FAMU basketball recruiting: Who signed to Charlie Ward's 2026 class?

The program announced a slew of signees, nine to be exact, through the high school ranks, junior college, and the NCAA Transfer Portal.

The newcomers will join returners, led by guard Antonio Baker Jr., who averaged 9.9 points per game last season and ended the year on a burner, getting 13.3 points in the final eight games. Others set to stay on The Highest of Seven Hills are 6-foot-11 big men Tuscan Onuoha and potentially Miles Ndalama if granted an NCAA waiver.

<1 / 41

<2 / 41

<3 / 41

<4 / 41

<5 / 41

<6 / 41

<7 / 41

<8 / 41

<9 / 41

<10 / 41

<11 / 41

<12 / 41

<13 / 41

<14 / 41

<15 / 41

<16 / 41

<17 / 41

<18 / 41

<19 / 41

<20 / 41

<21 / 41

<22 / 41

<23 / 41

<24 / 41

<25 / 41

<26 / 41

<27 / 41

<28 / 41

<29 / 41

<30 / 41

<31 / 41

<32 / 41

<33 / 41

<34 / 41

<35 / 41

<36 / 41

<37 / 41

<38 / 41

<39 / 41

<40 / 41

<41 / 41

FAMU went 14-17 in Ward’s first season as a college head coach. The Heisman Trophy winner and former New York Knicks starting point guard also led the team to an 11-7 record in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and reached the league’s tournament semifinals.

Here’s a position-by-position look, including their season averages from last year, for who will be on Ward’s Rattlers for the 2026-2027 season.

<

• Chandler Davis, 6-foot-5, 185-pounds, Hillsborough College: 21.4 points per game, eight rebounds, 3.9 assists, one steal, 43 field goal percentage, 33 three-point percentage

• Jayden Joseph (three or four star), 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Gillion Academy: Five points per game, 1.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists (MaxPreps)

• Jaden Kempson, 6-foot-3, 175 pounds, Albany (New York): 10.2 points per game, 4.4 rebounds, three assists, 1.5 steals, 38 field goal percentage, 30 three-point percentage

• Ralph Martino Jr., 6-foot-6, 180 pounds, Saint Francis: 6.7 points per game, 2.4 rebounds per game, 1.4 assists per game, 55 field goal percentage, 50 three-point percentage

• Alex Montes, 6-foot-5, 197 pounds, Vincennes University: 5.6 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per game, 1.3 assists per game, 38 field goal percentage, 40 three-point percentage

• Ja’Quavis Willford, 6-foot-7, 180 pounds, Oregon State: 2.2 points per game, 0.8 rebounds

Chandler Davis, 6-foot-5, 185-pounds, Hillsborough College: 21.4 points per game, eight rebounds, 3.9 assists, one steal, 43 field goal percentage, 33 three-point percentage

Jayden Joseph (three or four star), 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Gillion Academy: Five points per game, 1.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists (MaxPreps)

Jaden Kempson, 6-foot-3, 175 pounds, Albany (New York): 10.2 points per game, 4.4 rebounds, three assists, 1.5 steals, 38 field goal percentage, 30 three-point percentage

Ralph Martino Jr., 6-foot-6, 180 pounds, Saint Francis: 6.7 points per game, 2.4 rebounds per game, 1.4 assists per game, 55 field goal percentage, 50 three-point percentage

Alex Montes, 6-foot-5, 197 pounds, Vincennes University: 5.6 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per game, 1.3 assists per game, 38 field goal percentage, 40 three-point percentage

Ja’Quavis Willford, 6-foot-7, 180 pounds, Oregon State: 2.2 points per game, 0.8 rebounds

Jakub Lomicka, 6-foot-10, 190 pounds, Suffield Academy: No stats found.

• Assane Mbaye, 7-foot-2, 190 pounds, Seton Hall: No stats.

• Joel Mokweza (three-star), 6-foot-9, 215 pounds, Prolific Prep: No stats found.

Assane Mbaye, 7-foot-2, 190 pounds, Seton Hall: No stats.

Joel Mokweza (three-star), 6-foot-9, 215 pounds, Prolific Prep: No stats found.

Gerald Thomas, III, is a multi-time national award-winning reporter for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.

Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU basketball recruiting: Who signed to Charlie Ward’s 2026 class?

Advertisement