University of Northern Colorado Athletics
UNC Men's Basketball Team Announces Complete 2026-27 Signing Class
7/2/2026 12:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado Men's Basketball Head Coach Steve Smiley has officially unveiled the complete signing class for the 2026-27 season, eight new players poised to help the Bears contend in the Big Sky Conference.
"We're really excited about the 2026 recruiting class!" Smiley said. "When we finalized the class in the late spring timeframe, we felt like we had met all of our needs but after spending our first month of summer workouts with this class, I'm even more excited! We do feel like we have a great nucleus with our six returning players, and adding all of the new guys into the mix has been really exciting. Our team has a unique blend of size, skill, and basketball IQ. The key for us in this early phase of building the team is developing a more vocal team. That is our current challenge, and we're steadily seeing growth. We believe this could be a special team!"
CAMPBELL BLOGG | GUARD | SANDRINGHAM SABRES | MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Blogg has been a key player for the Sandringham Sabres, where he developed through the club's pathway and emerged as a leader within the program. Named a captain, he has consistently impacted games with his scoring ability and perimeter shooting.
In the 2023 season, Blogg averaged 16.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, highlighting his all-around contribution. He delivered a standout performance in the NBL1 South Grand Final, scoring 28 points with four rebounds and shooting six-of-14 from three-point range, helping Sandringham finish the season as Grand Final runners-up.
"An extremely skilled guard with good size that can play a multitude of positions and is extremely effective both on and off the ball, Campbell will be an immediate contributor and will fill a lot of holes for us," Smiley said.
ANDREW CRAWFORD | GUARD | COLORADO | LITTLETON, COLO
A 6-foot-8 guard from Thunder Ridge High School, Crawford spent two seasons at the University of Colorado.
Crawford carries one of the most decorated résumés in Colorado high school basketball. He earned a spot on the 2024 Denver Post All-Colorado Boys Basketball Team and was a two-time Class 6A All-State First Team selection. Widely regarded as the top player in Colorado's Class of 2024, Crawford was a consensus four-star recruit. He was ranked No. 85 overall in the ESPN100 and No. 80 nationally by On3, solidifying his status as one of the nation's premier prospects.
"We're really excited to add Andrew to our Bears squad for 26-27! Before looking at what he will bring to our squad on the floor, I want to emphasize how important Drew's character, maturity and leadership will be to our team. Drew is about all the right "stuff" and is an absolute winner," commented Smiley.
WILL GORDON | FRESHMAN | GUARD | AZ COMPASS PREP | CLEARWATER, FLA.
Will Gordon, a 6-4 guard born in Clearwater, Florida, Joins the Bears following a decorated high school career at AZ Compass Prep. A versatile and physical backcourt presence, he averaged 18.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steal per game while shooting 45 percent from the field during his senior season.
Known for his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor, Gordon played a key role in leading AZ Compass Grind to back-to-back Canyon Athletic Association State Championships. His production and consistency made him a standout in one of the top prep programs in the country.
"We're thrilled to announce the addition of Will Gordon to our roster for this upcoming 2026 school year! Will fits the exact mold of what we were searching for in this final roster spot. We were hoping to get a bigger guard that can play multiple spots on both ends of the floor, and Will fits that exactly. A big guard that can shoot, is athletic, and loves to defend, Will is going to bring much-needed depth to our roster," said Smiley."
JEREMIAH HAMMOND | 6'3 | Guard | Denver, Colo. | Christopher Columbus HS
A confident playmaker and scorer, Hammond arrives in Greeley having built an impressive résumé at Cherry Creek, on the Nike EYCL circuit with the Pluto Prospects, and now at national powerhouse Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida. Known for his competitiveness and clutch gene, including a memorable game-winning three versus Smoky Hill as a sophomore, Hammond brings a multi-level scoring ability and the versatility to play multiple backcourt roles.
"Jeremiah is an extremely talented guard that can play multiple positions," Smiley said. "He can use ball screens to create for himself or others, and he has the knack to score at an extremely high level. A great kid from a great family."
DREW PAINE | 6'8 | Forward/Center | Highlands Ranch, Colo. | ThunderRidge HS
One of Colorado's premier big men, Paine has been a force at ThunderRidge High School, earning First Team All-Continental League and Second Team 6A All-State honors while helping the Grizzlies reach the 6A State Championship game as a sophomore. His versatile inside-out skill set, paired with size, shooting touch, and defensive mobility, makes him a prototypical modern frontcourt player.
