2026 MAC Defensive Player of the Year comes to Cincinnati after two seasons at Bowling Green
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bearcats have officially added one of the most disruptive defensive players in college basketball.
First-year head coach Jerrod Calhoun announced Tuesday that Javontae Campbell has officially signed with Cincinnati, bringing the 2025-26 MAC Defensive Player of the Year to Clifton for the 2026-27 season. Campbell will have one season of eligibility remaining.
“Javontae comes from a great program in Bowling Green and tremendous coach in Todd Simon,” Calhoun said. “I think he’ll be really good in our system because he can put a large amount of pressure on the rim. Obviously, his steal numbers are significant, but his overall defensive mentality will be a tremendous asset. He’s a tremendous person who really wants to win.”
A Proven Star at Bowling Green
Campbell spent the last two seasons at Bowling Green, appearing in 64 games and establishing himself as one of the most productive players in the Mid-American Conference.
During the 2025-26 season, the Muskogee, Oklahoma, native led the nation with 3.0 steals per game while averaging 18.7 points, 5.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds per contest.
His production earned him MAC Defensive Player of the Year, All-MAC First Team honors and finalist recognition for the Lefty Driesell Award, which recognizes the top defensive player in college basketball.
Campbell’s rise at Bowling Green followed an impressive first season with the Falcons. In 2024-25, he averaged 14.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.8 steals per game.
A Defensive Guru
Campbell’s defining trait is his relentless defensive impact.
He broke Bowling Green’s single-season steals record in back-to-back seasons, recording 90 steals as a junior before raising the mark to 97 as a senior.
Those numbers demonstrate more than Campbell’s ability to gamble for turnovers. His quickness, anticipation and aggressive on-ball pressure allow him to consistently disrupt opposing offenses and create transition opportunities.
That defensive mentality could make him an especially valuable addition to Calhoun’s Cincinnati roster.
The Bearcats are bringing in a player who has already established himself as one of the nation’s premier perimeter disruptors.
Putting Pressure on the Rim
Campbell’s value isn’t limited to what he does defensively.
Offensively, he relies heavily on his speed and aggressiveness to attack the paint. His downhill style allows him to consistently get past defenders and put pressure on opposing interior defenses.
Despite his size, Campbell is an exceptional rim finisher who isn’t afraid to attack bigger players around the basket.
That aggressive mentality also makes him one of the more effective foul-drawers in the country.
Campbell ranked in the 96th percentile nationally in foul-drawing rate, averaging more than six free-throw attempts per game. His ability to get downhill and force defenders to make difficult decisions should give Cincinnati another reliable way to generate offense.
More Than Just a Scorer
While Campbell has developed into a high-level scorer, his playmaking ability makes him even more valuable.
He finished in the 95th percentile nationally in assist rate, demonstrating that he can operate as both a primary and secondary creator.
When Campbell gets into the paint and forces the defense to collapse, he has shown an ability to make smart drive-and-kick reads and find teammates for open opportunities.
That versatility should allow Calhoun to use Campbell in multiple roles depending on the matchup.
He doesn’t necessarily have to dominate the ball to impact the game.
From Northern Oklahoma to the Big 12
Campbell’s path to Cincinnati has included stops at both the junior college and Division I levels.
Before arriving at Bowling Green, Campbell spent two seasons at Northern Oklahoma, appearing in 51 games and earning honorable mention NJCAA All-American honors.
He transferred to Bowling Green ahead of the 2024-25 season and immediately became one of the Falcons’ most important players.
Over his two seasons at Bowling Green, Campbell appeared in 64 games and developed into a legitimate two-way star, culminating in his MAC Defensive Player of the Year campaign as a senior.
Now, he gets the opportunity to take the next step in the Big 12.
Another Important Piece for Jerrod Calhoun
For Calhoun, Campbell provides a combination of defensive pressure, scoring, playmaking and physicality that can translate into several different roles.
His ability to create turnovers gives Cincinnati a proven defensive weapon, while his downhill offensive game gives the Bearcats another player capable of putting pressure on the rim.
Most importantly, Campbell brings a defensive identity that fits naturally into what Calhoun is building in Cincinnati.
After establishing himself as one of the nation’s best defensive players at Bowling Green, Campbell will now get his opportunity to bring that same intensity to Clifton.
With one season of eligibility remaining, the 2026-27 campaign gives Campbell one final opportunity to make an impact at the highest level of college basketball.
And Cincinnati is counting on him to make it count.
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