STAYIN’: Georgetown Announces Four Hoyas Returning

· Yahoo Sports

Mar 12, 2026; New York, NY, USA; Georgetown Hoyas forward Caleb Williams (4) celebrates his three point shot against the Villanova Wildcats with guard Kayvaun Mulready (45) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Some pleasant news arrived for your Georgetown Hoyas, bringing a glimmer of stability to an otherwise chaotic offseason. Many of the Georgetown faithful have said the constant roster turnover makes it difficult to invest time and focus in the program. They’re not wrong. Like 200+ Division I programs, fans have watched a steady stream of talent walk out the door, for better or worse.

The team finally has some positive developments to share on the roster. Four scholarship players are officially staying on the Hilltop: Julius Halaifonua, Kayvaun Mulready, Caleb Williams, and Gabriel Landeira. This foundation offers head coach Ed Cooley significant returning minutes and a potential starting point guard for his fourth season.

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It also gives GU supporters a reason to maintain a baseline of hope with three well-liked players.

Before looking at this returning core, fans must acknowledge the sheer volume of outbound transfers thus far. Six scholarship players from the 2025-26 roster are currently in the portal. The backcourt took a massive hit with the departures of leading scorer KJ Lewis, primary distributor Malik Mack, and former top recruit DeShawn Harris-Smith. The frontcourt lost promising sophomores Jayden Fort and Isaiah Abraham. 

Veteran guard Langston Love is entering the portal while seeking a medical and/or eligibility waiver for a sixth(?) year of college basketball. Even walk-on Hashem Asadallah is searching for a new home.

The volume of departures forces the staff to replace significant scoring production. It requires them to build chemistry from scratch once again. The churn is more of a result of a team searching for a path to success in this NIL era than a hallmark of a struggling program—ask Michigan.

The good news centers around the four players who are committed to returning; a few of which (when healthy) had some of the best chemistry with other players over the past couple seasons. They provide a structural framework for the incoming transfers and recruiting class.

Julius Halaifonua: The towering center from New Zealand proved his physical capabilities down the stretch, culminating in a dominant 21-point double-double to upset Villanova in the Big East Tournament. His international pedigree gives the coaching staff a legitimate, efficient anchor for the paint moving forward.

Kayvaun Mulready: The physical guard from Massachusetts provided necessary toughness on the perimeter and flashed offensive upside during a late-season victory over DePaul. Continuing his development remains a top priority for a backcourt currently devoid of proven upperclassmen.

Caleb Williams: The local product out of Sidwell Friends demonstrated offensive reliability in conference play, including a strong 12-point effort during a tight overtime contest against Creighton. Williams has been seen with a sling after playing through pain and receiving shoulder surgery. His versatility as a 6-foot-7 forward gives the coaching staff a flexible piece to deploy in various lineup configurations.

Gabriel Landeira: The Brazilian guard spent the spring semester redshirting and learning the system after capturing MVP honors at the GLOBL JAM tournament. He steps into the upcoming season as the presumptive primary ball-handler, bringing professional experience to a college backcourt in transition.

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Reports indicate the Georgetown staff has been very active in the transfer portal. They are making calls to various guards and wings. They do not appear to be talking to many true centers. This seems to indicate a hope that big man Vince Iwuchukwu will receive a waiver from the NCAA to return for another season.

Cooley arrived with a reputation for building tough, unified rosters at Providence. He achieved that success through continuity. He retained his core players year after year. He added complementary pieces through the portal.

Times have changed. Cooley has not been able to replicate that formula in Washington yet, and perhaps this April he embraces the churn more than ever before.

Georgetown can’t approach this spring with the idea of replace each lost player in a plug-and-play manner—this is complete roster overhaul season.

The college basketball offseason moves incredibly fast. Programs have very little time to evaluate their needs. They must contact targets immediately. They have to arrange visits (or Zoom calls) within days. General Manager Greg Collucci will earn his paycheck over the next few weeks.

Georgetown is expected to bring in two new freshmen with large frames next season. Alex Constanza is a 6-foot-8 top-20 recruit from SPIRE Academy. He is the highest-ranked recruit for the program since Greg Monroe in 2008. He brings immediate size and scoring versatility.

Justin Caldwell is a 6-foot-9 power forward from North Carolina. He chose the Hilltop over offers from Maryland, NC State, and Mississippi State. These additions provide a baseline of size.

The Big East is an unforgiving conference. Night after night, teams face elite competition. Coaches exploit any weakness. Georgetown finished 6-14 in conference play last season. They finished 8-12 the year before. They went 2-18 in Cooley’s first campaign. The trajectory is not linear.

The remaining GU fan base is resilient, but tired. They want to see a product they can be proud of on the court. They want to attend games at Capital One Arena without clenching for a heartbreaking loss.

The four returning players offer a starting point. Halaifonua provides sheer size and potential. Mulready brings defensive tenacity. Williams offers perimeter shooting and dirty-work rebounding. Landeira is said to provide maturity and shooting.

Again, being likeable and coachable goes a long way for development and the fans/boosters. The two freshman will be in the rotation immediately and will hopefully fit right in.

While the roster pieces may be slowly starting to emerge, Georgetown still needs some splash signings from the portal. They can’t afford to wait for the market to settle and their top targets to make moves.

If Georgetown wants winning results, they absolutely, positively cannot bring in players that are not much, much better than the ones who are outgoing.

The coaching staff reportedly has the financial resources to attract top talent. They presumably have the administrative support to execute their vision.

It’s time to move out into the next tax bracket. Stop shopping at TJ Maxx. Go get your guys.

The next few weeks will define the 2026-27 season. No pressure, but the stakes have never been higher for Ed Cooley with his program.

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