A busy offseason is underway for Coach Chris Crutchfield and the Omaha men’s basketball staff.
The Mavericks followed up their first NCAA Tournament appearance with a 16-17 season (8-8 in Summit League play) and will look to bounce back in a big way in 2026-27.
To keep you updated on all the comings and goings, we’ll update this offseason tracker whenever news drops.
>> March 18: Sophomore wing Benji Nelson announces he will enter the transfer portal.
6’8 G/W | RS Sophomore | Omaha
JUCO transfer — 11 ppg / 4 rpg
Posting film as I prepare for the portal and look for the right opportunity. pic.twitter.com/RNEbl33zE6
— Benji Nelson (@BenjiNelsonn) March 18, 2026
The 6-foot-8 Wahoo High School product redshirted this season after transferring from Northern Oklahoma Tonkawa College.
>> March 19: Junior guard Khamani Cooper announces he will enter the transfer portal.
The former JUCO standout from Little Rock, Ark., spent two seasons in Omaha, appearing in 45 games. This season, he appeared in 27 games with nine starts, averaging 4.7 points and 1.2 assists in 15.5 minutes per game.
>> March 31: Forward Julian Margrave announces he will enter the transfer portal.
I will be entering the transfer portal for my final year of eligibility | 6’10 forward pic.twitter.com/GmDS6KtyIQ
— Julian Margrave (@JulianMargrave) April 1, 2026
Margrave transferred to Omaha after spending three seasons at South Alabama. He appeared in 21 games this season, averaging 3.7 points in 9.3 minutes per game.
>> April 7: Omaha senior Tony Osburn enters his name in the portal in case the NCAA incorporates a five-year eligibility clock.
While waiting for the impending decision on the recently signed executive order, I have entered my name into the transfer portal as a grad transfer. I would like to thank all my coaches and teammates from Omaha and am so thankful for the opportunity to represent the Mavericks!
— Tony Osburn (@TonyOsburn9) April 7, 2026
>> April 7: Omaha senior Lance Waddles follows Osburn’s lead and enters his name in the portal.
>> April 8: Hurrdat Sports confirms that junior Paul Djobet is in the portal.
NEWS: Omaha G Paul Djobet enters the transfer portal, per @MikeSautter_.
The 6-7 junior averaged 17.5 points and 6.6 rebounds during the 2025-26 season with the Mavericks. pic.twitter.com/ACkOY4DZPJ
— Hurrdat Sports (@HurrdatSports) April 8, 2026
The former Miami Hurricane wing played 20 games for Omaha, starting 18 of them. He led the team with 17.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, shooting 51.2% from the field and 41.5% from 3. He upped those numbers to nearly 19 points and seven rebounds per game in Summit League play. He topped 20 points eight times, including a 38-point explosion in a loss at North Dakota State, and recorded four double-doubles.
>> April 13: Texas State transfer Deke Thompson commits to Omaha.
Extremely blessed and proud to announce my commitment to Omaha Let’s go Mavs 😁 pic.twitter.com/kZrEeruJrZ
— Deke Thompson (@Deke_thompson) April 13, 2026
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound guard from Jenks, Okla., appeared in three games for the Bobcats as a freshman before missing the rest of the season with an injury. He scored seven points on 3-of-5 shooting (1-of-2 from 3) and grabbed one rebound in 11 minutes.
He averaged 21.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.2 steals as a senior at Charles Page High School in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
Omaha was the first Division I school to offer Thompson back in August of 2024.
“Deke joins us after redshirting his freshman season at Texas State,” Coach Chris Crutchfield said. “He gives us a big guard that can score at three levels. He is an excellent 3-point shooter and underrated defender. We recruited Deke out of high school. We are so excited that he is coming to Omaha.”
>> April 14: Omaha announces the signing of Drake transfer Heri Bukinga.
✍️ | Welcome to #Omaha, @HeriSefu!
▶️ Arrives in Omaha from Des Moines where he redshirted at Drake
▶️ Prepped at DME Academy#ForThe402 pic.twitter.com/4uJ7NR9Mu7— Omaha Men’s Basketball (@OmahaMBB) April 14, 2026
The 6-foot-11, 235-pound center is originally from Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“Heri joins us after redshirting and gaining 25 pounds at Drake,” Crutchfield said. “At 6-foot-11-inches with a 7-foot-5-inch wingspan, Heri gives us a defensive presence at the rim. He also is a quick and explosive rebounder. This a huge addition to our roster. We are looking forward to working with him.”