"Drew is extremely skilled and can play both inside and on the perimeter," Smiley said. "He can connect our offense in so many ways. He's a proven winner and an elite human being who will thrive in our community."
KAIDON RAYFIELD| FORWARD | UTSA |OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.
A 6-foot-8 forward from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Rayfield joins the Bears after spending the 2025–26 campaign at UTSA. In his freshman season, he appeared in 26 games with 13 starts, averaging 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while logging 517 total minutes. He shot 39.0 percent from the field and added 62 made field goals, along with 41 free throws.
Prior to his collegiate career, Rayfield was a highly regarded prospect out of high school. He earned three-star status from 247Sports and Rivals while playing his senior season at PHH Prep in Arizona, where he was ranked No. 27 at his position by Rivals. Before transferring to PHH Prep, Rayfield starred at Putnam City North High School in Oklahoma, where he was rated a four-star prospect by ESPN and ranked as the No. 1 player in the state.
"We're thrilled to add Kaidon Rayfield to our roster, and his commitment fills a huge need on our squad. As the portal closed and the dust settled with our returning players and our initial recruits, it was apparent that our greatest need would be bigger, versatile forwards to connect our roster together. Kaidon is a perfect fit for what our team needed! An extremely talented and highly recruited player out of high school, Kaidon had a great freshman season last year at UTSA in a premier conference, The American. His natural position for us will be the power forward position, but his skill level will allow him to play both forward spots on the perimeter, and his athleticism and size will allow him to compete all over the floor," said Smiley.
MANNING SHAREEF | FRESHMAN | FORWARD | TRINIDAD STATE JUNIOR COLLEGE | MILWAUKEE, WIS.
A 6-foot-8 forward from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Manning Shareef joins the Bears following a strong freshman campaign at Trinidad State Junior College. Shareef averaged 11.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game while shooting an efficient 58.8 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from three-point range, and 75.8 percent from the free throw line. His all-around production and efficiency made him a key contributor on both ends of the floor.
"The commitment of Manning Shareef is a big one for the Bears, and it helps to fill a big hole in our bigger forward spot! When looking to fill this spot our focus was on size, skill, and having a diverse skill set on both sides of the ball and finding a player from a winning program. Manning checks all those boxes after helping lead his Trinidad State JC team to the NJCAA national tournament as a freshman, while really blossoming as a player as the year went on," commented Smiley.
CHIANTE TRAMBLE | GUARD | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI | EDMOND, OKLA.
A 6-foot-2 guard from Edmond, Oklahoma, Tramble arrives in Greeley after spending the past season at The University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, following a standout career at Independence Community College.
At Southern Miss, Tramble averaged 3.6 points and 1.1 assists per game while shooting an efficient 78 percent from the free throw line and 36 percent from beyond the arc, showcasing his perimeter shooting ability at a high level.
"We are so excited to get the commitment from Chiante Tramble to join our program for the 26-27 season. Chiante is exactly what we were looking for in our final perimeter spot for this roster. An experienced physical guard with the ability to knock down shots and score from all three levels. Chiante was one of the top junior college players in America as a freshman at Independence CC in Kansas and played a substantial role on a good Southern Mississippi team last year as a true sophomore," Smiley stated.
"We're really excited about the 2026 recruiting class!" Smiley said. "When we finalized the class in the late spring timeframe, we felt like we had met all of our needs but after spending our first month of summer workouts with this class, I'm even more excited! We do feel like we have a great nucleus with our six returning players, and adding all of the new guys into the mix has been really exciting. Our team has a unique blend of size, skill, and basketball IQ. The key for us in this early phase of building the team is developing a more vocal team. That is our current challenge, and we're steadily seeing growth. We believe this could be a special team!"
CAMPBELL BLOGG | GUARD | SANDRINGHAM SABRES | MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Blogg has been a key player for the Sandringham Sabres, where he developed through the club's pathway and emerged as a leader within the program. Named a captain, he has consistently impacted games with his scoring ability and perimeter shooting.
