Article by Logan Haglund. Photo by Nathaly Delgado.
The St. Cloud State men’s basketball team will return the majority of its roster heading into the 2026–27 season, bringing back 12 of 15 players from last year’s squad.
“We had good retention, 12 of the 15 players came back from that team,” head coach Quincy Henderson said. “That really helps with chemistry.”
The Huskies are coming off a dominant season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), finishing 20-2 in conference play and undefeated at home. Henderson’s performance earned him NSIC Coach of the Year honors.
Senior Wyatt Hawks was named NSIC Defensive Player of the Year and is expected to remain a key contributor as the team builds toward next season. Offseason workouts are already underway as the program looks to build on its postseason success.
“Our program — the underlying core — is service,” Henderson said, emphasizing the team’s focus on leadership both on and off the court.
That commitment extends beyond basketball. Players are active in the community and maintain strong academic performance, with five returners earning NSIC Winter All-Academic Team honors.
“Guys constantly stay bought in,” guard Azayah Washington said. “That’s what built our team chemistry.”
The upcoming season will mark the third full year for much of the current roster, giving the Huskies valuable continuity with both players and coaching staff.
Despite the strong returning core, the team will need to adjust following the departure of standout player Luke Winkel, who transferred to North Dakota. An assistant coach, who declined to be named, said the team expects to rely more on bench depth and increase its focus on the interior to fill the gap.
Henderson said his long-term mindset guides program decisions.
“Decisions I make are always, ‘Where does this put us down the road?’” he said.
With preseason preparation already in progress, the Huskies are looking ahead to next fall with high expectations and optimism.
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