Ivy Hoops Online recently caught up with veteran Yale men’s basketball coach James Jones to discuss summer developments and the upcoming season.
Ivy Hoops Online: You obviously planned to have Isaac Celiscar and Samson Aletan on your team in ’26-27 when you recruited them a few years back. What is it like without them? (Editor’s note: Celiscar, a rising junior, signed with Baylor after a Second Team All-Ivy selection in 2025-26. Aletan signed with Providence after three years at Yale and leading the Bulldogs in blocks and field-goal percentage in 2025-26.)
James Jones: You can’t compensate for juniors and seniors. The transfer rules are different for us (Ivies). Hard to replace a junior and a senior.
IHO: Do you look at the [transfer] portal now more than previously?
JJ: Not really, because I never think that any of our guys will be leaving. It is also so hard to get a player into our school and to get one who is willing to pay to win a championship.
IHO: You did bring in one transfer.
JJ: Yes. Connor May from Washington University in St. Louis. Very skilled. Tough. Good shooter. Will have an opportunity to fill a role. Brings around a good attitude.
IHO: You now have three guys in the NBA, thoughts on that? (Editor’s note: Bez Mbeng and John Poulakidas signed summer league contracts after the 2025 NBA Draft. Danny Wolf was selected in the first round of the draft as the 27th overall pick by the Brooklyn Nets.)
JJ: Very proud of Bez, John and Danny. Can’t put it into words. Recently took them all out to dinner in Vegas.
IHO: Do you see a lot of parity in the Ivy this coming season?
JJ: I see more parity. Teams are closer in talent. But there will be separation (once the season starts).
IHO: Were you surprised that Mike Martin left [his post as 14-year head coach at] Brown to be an assistant at Michigan?
JJ: Not surprised. He has had opportunities. Gives him an opportunity to get a job at a higher level.
IHO: Tell us about your schedule [for the upcoming season].
JJ: We are at UCF and at Baylor. We are on the road at San Francisco. We play in a November tournament in Orlando. We play Santa Barbara in Vegas. We are at Northeastern and we will scrimmage BU (editor’s note: Boston University, coached by James Jones’ brother and former Columbia coach Joe Jones) again.
IHO: The recent federal court decision allows players to get a fifth year, and it looks like Nick Townsend will be one of those players, thoughts? (Editor’s note: A federal court on Friday ruled that all high school class of 2022 athletes who used their fourth season of college eligibility this spring are eligible for a fifth season in 2026-27.)
JJ: Would love to have him back, but the Ivy does not permit that.