Cal Bears - Grade: D-
- 2025-26 record: 22-12 (9-9)
Roster departures
- Dai Dai Ames (16.9 ppg and 2.2 apg)
- Chris Bell (14.2 ppg and 2.6 rpg)
- John Camden (13.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg)
- Justin Pippen (14.2 ppg and 4.6 apg)
- Lee Dort (8.1 ppg and 7.9 rpg)
- Milos Ilic (3.6 ppg and 4.4 rpg)
- Semetri Carr (3.8 ppg and 2.2 apg)
- DJ Campbell (3.3 ppg and 1.8 rpg)
- Rytis Petraitis (5.3 ppg and 4.0 rpg)
- Nolan Dorsey (1.9 ppg and 1.5 rpg)
- Mantas Kocanas (1.7 ppg and 1.5 rpg)
- Sammie Yeaney (1.1 ppg and 1.0 rpg)
Roster additions
- Michael Cooper (13.4 ppg and 2.2 apg at Wright State)
- Jordan Ross (6.7 ppg and 2.3 apg at Georgia)
- Nojus Indrusaitis (9.1 ppg and 3.1 rpg at Pittsburgh)
- Amier Ali (3.2 ppg and 1.7 rpg at Mississippi State)
- Jake Wilkins (4.9 ppg and 1.8 rpg at Georgia)
A year ago, Cal added multiple proven high-major pieces, and it worked out overall. However, they’ve taken a step back, with both Ames and Pippen leaving for the transfer portal. And not retaining any rotation pieces is also a big problem.
But who did Cal add? Cooper was great as a freshman at Wright State, but is he lead guard material? Indrusaitis shot nearly 40% from deep but was a bench piece on a bad Pitt squad and will likely start for the Bears.
If Wilkins breaks out as a sophomore forward, that can be the program’s saving grace. But even that may not stop the Bears from finishing in the bottom tier. It’s not easy recruiting to Cal these days, but it’s night and day between how they operated in the transfer portal these last two offseasons.
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