Gavin Griffiths (far right) scored 17 points and hit four three-pointers in Temple's 95-67 win over Saint Francis on Sunday, December 14, 2025. Derrian Ford (far left) had 24 points. "I think for him it's confidence," Temple coach Adam Fisher (center) said of Griffiths' success. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)
By AARON BRACY
July 17, 2026
(Author’s Note: This story also was published on the Bracy Sports Media newsletter. Click HERE to read and subscribe for free and get all stories delivered right to your inbox.)
Last season was like a roller coaster for coach Adam Fisher and Temple.
There was the high of a seven-game winning streak that had the Owls at 11-5 overall and 3-0 in The American conference following a 75-67 home win over ECU on January 7. At the time, Temple seemed like a contender for the conference title and a possible NCAA tournament bid.
But that did not materialize, as the Owls lost 11 of their final 16 games to end the season with a 16-16 record overall and 8-10 mark in The American.
On the court, the low point was the finish when Temple lost seven of is final eight contests, including six in a row. Off the court, the Owls grappled with the sudden death of assistant coach Bill Courtney on January 12. On a human level, it was an incredibly difficult time for everyone involved with Temple program. On an obviously less-important basketball level, the Owls lost a coach who was integral to everything they were doing.
“It was a lot to deal with, a lot to handle,” said Fisher, who counted Courtney not just as a member of his staff but as one of his great friends in coaching.
Temple enters the fourth season under Fisher looking to get back in the mix for an NCAA tournament berth as a contender in The American. The Owls have made the Big Dance just twice in the last 13 seasons and not since 2019. As is commonplace in today’s era of college basketball, Fisher has revamped the roster. Below is a look at who’s back, who’s gone, who’s new, and what’s next for Temple.
Who’s Back?
Of the four players returning, 6-foot-7 senior guard Gavin Griffiths had the biggest impact last season. A former five-star recruit who could not find his form in previous stops at Rutgers and Nebraska, Griffiths played well on North Broad Street under Fisher last season. He averaged 10.1 points and led the Owls in both rebounding (4.9 rebounds per game) and blocks (54 total blocks). Griffiths also connected on 63 three-pointers, hitting at a 33.5 percent clip.
“He came in with an opportunity and open mind to work, and he seized it,” Fisher said.
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They talked prior to the season about regaining the confidence that ascended Griffiths into such a highly sought-after recruit. Then, with the help of Fisher and his staff, Griffiths did the rest.
“Hey, let’s get back to that, let’s have some confidence,” Fisher said of his message to Griffiths last summer. “And he just worked all summer and got back to the player he hoped he could become. He did a lot of things that impact the game. I’m excited for what he can do this upcoming year.”
In addition to Griffiths, Temple is returning Olin Chamberlain Jr., Cam Wallace, and Mo Keita. Of the group, Wallace could make the biggest jump this season after averaging 2.1 points in 6.5 minutes per game a year ago.
Who’s Gone?
Of the players who are no longer with the program, the greatest impact will be felt by the losses of last season’s leading scorer, Derrian Ford, and second-leading scorer, Aiden Tobiason. That is more than 33 points per game Temple will need to replace.
Tobiason transferred to Syracuse after two solid seasons at Temple, most recently averaging 15.3 points and 3.7 rebounds last season. He was not a heralded recruit when Fisher signed him out of Delaware’s St. Elizabeth High School. Tobiason’s signing and development stand out as one of the highlights of Fisher’s tenure on North Broad.
“I’m just really happy for the year he had,” Fisher said. “Really, it’s a testament to him. He just worked and worked. Would you like to have him back? Absolutely. But it’s a new day and age; it’s a new world.”
In this world, a player of Tobiason’s stature commands an NIL price tag that a power conference roster accommodates. There are no hard feelings from Fisher.
“He’s someone I expect to stay in touch with for a long time,” the coach said.
Who’s New?
Temple brought in nine players through the transfer portal, with an apparent emphasis on experience. Here is a snapshot look at each with Fisher’s comments on players I asked about.
–Christian Beam, 7-foot-1, 255 pounds, senior, center: Woodland, Alabama native averaged 3.2 points and 3.9 rebounds for Georgia State last season.
