Men's Basketball 8/6/2025 11:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Men's Basketball Bolsters Roster For '25-26

Central Oklahoma Returns 10, Adds Nine Newcomers

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma begins its 2025-26 basketball season this October and the Bronchos will have quite a few new faces on the roster when school begins later this month.

Entering his seventh season leading the program, Bob Hoffman has a 113-66 record at UCO, with one MIAA regular season title, and appearances in two MIAA Championship games. Hoffman has also led Central to the NCAA Tournament twice (2022 & 2023). He already ranks third in UCO history for coaching wins and has 720 for his college coaching career that began in 1987.

The 2025-26 roster will feature 10 players back from last year, including three starters. Hoffman welcomes nine newcomers this year, including four transfers.

Josh Nwankwo will spend his senior season with the Bronchos after transferring from MIAA rival, Central Missouri. The 6-6 forward is from Oklahoma City and was a state champion at Putnam City North high school. Marcus Zeigler Jr. will be a junior this season, transferring from Cowley College in Kansas. He hails from Wichita, Kansas and also won a state title at Wichita Heights. Sebastian Perry, a sophomore, comes to UCO from Nebraska Omaha. Perry is also from OKC and played high school basketball at Heritage Hall. Jayden Garces spent the past two seasons at Grayson College in Texas. He played high school basketball in Rhode Island and will be a junior for the Bronchos.

Five freshmen will arrive on campus soon and begin competing for minutes this season. Noah Eckels (6-11) of Colorado Springs, Colo., Hudson Greer (6-9) of Edmond, and Brady Hancuff (6-7), also from Edmond, make up the group of new bigs on the roster. Levi Kelly (5-11) of Dale, Oklahoma, and Carter Roman Nose (6-3) of El Reno, Oklahoma, will compete at the guard position.

NOTES ON NEWCOMERS …

Nwankwo: Averaged 11 points per game in two seasons of junior college basketball at Garden City (Kan.) and New Mexico JC before transferring to Central Missouri but suffered a season-ending injury in the 2024-25 opener.

Perry: Former Heritage Hall standout spent two years in Omaha, redshirting his first year before helping the team win the Summit League title last March and reach the NCAA tournament.

Zeigler Jr.: A former Wichita Heights standout played nearly 70 games in two seasons at Cowley College, averaging more than 8.0 points per game with a 39.1 field-goal percentage.

Garces: Played in 59 games over the past two seasons at Grayson College and made 47 starts. Totaled more than 200 points and nearly 150 rebounds for the Vikings and is a 38 percent shooter.

Eckels: Averaged over 15 points per game at Discovery Canyon High School in Colorado Springs.

Greer: Part of 2A state runner-up squad in 2023 at Oklahoma Christian Academy in Edmond.

Hancuff: Earned All-Conference and All-District honors for Edmond Memorial.

Kelly: Four-time state champion at Oklahoma 2A power, Dale.

Roman Nose: All-State pick at El Reno High School became the program's all-time leading scorer during senior season and was named 5A Player of the Year following the season.

Central Oklahoma begins the 2025-26 season with three games in Canada at the D2CCA Tipoff Classic Oct. 31 – Nov. 2 in Langley, British Columbia. A complete schedule will be released later this month and season ticket information will also be announced soon.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Noah Eckels: F; 6' 11"; Freshman

#23 Brady Hancuff: F; 6' 7"; Freshman

#13 Levi Kelly: G; 5' 11"; Freshman

#2 Josh Nwankwo: F; 6' 6"; Senior

#0 Carter Roman Nose: G; 6' 3"; Freshman

#3 Sebastian Perry: G; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#5 Marcus Zeigler Jr.: G; 6' 1"; Junior

Hudson Greer: F; 6' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#11 Noah Eckels
: 6' 11"; Freshman
: F

#23 Brady Hancuff
: 6' 7"; Freshman
: F

#13 Levi Kelly
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: G

#2 Josh Nwankwo
: 6' 6"; Senior
: F

#0 Carter Roman Nose
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: G

#3 Sebastian Perry
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: G

#5 Marcus Zeigler Jr.
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G

Hudson Greer
: 6' 9"; Freshman
: F