Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Josh Wang
Men’s Basketball Announces 2026 Signing Class
6/12/2026 11:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Lions welcome Cruz, Hornberger, Langford, Madueme, Nunn, Pratt, and Žarkovic to the program
NEW YORK — Columbia men's basketball coach Kevin Hovde announced the addition of seven newcomers ahead of the 2026-27 season. Luke Cruz, Gabe Hornberger, Michael Madueme, Trae Nunn, Josh Pratt, and Nino Žarković will enroll as first-years, while Douglas Langford (sophomore) enters the program after a season at San Jose State.
"We are extremely excited to welcome this group to Morningside Heights," said Hovde, who enters his second season as head coach. "They are all very talented basketball players, but most importantly they are all great fits for our program culturally. I'm confident they will represent Columbia very well on and off the court and help our program reach new heights."
2026 Columbia Men's Basketball Signees
#34 Luke Cruz
Forward | 6-9 | 225 lbs | Fair Haven, New Jersey | Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School
High School: Four-year varsity member of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School basketball team in Rumson, New Jersey… Shore Conference Player of the Year… 1000-point scorer… Central Jersey Group 2 State Champion… Senior year averaged 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game… Three-year varsity starter… Two-year varsity captain… High Honor Roll for four years… College Board National Hispanic Recognition Award… National Honor Society… 17U Puerto Rican National Team.
#0 Gabe Hornberger
Guard | 6-4 | 195 lbs | Nazareth, Pennsylvania | The Peddie School
High School: A June 2026 graduate of The Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey… Two-time First Team All-MAPL… Trentonian First Team All-Area… 1,000-point scorer.
#9 Michael Madueme
Guard | 6-5 | 185 lbs | Orlando, Florida | Lake Highland Preparatory School
High School: 2025 FACA District Player of the Year… Two-time Orlando Sentinel All-Area First Team… Two-time District Champion…1,000-point scorer… Central Florida Youth Hoops Player of the Year… Honor Roll and Dean's List recipient.
#13 Trae Nunn
Guard | 6-4 | 205 lbs | Dallas, Texas | Waxahachie High School/Dynamic Prep
High School: McDonald's All-American Nominee… Won the Overtime Elite Championship senior year… Over 100 three-pointers made in junior and senior seasons… Over 20 career double-doubles… Three-time First Team All-District… First Team All-Tournament (Kreul Classic in Florida - junior year)... Valedictorian and three-time Academic All-District…. WFAA Dallas Scholar Athlete of the Week… National Honor Society Member.
#1 Josh Pratt
Guard | 6-2 | 170 lbs | Columbus, Ohio | Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School/Aliquippa High School
High School: Three-time Player of the Year… Three-time First Team All-State… Two-time state champion… Scored a game-high 36 points in the PIAA state championship game against Holy Cross… Averaged 25 points, four rebounds, and six steals per game as a senior… Named WPIAL Class 3A Player of the Year… Class 5A player of the year… Scored over 1,700 career high school points… Honor roll all four years of high school.
#7 Douglas Langford
Forward | 6-8 | 230 lbs | Dangriga, Belize | San Jose State/St. Pius X - St. Matthias Academy
At San Jose State (2025-26): Appeared in 27 games, making five starts… Averaged 1.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game… Had four games with three blocks… Recorded season-highs of seven points and eight rebounds against San Diego State (12/30).
High School: Helped lead St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy to 72 wins over the past three years, including two league championships… All-time leading rebounder at St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy and is also second for most career points… On the honor roll all four years of high school… Played with the Oakland Soldiers on the Nike EYBL circuit, averaging five points and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 53% from the field across 22 games… NBA Basketball Without Borders MVP.
#12 Nino Žarković
Guard | 6-0 | 170 lbs | Zagreb, Croatia | Prva Gimnazija
At BC Dinamo Zagreb (2025–26): Played his first men's league season with BC Zagreb, averaging 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.... Season highs in senior competition: 40 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and four steals.
