EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. — To get the most out of any sport, you have to be willing and able to make commitments. To yourself, to your teammates, to your coaches; to not waver when adversity hits or get too high when things go your way. That's the message that has been preached to the ESU men's basketball team, and now one day away from getting the regular season underway, the Warriors are more than ready to be all-in in 2026-27.
 
The Warriors went 21-9 last season before falling in the PSAC Quarterfinals as the fourth seed in the East Division. It came down to the final game of the regular season, but ESU was one game away from winning a share of the division title. The Warriors won their 20 regular-season games off the play of a deep lineup, earning two spots on All-PSAC teams at the end of the season.
 
One of those players, forward Adrian Brito, was also named the PSAC East Freshman of the Year. Alongside him was another first-year player, guard Keni Williams. The rookie tandem stepped into immediate roles off the bench last season, becoming the first freshman duo to have each player score over 300 points. While being called on out of necessity at times due to injuries, both players played like veterans in crucial situations, often leading the Warriors in scoring and assists. Head Coach Jeff Wilson said he hopes both of them can continue to develop in natural roles, and is excited to see what steps they take this year.
 
"We moved Keni to the two spot; I think he gives us a lot at that position as far as a scorer," Wilson said. "Williams is a guy that can kind of get his own shot and is a pretty good decision-maker.  And then Adrian,  I'm looking for him to continue his growth. He's a really, really talented offensive player that we just need to continue to make the right projections. And I think he's a guy who can add more to his game this year and be even more of a force in the PSAC than he was a year ago."
 
Those two represent just a fraction of the nine total returners from the 2025-26 squad, as ESU's roster this year boasts plenty of experience. Three of last year's starters in guards Christian Pierre-Louis and Saleem Payne, and forward Jalen Pichardo are back, as well as second-unit players in guards Terrell Pitts and Davon Lee, and forward Carson Howard. While the Warriors did lose Nasir Griffin and Ethan Millirons to graduation, and Ethan Maynard transferred to Adelphi, Wilson is confident in his group that ESU didn't bring anyone in through the portal. The players know what's expected of them, and the culture is just as much of the program as the wins and losses are with a team like East Stroudsburg. With buy-in like that, it naturally translates to the team bettering each other and generating success on the court.
 
"The guys in the program enjoy being around each other," Wilson said.  "They enjoy coming to work every day and challenging each other. Those types of things make a big difference when you get to the end of games. And I think they all know the standard of what we're trying to live up to. As long as they can keep that vision in mind and understand that it's a process, not a result-oriented thing, they will be successful."
 
The biggest challenge last year that ESU had to overcome was health. Injuries played a factor before the season even started. Payne missed the first month after suffering an injury during the preseason, and Coleman only suited up for the first four games of the season. Both were transfer additions last year, and though Payne ended up getting the majority of the season under his belt, the Warriors only got a glimpse of what Coleman could offer them.
 
A clean bill of health for the fifth-year big man is one of the most promising prospects for ESU this season. Another is more of a reunion than an addition for the roster. The Warriors brought back guard Tyshawn Trail, who played in the Poconos under Wilson for two seasons in 2022-23 and 2023-24. Trail started 27 games and played in 45, averaging 8.1 PPG, complementing a roster that had three All-PSAC selections in Lakeem McAliley, Jaelen McGlone, and Justin Paz. Wilson said Trail was good enough to be honored with that group in his final season, and, from what he's seen during the preseason, he'll have another strong case this year.
 
"Kevin was — through a very small sample size last year — our leading scorer and rebounder through the first four games," Wilson said. "And we know he's a very talented guy from what he did against us at Lock Haven. So we're just looking for him to be able to come in, be healthy, and be the player that we know he can be. Having Tyshawn back has been a big boost to us. He's a guy who, when he left the program, was playing very well. I thought he was a borderline All-PSAC player when he left. He's that talented of a guy, and he'll give us a big boost as we get through the season."
 
In addition to welcoming Trail back, ESU brought in four new freshmen: guards Ian Williams, Ripp Kodi, and Jack Castner, and forward Alassan N'Diaye. Castner and Kodi figure to have paths to minutes with their ability to shoot from deep, production from last season that needs to be replaced, but there's always potential for minutes the way Wilson and the Warriors utilize the bench.
 