–Dallis Dillard, 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, grad, guard: Harlem native played at renowned St. Raymond in high school and lit up Division II competition at Indiana University of Pennsylvania last season. He averaged 20.1 points and had four 30-point games in 2025–26. Fisher expects him to successfully make the jump to Division I.
Fisher says: “Older, very mature. We’re really excited to see him. We’ve seen some guys in our league have great years who have come from Division Two. We’re excited for what he’ll bring to our team.”
–Jason “Deuce” Drake, 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, senior, guard: Drake sat out last season at Indiana University with a toe injury after a breakout junior year at Drexel in 2023–24 when he averaged 11.1 points and 3.1 assists while shooting 39.6 percent from three-point range for coach Zach Spiker.
Fisher says: “Really good floor general. Can really shoot the basketball. Coach Spiker did a great job with him.”
–Sir Isaac Herron, 6-foot-10, 235 pounds, grad, forward: Houston native played three seasons at Oral Roberts after a one-year stint at Louisiana Tech. He contributed 4.6 points and 2.4 rebounds in 27 games for Oral Roberts last season.
Fisher says: “Great size. Older. Very mature. We love his ability to defend, rebound, and run.”
–Jordan Marsh, 5-foot-11, 160 pounds, senior, guard: One of two incoming 1,000-point career scorers, Marsh is transferring from USC, where he averaged 7.3 points in 28 games last season. He shined at UNC-Asheville in 2023–24, scoring 18.8 points per contest.
Fisher says: “He’s electric. He’s super fast.”
–Baboucarr Njie, 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, junior, forward: Temple fans likely will remember Njie, who dropped 25 points and 10 rebounds on the Owls in a game last season while playing for UTSA. Fisher helped recruit Babocarr’s brother, Kebba, to Penn State.
Fisher says: “He brings a different element. A guy who can guard any position. He can really rebound. Plays really hard. We love his versatility. His versatility, defensive ability, ability to score—we’ve seen it first-hand—he’s an all-around player.”
–Cam Scott, 6-foot-6, 175 pounds, sophomore, wing: A two-time Gatorade player of the year in South Carolina, Scott did not find his niche at the University of South Carolina. The former four-star recruit redshirted last season after averaging 2.5 points in 26 games the prior season. Much like Ford, who excelled at Temple after leaving his home state of Arkansas as a heralded high school player, Fisher thinks the change of scenery will benefit Scott.
Fisher says: “We love his size, ability to shoot, attack the paint, his length. We’re hoping he has a great year and gets an opportunity to showcase it.”
–Edwin Suarez Jr., 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, senior, forward: The Reading native played at Muhlenberg High School and had a strong campaign last season at Weber State, averaging 9.2 points and 6.0 rebounds.
–Dez White, 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, senior, guard: Has scored 1,002 career points and will be playing at his fourth school in four years. Averaged 9.7 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 37.9 percent from three-point range last season at Oregon State.
Fisher says: “He shoots the lights out. Great family. Older, mature and we think he’s going to be really good for us in our system.”
Another player to keep an eye on is 6-foot-4 freshman guard Derrick Morton-Rivera, who left Father Judge as the school’s all-time leading scorer (1,468 points) while helping the Crusaders to back-to-back Philadelphia Catholic League titles.
What’s Next?
Fisher enters his fourth season after going 49-51 overall and 22-32 in the conference so far on North Broad Street. On paper, this looks like the best roster he has assembled. The Owls made a surprise run to the conference tournament finals in the coach’s first season. It seems reasonable to expect Temple to contend in The American this season and be in play for the conference’s automatic NCAA bid. The Owls will be looking for their first berth in the Big Dance in eight years.
To have any shot at the postseason, building chemistry, as with any team today in college basketball, will be key. The men’s basketball social media account has shown the Owls bonding on and off the court, including down the shore, at the All-Star home run derby, playing miniature golf, and hanging out together.
“We kind of know what we need to do to keep getting better and keep improving and get where we want to go,” Fisher said.
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Aaron Bracy has covered sports in Philadelphia for nearly three decades for various publications and as a freelancer for the Associated Press. His first book, A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003–04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks (Brookline), can be ordered HERE. His second book, Are You Kidding Me? The Incredible, Inspiring Story of Allen Iverson and the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers (Brookline) is scheduled to be published in February 2027. You can preorder it HERE. Follow Bracy on social media HERE. Contact him at bracymedia@gmail.com.