High School: Named to the U15 Croatian Championship All-Tournament Team in 2021... Played for the Croatian National Team at the 2022 FIBA U16 European Championship... Won the Croatian Cadet National Championship with BC Cibona…. In the U19 First League, led the league in scoring, averaging 26.8 points per game, including two 54-point performances.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia men's basketball, follow @CULionsMBB on X, Instagram, or on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
"We are extremely excited to welcome this group to Morningside Heights," said Hovde, who enters his second season as head coach. "They are all very talented basketball players, but most importantly they are all great fits for our program culturally. I'm confident they will represent Columbia very well on and off the court and help our program reach new heights."
#34 Luke Cruz
Forward | 6-9 | 225 lbs | Fair Haven, New Jersey | Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School
High School: Four-year varsity member of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School basketball team in Rumson, New Jersey… Shore Conference Player of the Year… 1000-point scorer… Central Jersey Group 2 State Champion… Senior year averaged 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game… Three-year varsity starter… Two-year varsity captain… High Honor Roll for four years… College Board National Hispanic Recognition Award… National Honor Society… 17U Puerto Rican National Team.
#0 Gabe Hornberger
Guard | 6-4 | 195 lbs | Nazareth, Pennsylvania | The Peddie School
High School: A June 2026 graduate of The Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey… Two-time First Team All-MAPL… Trentonian First Team All-Area… 1,000-point scorer.
#9 Michael Madueme
Guard | 6-5 | 185 lbs | Orlando, Florida | Lake Highland Preparatory School
High School: 2025 FACA District Player of the Year… Two-time Orlando Sentinel All-Area First Team… Two-time District Champion…1,000-point scorer… Central Florida Youth Hoops Player of the Year… Honor Roll and Dean's List recipient.
#13 Trae Nunn
Guard | 6-4 | 205 lbs | Dallas, Texas | Waxahachie High School/Dynamic Prep
High School: McDonald's All-American Nominee… Won the Overtime Elite Championship senior year… Over 100 three-pointers made in junior and senior seasons… Over 20 career double-doubles… Three-time First Team All-District… First Team All-Tournament (Kreul Classic in Florida - junior year)... Valedictorian and three-time Academic All-District…. WFAA Dallas Scholar Athlete of the Week… National Honor Society Member.
#1 Josh Pratt
Guard | 6-2 | 170 lbs | Columbus, Ohio | Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School/Aliquippa High School
High School: Three-time Player of the Year… Three-time First Team All-State… Two-time state champion… Scored a game-high 36 points in the PIAA state championship game against Holy Cross… Averaged 25 points, four rebounds, and six steals per game as a senior… Named WPIAL Class 3A Player of the Year… Class 5A player of the year… Scored over 1,700 career high school points… Honor roll all four years of high school.
#7 Douglas Langford
Forward | 6-8 | 230 lbs | Dangriga, Belize | San Jose State/St. Pius X - St. Matthias Academy
At San Jose State (2025-26): Appeared in 27 games, making five starts… Averaged 1.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game… Had four games with three blocks… Recorded season-highs of seven points and eight rebounds against San Diego State (12/30).
High School: Helped lead St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy to 72 wins over the past three years, including two league championships… All-time leading rebounder at St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy and is also second for most career points… On the honor roll all four years of high school… Played with the Oakland Soldiers on the Nike EYBL circuit, averaging five points and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 53% from the field across 22 games… NBA Basketball Without Borders MVP.
#12 Nino Žarković
Guard | 6-0 | 170 lbs | Zagreb, Croatia | Prva Gimnazija
At BC Dinamo Zagreb (2025–26): Played his first men's league season with BC Zagreb, averaging 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.... Season highs in senior competition: 40 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and four steals.
High School: Named to the U15 Croatian Championship All-Tournament Team in 2021... Played for the Croatian National Team at the 2022 FIBA U16 European Championship... Won the Croatian Cadet National Championship with BC Cibona…. In the U19 First League, led the league in scoring, averaging 26.8 points per game, including two 54-point performances.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia men's basketball, follow @CULionsMBB on X, Instagram, or on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballThursday, April 02
Friday, March 06
Saturday, February 28
Friday, February 27
