The Wayne State University men’s basketball program announced on May 11 that it has signed four high school student athletes for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Head coach Bryan Smothers, entering his fifth year, will welcome forwards Braden James and Jimmy Miller, as well as guards Da’ron Mason and Julius Wilson to the Warriors roster this fall.
The addition of these players comes after Wayne State graduated seven players from its previous squad, which finished with a 13-14 overall record and a 10-10 mark in league play. The new recruits are expected to contribute both on and off the court as the team prepares for next season.
James was recognized as one of the top big men in Michigan during his high school career at Grand Ledge High School. The coaching staff said, “Braden proved to be one of the best big men in the state for multiple years during his high school and AAU career, capping with an All-State Honorable Mention selection his senior year. It was evident early in the recruiting process that Braden and his family are great fits for our program.” They added that James is “just scratching the surface” of his potential.
Mason joins from Bloomfield Hills High School where he was named Detroit Free Press Player of the Year after averaging over 18 points per game. The coaching staff said, “Da’ron is a two-way player that has as high of a ceiling as any guard that we have coached. He competes with tenacity, enthusiasm, and love for the game… Da’ron will be a core piece for our success in the years to come.” Miller arrives from Schoolcraft High School with First Team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors; coaches described him as having “a chance to be a high-level collegiate player due to the unique combination of size, skill and athleticism.” Wilson played at L’Anse Creuse North under coach Kurt Wilson; according to coaches: “Julius demands respect… His passion for Wayne State was clear in our recruitment and we look forward to coaching him in Green and Gold.”
The Wayne State Warriors Men’s Basketball program belongs to Wayne State University athletics department and serves Detroit as part of its major urban public-university athletic initiatives. The team competes in NCAA Division II within the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), maintains records documenting historical achievements such as GLIAC Player of the Year honors or NCAA Regional All-Tournament selections, recognizes an all-time list of top players from its history, according to the official website.
Looking ahead, Smothers said he expects these incoming freshmen will help shape future seasons at Wayne State both academically and athletically.
