KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The defending NCAA Division II national champion Gannon men's basketball team will enter the 2026–27 season ranked among the nation's top teams. The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) released its 2026–27 NABC Division II Coaches Preseason Poll on Tuesday with Gannon ranked third and receiving six first-place votes.
The No. 3 ranking marks Gannon's highest preseason national ranking in program history, surpassing its No. 7 preseason ranking in 2024–25. It also represents the Golden Knights' highest position in the national poll since reaching No. 3 during the 1987–88 season.
Easton Bazzoli begins his third year at the helm of the Golden Knights and fourth with the program. Incredible success has followed. Gannon has compiled a 61–10 record in his two seasons as head coach, including a 27–7 finish in 2024–25 and a program-record 34–3 mark last season. The Golden Knights captured their first NCAA Division II national championship and the first team national championship in Gannon Athletics history with an 84–61 victory over Lander on April 5 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Nova Southeastern (31–2) holds down the number one spot in the NABC preseason poll with seven first-place votes, while Washburn (31–2) is second with three first-place votes. Gannon (34–3) received the remaining six first-place votes, with West Liberty and DBU rounding out the top five.
Bazzoli welcomes back several key contributors from last year's national championship squad, including twin brothers Lucas and
Mackenzie Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore), along with
Jaden Calloway (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley),
Mason Kemp (Shawnee, Kan./Mill Valley),
Carter Wamsley (York, Pa./Eastern York) and
Julian Rivera (Gainesville, Va./Highland).
Lucas Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) enjoyed an outstanding junior campaign. The 6-foot-4 guard finished as Gannon's second-leading scorer at 13.8 ppg. while adding 5.3 rpg. He started all 36 games in which he appeared, totaling 59 assists and 57 steals while earning NCAA Atlantic Regional All-Tournament Team honors.
Mackenzie Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore), also a 6-foot-4 guard, earned NCAA Division II Championship All-Tournament Team honors following Gannon's national championship run. He averaged 10.0 ppg. and 3.9 rpg. while appearing in all 37 contests, making 36 starts. Morgan connected on 67 3-pointers and finished second on the team with 76 steals.
Calloway appeared in 36 games, averaging 5.1 ppg. and 3.2 rpg. while contributing 71 assists and 61 steals. Kemp added 4.8 ppg. and 2.5 rpg. in 33 contests, while Wamsley averaged 4.0 ppg. in 26 appearances. Rivera also returns after appearing in 21 games. Bazzoli has added seven newcomers to the roster, including two transfers and five freshmen.
Gannon opens the 2026–27 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 7, competing in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, Florida. The Golden Knights open against No. 19 Central Missouri at 11 a.m. before facing Point Loma on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 3:30 p.m. Point Loma is also nationally ranked, coming in at No. 11 in the preseason poll.
The Golden Knights make their home debut on Saturday, Nov. 21, hosting Saint Anselm at the Highmark Events Center at 11:30 a.m.
The first NABC Division II regular-season rankings will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
