City of Basketball Love

Dan Arkans (@danarkans) 
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(Ed. Note: This article is part of our 2025-26 season coverage, which will run for the six weeks preceding the first official games of the year on Nov. 4. To access all of our high school and college preview content for this season, click here.)

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Last season at this time Temple’s Aiden Tobiason was considering a redshirt year.

What a difference a year can make.

Now, Tobiason is the leader of an Owls squad that has 11 new faces.

The Delaware native started 22 games last year and is one of just two returning starters back.

“I wanted to develop my game and physique,” Tobiason said of last season. “It didn’t stop me from working hard. It definitely felt heartbreaking being on the bench. I just kept working, got my opportunity and my chance. Even while playing there were a lot of ups and downs. It’s hard to make any mistakes as a freshman.”

Tobiason didn’t sit for long, starting in 22 games for the Cherry and White last season. 

He finished the year averaging 4.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, making such an impact he was named to the American Conference All-Freshman Team.

His game topped off with an 18-point effort against nationally-ranked Memphis.

“We use Aiden as an example,” said third-year Temple head coach Adam Fisher. “If you asked me last year at this time he’s probably not ready. Next thing he’s starting because he earned it. That’s important. We don’t promise them they will start. Everything is earned. Aiden’s story tells it all. He earned everything he got.”

Tobiason did have some growing pains in this new world of the NIL and transfer portal. On court and in the gym his work ethic wasn’t matched. Off the court was a bigger adjustment.

“The agents reach out to me even if they know I have an agent,” said Tobiason, who signed with Kenny Jackson last year. “Everyone wants an agent. I had to talk with my dad about it to find the right agent. A lot of agents just want to get money out of you. I just hope there’s an outlet where they can sign with the right person.”

Tobiason won’t have to lead alone as 6-foot-8 sophomore Babatunde Durodala is also back after starting all 32 games, averaging 4.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Seven-foot-1 senior center Mohamed Keita is also returning after playing in 18 games a season ago.

“It’s a big transition,” said Tobiason of being a leader this season. “It’s something I am ready for and something they trust me with. Everything is good with this team. You expect transfers to be selfish. They all want to win, do whatever it takes, if playing their role or defense they are perfectly fine. It’s not just on the court but off the court too.”

Fisher might as well have handed out nametags over the summer with 11 newcomers who could all make an impact. It was a busy offseason for the Temple staff with an idea on getting bigger and better defensively after leading the conference in scoring a year ago.

“It’s cliche but we want to keep playing better,” Fisher said. “We want to be the best at the end of the season. That’s what we tell our guys. If this is best we are going to have a long year. When you add 11 guys it does take time. That’s OK. You are figuring out guys. Our expectations are to play really hard. That’s our foundation. That’s what you gotta do to get on the floor. If we do that we are giving ourselves a chance.” 

The newcomers start with 6-9 sophomore Jamai Felt, who made an impact last year for Bowling Green, earning a spot on the Mid-American Conference All-Freshman Team. Felt averaged 5.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game as a redshirt freshman. 

Six-foot-8 redshirt sophomore Spencer Mahoney also fits the bill with stops at Washington State and California. In his lone season with the Golden Bears, Mahoney appeared in 27 games.

Temple also went overseas to recruit Ayuba Bryant, a 20 year-old freshman, who comes to the Owls after playing for JL Bourg-en-Bresse in France's LNB Pro-A under-21 league. In 28 contests during the 2024-25 season, he averaged 13.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

“It’s a challenge,” said Fisher of coaching in this new era of the transfer portal. “There have always been challenges. These are just the new ones. We have a great staff. We added some new guys this offseason. It’s a matter of embracing it. There’s no more fighting the transfer portal. How do we embrace it? That’s what our staff really set out to do, lets use the portal to our advantage. I thought they did a great job.”

Temple also went about getting plenty of guards to add to the roster led by Nebraska transfer Gavin Griffiths, who can shoot the lights out. College of Charleston transfer senior AJ Smith also joins the Owls after averaging 11.5 points and 3.5 rebounds a season ago.

Senior point guard Jordan Mason started 20 games and appeared in 30 for University of Illinois Chicago last season. He averaged 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals in his lone season there.

“He can really run the point,” said Fisher. “Great vision, more of a true point guard. He can get guys good shots. He has been really good.” 

Senior guard CJ Hines comes from Alabama State where he averaged 14.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game. This will be his sixth season after two at Alabama State and three at Faulkner University.

Hines flies to the Owls with positive momentum from last season after being named MVP of the SWAC Tournament, sending Alabama St. to the NCAA Tournament.

Former two-time Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year 6-foot-3 senior guard Derrian Ford will also be in the mix. He spent the previous two seasons at Arkansas State, averaging 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists a season ago.

“Two guys who blew me away were Gavin and Derrian,” Tobiason said. “Gavin doesn’t look the part. He blew me away with his talent. Derrian comes in with high energy and everything you can ask for. If we keep the way we are playing with high energy and togetherness we are going to go far. I don’t think there’s a lot of people as keyed in as us.” 

Manhattan transfer 6-foot-3 senior guard Masiah Gilyard will make an impact on both ends of the court after being the leading offensive rebounding guard in the country. He finished the year averaging 11.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

“We told him to watch clips of Josh Hart, do whatever it takes,” Fisher said. “He was the leading offensive rebounding guard in the country. You see it in practice, damn that’s pretty good. I think we recruited depth. The season is long. Things come up. We dealt it with last year. We want that. It also provides practice with a really, really competitive environment. I think it makes everyone better.”

There are some local ties to the area led by freshman and Westtown product 6-foot-5 Cam Wallace who could make an impact as well after a sensational high school career. Senior Connor Gal (Malvern Prep) is returning to the team after playing in five games last year.  

“This is kind of like his first full recruiting class,” said Tobiason of Fisher. “All of the guys he wanted he got. This is his third year. What is that you say the third time’s the charm.”

The Owls will have to mesh together quickly with a challenging schedule, which begins November 5th at home against Delaware State. Then they will quickly get into the Big 5 with La Salle at home on November 11th.

“The Big 5 is hyped up,” Tobiason said. “It’s hyped up for a reason. It’s who has the bragging rights, definitely big for the fans. All Philly schools are good competition. You have Nova with a whole new squad, St. Joe’s with a whole new squad. I am going to have to get intel from my teammates. I am going to have to tell them it’s rivalry stuff. This is the real deal. It’s like bragging rights.”