"We like to have depth for each spot, just trying to budget for injury and to make us more competitive day in and day out with having three guys at each spot basically vying for one of two spots at each position," Wilson said. "They've done a great job of coming in and learning; they've really adapted well to the college level.  I have full confidence that all four of them will be contributors to this program. And as I tell everybody in the program, you don't know where your opportunity is going to come from — you just have to be ready for it when it gets there."
 
ESU had one of the best three-point shooters in all of Division II last year in Millirons, and Maynard was a close second on the team in total makes from distance as well. For a team that will feature premier forwards like Coleman and Brito, as well as strong interior presences between Pichardo and Howard, a three-point threat is necessary. There are some players from last year that could see an uptick in volume with the vacated shot attempts carrying over to this season, which has been a bright spot as ESU has ramped up for the beginning of the campaign.
 
"I think moving Keni to the two-guard spot will address that to some degree, and I also think having Tyshawn back is going to address that too," Wilson said. "And then when you look at some guys, Terrell Pitts has been an improved shooter in the preseason. Hopefully that continues through live games. And then the two freshmen we brought in, Jack and Ripp, both of those guys can really shoot the ball. So in the preseason, we shot it very well. Hopefully that continues once the clock goes on. Brito was a very consistent shooter for us at the four spot last year. So I think we have guys that can make shots. We just have to be able to step up and do it when the opportunity presents itself."
 
As the season progresses, roles will naturally become more defined. There will be challenges, specifically two non-conference games Wilson added to the team's schedule against American International and Daemen, and the conference schedule is always tough as well. The Warriors open up with three straight road games against PSAC West opponents, starting at Edinboro, and play the defending national champion Gannon before beginning divisional play at Shepherd on Jan. 6.
 
The non-conference matchups were made by Wilson with the increasing ESU's postseason odds in mind. If the Warriors fare well and have quality teams on their resume, it'll help their likelihood of playing well into the spring season.
 
"I'm a coach who coaches every game," Wilson said. "I think when you have 28 games on your schedule, you're really looking to take each one one test at a time. Not really looking at where you're going to be at the end of the year, understanding that each game is going to be its own single test. But as you add up those tests, hopefully by the end of the season, the cumulative final is going to be in your favor. So with the new NPI, which is going to dictate where people land, if you have a good year and if you have success, those things can go in your favor with scheduling tough and scheduling on the road."
 
In the PSAC Preseason Poll, the East Division coaches voted ESU to finish second, landing three of the first-place votes. Last year's one seed, West Chester, edged them with four votes, while Shepherd got the final one, finishing third in the voting. Millersville, Shippensburg, and Bloomsburg rounded out the PSAC Tournament spots, in that order. Last year's seeding came down to the wire, as there was a clear divide between the top four and the bottom five all year long, with the Warriors, Golden Rams, Rams, and Marauders neck-and-neck throughout January and February. Wilson expects this season to be no different; perhaps even more competitive.
 
"I think the PSAC East is going to be about as good as it's been in probably the last ten years. I think there are a lot of teams back with a lot of talent. When you look at the top five, six teams in the league, a lot of them have a lot of returners, veteran-oriented groups. I'm sure the coaches are feeling pretty good about where they are as well. Because everybody does have established players back that have been through the PSAC grind, and last year, with it being so tight at the top, I think most coaches are expecting it's going to be again this year. Get ready for it, because this is PSAC East basketball."
 
When a program has won over 70 percent of its games since 2017-18, success becomes the standard. The Warriors have continued to cement themselves as a perennial contender in the conference, going 90-30 over the last four seasons, a stretch of that caliber that hasn't been replicated in program history since 1943. Wilson knows the formula, and so do the players. But it's not about banking on it or their talent to carry them from now through the season; it comes down to embracing the grind and taking something from each stop along the way.
 
"They have to see the need to get better every day," Wilson said. "I think any successful team is going to go through a lot of adversity during the year and a lot of challenges that they're going to have to overcome. That's the beauty of sport, in my opinion. And the successful teams are the ones that can navigate that best."
 
The Warriors begin the year at the Trojan Tip-Off Classic in Ettrick, Va., this weekend, taking on Bowie State and the host Virginia State to open the season. They'll play  Molloy on Tuesday, Nov. 17, for their home opener at Koehler Fieldhouse.