South Florida Men’s Basketball has selected graduate guard Mike James and senior guard Sonny Wilson as team captains for the 2026-27 season, head coach Chris Mack announced Sept. 22. The captains were chosen by a team vote as South Florida prepares for the first season under Mack. James and Wilson enter the season with a combined 185 collegiate games played and 2,094 points.
James is a 6-foot-5 guard who has played in 86 collegiate games and made 64 starts. He enters the season with 756 career points and 306 rebounds. James was the Florida Class 7A Player of the Year at Oak Ridge High School in Orlando and originally played for Mack at Louisville.
Wilson is a 6-foot-1 guard with 99 collegiate games played and 98 starts. He has recorded 1,338 points, 373 rebounds, 331 assists and 101 steals. Wilson was the Gatorade Michigan Player of the Year, played three seasons at Toledo and was a two-time All-MAC selection before transferring to South Florida.
Chris Mack Highlights Captains’ Leadership
Mack said James and Wilson stood out to South Florida’s staff and teammates during summer and preseason workouts. He also pointed to leadership as an important part of the team’s success. Mack expressed confidence in both guards as they take on the captaincy.
“Mike and Sonny are strong, veteran leaders who have stood out to our staff and their teammates on and off the court through our summer and preseason workouts,” Mack said. “Leadership is a key ingredient to any team’s success and we have tremendous confidence in Mike and Sonny stepping up to take on that challenge throughout the 2026-27 season.”
South Florida Opens 2026-27 Season Nov. 2
South Florida will host an exhibition game against St. Leo on Oct. 19 at the Yuengling Center in Tampa. The regular season will begin Nov. 2 against Charleston Southern at the same venue. The opener will start a 14-game non-conference schedule.
South Florida will also host Alabama on Dec. 19 at the Yuengling Center. The 2026-27 season marks Mack’s first at South Florida after the program named him its 13th head coach on March 25, 2026. South Florida did not return any players from its 2025-26 team, which went 25-9, reached the NCAA Tournament and won the American Conference regular-season and tournament championships.
FSB Take
James and Wilson give South Florida two experienced guards to lead the program into Mack’s first season. Their combined game experience and production provide a clear foundation for the captaincy group. The Oct. 19 exhibition against St. Leo and Nov. 2 opener against Charleston Southern will begin the team’s 2026-27 schedule.
Source: Original report