Pirates Hold First Official Practice Of 2026-27 Season

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina men's basketball team took to the floor of Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum this morning as the team held its first official practice of the 2026-27 season.

Fifth-year head coach Michael Schwartz briefly addressed the media before the team began practice, citing the 12 new additions to the team in the offseason and what he expects from his team this season.

The Pirates' 12 new faces include transfers Cian Medley, Brycen Blaine, Kaden Cooper, Kaseem Watson, Jordyn Buchanan, Trevor Best and Matthew Hinton as well as five players entering their first year of college basketball in Dreylan Creasy-Quirindoongo, Maxim Klitschko, Ashton McCullough, Mason Pandov and Bryan Little.

ECU returns three players from last year's team in Jayshayne Woodard, Eli DeLaurier and Daithi Quinn. Woodard enters his third year with the program while DeLaurier and Quinn enter their second season as Pirates.

East Carolina opens the 2026-27 season on Monday, November 2 at 7 p.m. when the Pirates host USC Upstate at Minges Coliseum.

Players Mentioned

Trevor Best

Brycen Blaine

Jordyn Buchanan

Kaden Cooper

Dreylan Creasy-Quirindoongo

Eli DeLaurier

Matthew Hinton

Maxim Klitschko

Bryan Little

Ashton McCullough

Cian Medley

Mason Pandov

Daithi Quinn

Kaseem Watson

Jayshayne Woodard

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