Buffaloes face guard room dilemma with many fresh faces in 2025

Buffs' freshman guard Ian Inman charges at the hoop in their scrimmage against Grace College. (Photo by Remi Krupinski/Sko Buffs Sports)

With the regular season approaching, the Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball team has a hill to climb: Who reaches the summit in a crowded guard room?

Last Sunday, Colorado beat Grace College 92–66 in a preseason exhibition game. 

Freshman Isaiah Johnson solidified himself as one of the Buffaloes’ top options, apexing the score sheet with 21 points. He shot 70 percent from the field and knocked down four 3-pointers – an early sign that his confidence in bright lights matches what the coaches see in practice. 

“He didn’t show us anything we haven’t seen, which is good,” assistant coach Nate Tomlinson said. “As a coach, you’re waiting to see if it translates to a game, and when the lights turn on, some guys show up and some don’t, and he obviously has showed up. That gives us a lot of confidence that what we see in practice is going to translate.”

Johnson headlines a freshman group looking to make an immediate impact in one of the deepest backcourts in recent CU history. Alongside him are Jalin Holland, Josiah Sanders and Ian Inman, all hoping to find footing in a rotation without guaranteed roles.

Sanders, a four-star combo guard known for his physicality, said the competition has been intense from day one.

“It’s super competitive,” Sanders said. “Everyone is coming in with that same mindset, knowing that no one is really that far ahead of anybody. There’s an open chance for everybody, it’s whoever’s willing to go out there and get it.”

The climb has already forged chemistry between new and returning players.

“I already had a relationship with (Bangot Dak) before I got here,” Sanders said. “But one guy I’ve gotten close with is Felix (Kossaras). He was kind of quiet before, but being around him every day, he’s super helpful with learning plays and just being a good teammate. He’s a great person off the court, too.”

Like any freshman group, their growth has been defined by highs and lows. Tomlinson noted that their flashes of excellence give the coaching staff hope that the climb is trending upward.

“That freshman group, they have their moments — a little up, a little down — and Josiah’s been really good at moments, Jalin’s been really good at moments, Ian’s had flashes as well,” he said. “If we can get a little bit out of all of them every game, we’re going to be in a good spot.”

While the young guards push upward, the returning and transfer players give the group its foundation.

Felix Kossaras, a sophomore who averaged 10.7 minutes over 29 games last season, brings experience within coach Tad Boyle’s system. Barrington Hargress, a transfer from UC Riverside, adds a scoring punch after ranking ninth nationally in Division I last year with 20.2 points per game. 

Tomlinson praised Hargress for his consistency.

“Barrington has just been really steady, and that’s what you want from an experienced guy,” he said.

Jon Mani, another transfer from the University of Denver, gives the backcourt veteran poise and depth. Andrew Crawford, another sophomore who redshirted last season, is still looking to make a jump into the lineup this year.

The mix of newcomers and returners has made every practice a competition, which is exactly what the coaching staff wants to see.

“The positives are the competitiveness every day,” Tomlinson said. “We’re really deep at that position. Naturally, you get competitive situations in practice, where guys are trying to prove themselves. There are no starters, no minutes handed out yet, and that competitive spirit is still very high, and that’s what you want.”

As the Buffaloes continue their ascent, Boyle’s challenge isn’t just selecting starters — he’s sharpening a mountain of potential into a unified peak.

“There’s a standard of what it looks like at the highest level,” Tomlinson said. “You either have it or you don’t, there’s no in-between.”

For a backcourt built on competition and potential, the climb is only beginning. Sanders summed it up best when asked about Boyle’s metaphorical “train,” where every player must earn their seat.

“I think I have a pretty good seat on there,” Sanders said with a smile. “But I’ve got to keep working to get farther up that train.”

Whether it’s a train or a trail up the Rockies, Colorado’s guards know the journey won’t be easy. 

As Boyle’s team begins another climb toward playing in March, the question isn’t whether the guards can reach the top; rather, who can keep climbing when the air gets thin.

The Buffaloes opened their regular season at the CU Events Center on Monday against Montana State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT on ESPN.