TOWSON, Md. – The Catholic men's basketball team was picked to finish first in the Landmark Conference in the 2025-26 preseason coaches poll, it was announced today. The Cardinals received seven of the nine possible first place votes and finished with 79 points to claim the polls top spot.
Catholic put together a magically run last season, finishing 25-6, which was tied for the third-most wins in a single-season in program history. Despite falling to Drew in the Landmark Conference championship, the Cardinals rebounded quickly in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Elite Eight for the second time in program history with victories over Franklin and Marshall, Randolph-Macon and Roanoke. It was the program's deepest run into the tournament since the 2000 season when it won the national championship.
Head coach
Aaron Kelly enters his seventh season at the helm of the program, coming off back-to-back 25 win seasons. Kelly eclipsed 100 career wins during the NCAA tournament last season with his total sitting at 101 entering 2025-26. Kelly was named the 2025 d3hoops.com Coach of the Year for his squads performance last season.
The Cardinals return their second leading scorer from a season ago who was also a Second Team All-Landmark selection in
Brian Herbert who averaged career-highs in points per game (13.7) and rebounds per game (5.7). He also was extremely efficient at the charity stripe last year, making 84.8 percent of his free throws which was tied for the ninth-best in a single season in program history. Another returning starter from last season is
Jamie Ntiamoah, who was the lone player to play and start in all 31 games for the team. He also had career-highs in both points and rebounds per game and was the team leader in rebounds with 6.2 per game.
Catholic also returns several key role players from last season, including
CJ Ruoff,
Googie Seidman and
Charley Hepting who all averaged 15 or more minutes per game. Ruoff was a key piece for the Cardinals in the NCAA run, scoring double figures in three games including a career-high 36 points in the Sweet 16 overtime victory over Roanoke. Hepting also put up a career-high in points during the tournament, scoring 15 points against F&M in the First Round victory.
The Cardinals welcome eight newcomers onto the roster this season, one graduate transfer,
Chris Rubayo, and seven freshmen:
Carter Padags,
Colin Parrish,
Leo McNabb,
Alex Welch,
Shane Doyle,
Samuel Alexandre and
Michael Dankert. Rubayo comes to the program after spending four seasons at Lafayette where he recorded 58 blocks and averaged 3.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 71 games.
The Cardinals finished 14 points clear of Susquehanna who came second in the poll with 65 while receiving two first place votes. Wilkes received the other first place vote, coming third in the poll with 62 points. Moravian and Drew rounded out the top five in the poll with 59 and 58 points respectively.
Catholic's season tips off tonight as they take on Lynchburg in the Rotary Tip-Off hosted by Hood at 7:30 pm at the Woodsboro Bank Arena.
| Team |
2024-25 Record (LC) |
Points (1st Place Votes) |
| 1. Catholic |
25-6 (16-2) |
79 (7) |
| 2. Susquehanna |
15-12 (11-7) |
65 (2) |
| 3. Wilkes |
20-7 (13-5) |
62 (1) |
| 4. Moravian |
16-10 (11-7) |
59 |
| 5. Drew |
24-4 (18-0) |
58 |
| 6. Scranton |
12-14 (7-11) |
39 |
| 7. Elizabethtown |
10-15 (7-11) |
30 |
| 8. Goucher |
4-21 (3-15) |
28 |
| 9. Juniata |
2-23 (2-16) |
17 |
| 10. Lycoming |
3-22 (2-16) |
13 |