In the 2023 season, Blogg averaged 16.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, highlighting his all-around contribution. He delivered a standout performance in the NBL1 South Grand Final, scoring 28 points with four rebounds and shooting six-of-14 from three-point range, helping Sandringham finish the season as Grand Final runners-up.
Campbell Blogg: Film Study 🎬
— UNC Bears MBB (@UNC_BearsMBB) April 21, 2026
Check out what the 6'4 guard from Melbourne will be bringing to Bear Country next season ⏩#BearCountry pic.twitter.com/T5Fpup9HmV
"An extremely skilled guard with good size that can play a multitude of positions and is extremely effective both on and off the ball, Campbell will be an immediate contributor and will fill a lot of holes for us," Smiley said.
ANDREW CRAWFORD | GUARD | COLORADO | LITTLETON, COLO
A 6-foot-8 guard from Thunder Ridge High School, Crawford spent two seasons at the University of Colorado.
Crawford carries one of the most decorated résumés in Colorado high school basketball. He earned a spot on the 2024 Denver Post All-Colorado Boys Basketball Team and was a two-time Class 6A All-State First Team selection. Widely regarded as the top player in Colorado's Class of 2024, Crawford was a consensus four-star recruit. He was ranked No. 85 overall in the ESPN100 and No. 80 nationally by On3, solidifying his status as one of the nation's premier prospects.
Andrew Crawford: Film Study 🎬
— UNC Bears MBB (@UNC_BearsMBB) April 22, 2026
The 6'8" guard from Littleton is bringing his game from the Flatirons to Bear Country - here's what you can look forward to ⏩#BearCountry pic.twitter.com/09dcLWKGVN
"We're really excited to add Andrew to our Bears squad for 26-27! Before looking at what he will bring to our squad on the floor, I want to emphasize how important Drew's character, maturity and leadership will be to our team. Drew is about all the right "stuff" and is an absolute winner," commented Smiley.
WILL GORDON | FRESHMAN | GUARD | AZ COMPASS PREP | CLEARWATER, FLA.
Will Gordon, a 6-4 guard born in Clearwater, Florida, Joins the Bears following a decorated high school career at AZ Compass Prep. A versatile and physical backcourt presence, he averaged 18.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steal per game while shooting 45 percent from the field during his senior season.
Known for his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor, Gordon played a key role in leading AZ Compass Grind to back-to-back Canyon Athletic Association State Championships. His production and consistency made him a standout in one of the top prep programs in the country.
"We're thrilled to announce the addition of Will Gordon to our roster for this upcoming 2026 school year! Will fits the exact mold of what we were searching for in this final roster spot. We were hoping to get a bigger guard that can play multiple spots on both ends of the floor, and Will fits that exactly. A big guard that can shoot, is athletic, and loves to defend, Will is going to bring much-needed depth to our roster," said Smiley."
JEREMIAH HAMMOND | 6'3 | Guard | Denver, Colo. | Christopher Columbus HS
A confident playmaker and scorer, Hammond arrives in Greeley having built an impressive résumé at Cherry Creek, on the Nike EYCL circuit with the Pluto Prospects, and now at national powerhouse Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida. Known for his competitiveness and clutch gene, including a memorable game-winning three versus Smoky Hill as a sophomore, Hammond brings a multi-level scoring ability and the versatility to play multiple backcourt roles.
Jeremiah Hammond: Film Study 🎞️
— UNC Bears MBB (@UNC_BearsMBB) November 14, 2025
The 6'3" combo guard from Denver has established himself as a confident playmaker and scorer - here's a preview of what he's bringing to Greeley 😤#BearCountry pic.twitter.com/qwFzlDP5sK
"Jeremiah is an extremely talented guard that can play multiple positions," Smiley said. "He can use ball screens to create for himself or others, and he has the knack to score at an extremely high level. A great kid from a great family."
DREW PAINE | 6'8 | Forward/Center | Highlands Ranch, Colo. | ThunderRidge HS
One of Colorado's premier big men, Paine has been a force at ThunderRidge High School, earning First Team All-Continental League and Second Team 6A All-State honors while helping the Grizzlies reach the 6A State Championship game as a sophomore. His versatile inside-out skill set, paired with size, shooting touch, and defensive mobility, makes him a prototypical modern frontcourt player.
