Four Freshmen Take End-of-Bench Roles as Colorado Basketball Opens Season

Colorado men’s basketball players Chase Hill, Amir Jones, Rider Portela, and Eric Jacobsen are preparing for limited playing time as the Buffaloes approach their season opener. The four freshmen arrived at the University of Colorado on different timelines, but all are expected to serve primarily as practice players for the 2026-27 campaign.

The team reaches the 10-day mark before its first game on Friday. Colorado will host Abilene Christian on Nov. 2 to start head coach Tad Boyle’s 17th season. Boyle has not locked in final minutes, but the projected starting lineup and early rotation likely include guards Barrington Hargress, Alex Dickeson, Jalin Holland, Josiah Sanders, and Ian Inman, along with forwards Justin Neely, Noah Feddersen, and Goc Malual.

Forward David Gomez is also in the mix, though his early availability may be restricted while he recovers from foot surgery performed a year ago. Last season, the Buffs went 17-16 overall and 7-11 in the Big 12, utilizing 11 players who appeared in at least 20 games. That depth is unlikely to repeat this year without a surge of injuries.

Hill, who comes from a coaching family, stated his goal is simple. "Just develop," he said. He noted that he could have attended a Division III school to achieve the same aim but chose to stay at Colorado for the four or five years he expects to be enrolled. His father is the all-time winningest women’s basketball coach at Trinity University, and his grandfather, Bob, was a longtime NBA coach who helped recruit Boyle to Kansas 45 years ago.

The other three players joined the roster as late additions during the spring. Jones had initially signed with Georgia State but reopened his recruiting after a coaching change there. Portela, a wing from Phoenix, signed with the Buffs last November. Jacobsen, a 6-foot-1 post, played at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire after growing up in the Midwest. A torn ACL during his junior season slowed his recruiting momentum.

Jacobsen admitted that accepting a bench role was initially difficult. "I'm realizing I can go as hard as I can every single day and I don't really have anything to lose," he said. "Just trying to earn what I can."

Boyle emphasized that the situation remains fluid. He said the players have the capability but lack the consistency of veterans. He pointed to strong practices from Jones, Jacobsen, and Hill as evidence that their standing in December could look very different from mid-to-late October. He asked the group to prepare daily so they are mentally ready if called into a game.