Seton Hall basketball has officially completed its roster for the 2026-27 season with the recent addition of Theo Airhienbuwa, a 6-foot-7 wing from Italy. This announcement comes just three days after the commencement of the fall semester, following a significant overhaul of the team's lineup. Airhienbuwa joins the Pirates as the second international player added to the roster this week, alongside Israeli forward Ilay Dolinski.
Airhienbuwa, who is 20 years old and hails from Verona, brings valuable international experience to Seton Hall. During the 2025-26 season, he played for Trento in Italy's top-tier Serie A and participated in the EuroCup, where he appeared in 10 games. In those outings, he averaged 1.6 points and 1.0 rebounds in approximately 6.5 minutes per game, shooting 38 percent from the field. His performance in Serie A was slightly better, where he averaged 2.5 points and 0.5 rebounds over 11 games, hitting 50 percent of his shots from the field.
One notable aspect of Airhienbuwa’s performance is his efficiency; across 111 total minutes of play for Trento, he committed only three turnovers, showcasing his ability to contribute without making costly mistakes. He played alongside several notable players, including former Michigan guard Devonte Jones and former Davidson standout Peyton Aldridge, which should help him transition to the collegiate level.
In addition to his club experience, Airhienbuwa has represented Italy at the youth level, competing for the under-18 and under-20 national teams. His most significant achievement came when he helped lead the under-20 squad to a gold medal at the 2025 European U-20 Championship, where he was recognized as one of the top players.
With Airhienbuwa's signing, Seton Hall's roster now stands at 14 players. The Pirates had previously seen two spring commitments fall through, including 6-foot-8 Rutgers transfer Chris Nwuli, who is currently tending to family matters in Las Vegas, and 6-foot-9 Brazilian forward Nathan Mariano, who was unable to meet NCAA eligibility requirements after spending time in the G League.
Head coach Shaheen Holloway has emphasized the importance of a deep bench, although he typically utilizes a rotation of around 10 players as the season progresses. The maximum roster size is 15, but Holloway’s strategy suggests that he prefers quality over quantity when it comes to player roles.
The current roster features a diverse mix of talent, including four players with international backgrounds: Airhienbuwa from Italy, Dolinski from Israel, guard Mihailo Petrovic from Serbia, and center Abdulai Fanta Kabba from Sierra Leone. Additionally, the team boasts three guards with prior Big East experience, further enhancing their competitive edge.
As the Pirates prepare for the upcoming season, the projected starting lineup includes Del Jones at point guard, Simeon Wilcher at shooting guard, Devin Williams at power forward, and Terry Copeland at center. The wing position remains open, with Airhienbuwa and other players vying for a starting role.
Leave a Comment