Drew Paine: Film study 🎞️
— UNC Bears MBB (@UNC_BearsMBB) November 14, 2025
Here's a preview of what you can expect from the 6'8 forward/center from Highlands Ranch 💪#BearCountry pic.twitter.com/2r1eVOQXd1
"Drew is extremely skilled and can play both inside and on the perimeter," Smiley said. "He can connect our offense in so many ways. He's a proven winner and an elite human being who will thrive in our community."
KAIDON RAYFIELD| FORWARD | UTSA |OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.
A 6-foot-8 forward from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Rayfield joins the Bears after spending the 2025–26 campaign at UTSA. In his freshman season, he appeared in 26 games with 13 starts, averaging 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while logging 517 total minutes. He shot 39.0 percent from the field and added 62 made field goals, along with 41 free throws.
Prior to his collegiate career, Rayfield was a highly regarded prospect out of high school. He earned three-star status from 247Sports and Rivals while playing his senior season at PHH Prep in Arizona, where he was ranked No. 27 at his position by Rivals. Before transferring to PHH Prep, Rayfield starred at Putnam City North High School in Oklahoma, where he was rated a four-star prospect by ESPN and ranked as the No. 1 player in the state.
Kaidon Rayfield: Film Study 🎬
— UNC Bears MBB (@UNC_BearsMBB) April 30, 2026
The 6-foot-8 forward from Oklahoma City is bringing his size and athleticism to Bear Country, here's what you can expect ⏭️#BearCountry pic.twitter.com/7GloCcKuuK
"We're thrilled to add Kaidon Rayfield to our roster, and his commitment fills a huge need on our squad. As the portal closed and the dust settled with our returning players and our initial recruits, it was apparent that our greatest need would be bigger, versatile forwards to connect our roster together. Kaidon is a perfect fit for what our team needed! An extremely talented and highly recruited player out of high school, Kaidon had a great freshman season last year at UTSA in a premier conference, The American. His natural position for us will be the power forward position, but his skill level will allow him to play both forward spots on the perimeter, and his athleticism and size will allow him to compete all over the floor," said Smiley.
MANNING SHAREEF | FRESHMAN | FORWARD | TRINIDAD STATE JUNIOR COLLEGE | MILWAUKEE, WIS.
A 6-foot-8 forward from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Manning Shareef joins the Bears following a strong freshman campaign at Trinidad State Junior College. Shareef averaged 11.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game while shooting an efficient 58.8 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from three-point range, and 75.8 percent from the free throw line. His all-around production and efficiency made him a key contributor on both ends of the floor.
Manning Shareef: Film Study 🎬
— UNC Bears MBB (@UNC_BearsMBB) May 7, 2026
The 6'8" forward from Milwaukee is bringing his skills from Trinidad State to UNC - here's what you can expect to see in Bear Country next season ⏩#BearCountry pic.twitter.com/4izvR6Tn5I
"The commitment of Manning Shareef is a big one for the Bears, and it helps to fill a big hole in our bigger forward spot! When looking to fill this spot our focus was on size, skill, and having a diverse skill set on both sides of the ball and finding a player from a winning program. Manning checks all those boxes after helping lead his Trinidad State JC team to the NJCAA national tournament as a freshman, while really blossoming as a player as the year went on," commented Smiley.
CHIANTE TRAMBLE | GUARD | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI | EDMOND, OKLA.
A 6-foot-2 guard from Edmond, Oklahoma, Tramble arrives in Greeley after spending the past season at The University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, following a standout career at Independence Community College.
At Southern Miss, Tramble averaged 3.6 points and 1.1 assists per game while shooting an efficient 78 percent from the free throw line and 36 percent from beyond the arc, showcasing his perimeter shooting ability at a high level.
Chiante Tramble: Film Study 🎬
— UNC Bears MBB (@UNC_BearsMBB) April 28, 2026
Chiante Tramble is bringing his game up north next season - here's what you can expect next year in Bear Country ⏯️#BearCountry pic.twitter.com/M7UHzHSRdh
"We are so excited to get the commitment from Chiante Tramble to join our program for the 26-27 season. Chiante is exactly what we were looking for in our final perimeter spot for this roster. An experienced physical guard with the ability to knock down shots and score from all three levels. Chiante was one of the top junior college players in America as a freshman at Independence CC in Kansas and played a substantial role on a good Southern Mississippi team last year as a true sophomore," Smiley stated.
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