sixth in the North. However, Jamestown finished 14-14 overall and 12-10 in the conference, one game out of first place in the North and in a share for seventh in the overall standings under second year head coach Casey Bruggeman.
"I am excited for our group to experience the challenge of playing in the NSIC," said head coach Casey Bruggeman. "I look forward to our team growing together as the year goes on and hopefully playing our best basketball when tournament time comes around. We have a great group of young men in our program who love to compete!"
Ford Okehi was selected as Jamestown's Player to Watch. Okehi was a key player as a freshman for the Jimmies in 2025-26, playing in all 28 games and starting in 10 of them. The Brooklyn, N.Y native posted 9.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, and 3 apg in addition to a 24 minute per game average as he looks for a much bigger role in 2026-27.
Okehi only scored 13 points in his first three games but came alive right after in a stretch in which the point guard scored in double-figures in each of the next seven games. This included a career-best 25 points in a double overtime win against UMary (12/6/25) where he also added seven rebounds and dished out four assists.
Okehi began to gain an increased role, and his minutes continued to grow as the season went along. The 6-2 New Yorker started 10 of the final 12 games of the season, scored in double-figures in four of the last five games, and finished his year with 13 points and a career-best eight assists in Jamestown's final game versus UMary (2/21/26).
"We are thrilled to have Ford back for his second season as a Jimmie," Bruggeman said. "Ford possesses great work ethic and tremendous character both on and off the court. He is a joy to coach, and I am excited to see him grow in a leadership role this season."
The Jimmies season will begin with the GAC/NSIC Challenge at Southern Nazarene University on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14. Jamestown will play hosting SNU on Friday, then Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday.
