Cincinnati’s reach in college basketball extends well beyond Fifth Third Arena.

A week and a half into the 2026-27 season, more than a dozen former Bearcats occupy Division I rosters across the country, from the Big 12 to the West Coast Conference. Several have wasted little time making an impact, while others continue their college careers at new stops. One familiar face will even line up against Cincinnati at UD Arena on Saturday.

With the season still in its early stages, here’s a look at how former Bearcats have performed through games played Nov. 10. Every 2026-27 statistical sample below covers three games or fewer.

Yes, we know not everyone wants to follow former players, however, fans reference these guys frequently in social comments and we thought it would be a good idea to get a check-in on everyone in one spot.

Off to a Hot Start

Keyshuan Tillery | Charlotte (American)

Sophomore guard | Cincinnati: 2025-26

Tillery spent his freshman season at Cincinnati before following Wes Miller to Charlotte. The sophomore has started all three games and logged at least 32 minutes in each appearance. He currently averages 24.3 points per game while shooting 50% from three (10-20) and 83.3% from the free-throw line (15-18).

Tillery announced himself in Charlotte’s season opener at Indiana State, pouring in 29 points on 9-15 shooting, including seven 3-pointers, in a 78-70 road victory. He followed that performance with 24 points against Georgia State and 20 against Seton Hall at the Palestra.

Three games into the season, Tillery has already put together three consecutive 20-point performances.

Rayvon Griffith | Cleveland State (Horizon League)

Senior guard/wing | Cincinnati: 2023-25

The former Taft standout began his college career at Cincinnati, spent a season at Kent State and now finds himself at Cleveland State. Griffith has started all three games and averages 24.3 points per contest while shooting 55.6% from the field (30-54).

He opened the season with 34 points on 13-20 shooting against Michigan-Dearborn before following up with 26 points on 12-17 shooting at Bowling Green.

Griffith has quickly established himself as one of Cleveland State’s primary scoring options.

Josh Reed | Penn State (Big Ten)

Graduate student forward | Cincinnati: 2022-25

Reed spent three seasons at Cincinnati, gradually working his way into a rotation role before returning to Penn State for a fifth college season. A court ruling cleared him to play, and he has started all three games for the Nittany Lions.

Reed averages 16 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 22-24 from the free-throw line. His best performance came against Chattanooga, when he scored 25 points on just eight field-goal attempts, converted 15 of 16 free throws and collected five steals in a 97-93 victory.

He also contributed 11 points and seven rebounds against Pitt.

Tyler Betsey | BYU (Big 12)

Junior forward | Cincinnati: 2024-25

Betsey appeared in 34 games as a freshman at Cincinnati before spending last season at Syracuse. Now at BYU, the junior has earned a starting spot on a 3-0 Cougars team and has provided exactly the kind of perimeter shooting the program wanted when he arrived.

Betsey averages 13 points per game and has already knocked down 12 three-pointers. Against Omaha, he erupted for 18 points in just 16 minutes, connecting on six of eight attempts from beyond the arc.

He also opened the season with 15 points and seven rebounds in BYU’s 94-83 victory over Ohio State in Salt Lake City.

Cincinnati will get another look at Betsey when the Bearcats travel to Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 6, for a matchup at the Marriott Center.

Shon Abaev | Florida State (ACC)

Sophomore forward | Cincinnati: 2025-26

The former McDonald’s All-American started 12 of his 24 appearances during his freshman season at Cincinnati. Now at Florida State, Abaev has started all three games and averages 12 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

His strongest performance came in a victory over Troy, where he recorded 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists. He followed that outing with 10 points against Florida.

Abaev has shown an ability to contribute across the stat sheet, giving the Seminoles production as a scorer, rebounder and facilitator.

Halvine Dzellat | Seattle U (WCC)

Senior center | Cincinnati: 2024-26

Dzellat spent two seasons developing at Cincinnati before moving to Seattle. The senior has earned a starting role and averages 11.5 points and nine rebounds through two games while shooting 8-12 from the field.

He opened the season with a double-double against Hawai’i, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Dzellat followed that performance with 13 points and eight rebounds in a victory over Portland State.

The Former Bearcat on Saturday’s Schedule

Jalen Haynes | Dayton (Atlantic 10)

Graduate student forward | Cincinnati: 2025-26

Haynes spent last season on Cincinnati’s roster while recovering from a knee injury. He now provides Dayton with another frontcourt option, coming off the bench in each of his first two appearances.

After sitting out the Flyers’ season opener against NJIT, Haynes made his debut against Northern Illinois before appearing again against Siena.

He has made all five of his field-goal attempts and averages 6.5 points per game. His best outing came against Siena, when he scored eight points in 16 minutes.

Cincinnati travels to UD Arena on Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. matchup against Dayton. Haynes will have an opportunity to face his former team for the first time.

The Charlotte Connection

Tillery isn’t the only former Bearcat who followed Wes Miller to Charlotte. Two additional Cincinnati transfers joined the 49ers, who have started with a 2-1 record.

Jordi Rodriguez-Stegemeijer | Charlotte (American)

Sophomore guard/forward | Cincinnati: 2025-26

Rodriguez-Stegemeijer has started all three games for Charlotte, averaging 2.7 points while playing between 12 and 22 minutes per night. The sophomore continues to carve out a role in Miller’s rotation.

Tyler McKinley | Charlotte (American)

Redshirt sophomore forward/center | Cincinnati: Two seasons

McKinley has come off the bench in all three games, averaging 3.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in approximately 15 minutes per appearance.

He made an early impact on the glass against Indiana State, grabbing 6 rebounds in Charlotte’s season opener.

More Former Bearcats Around the Country

Moustapha Thiam | Michigan (Big Ten)

Junior center | Cincinnati: 2025-26

Thiam anchored Cincinnati’s frontcourt last season, starting all 31 games and averaging 12.8 points and 7.1 rebounds. He also recorded 50 blocks and earned All-Big 12 honorable mention recognition.

The junior has moved on to Michigan, where he started the Wolverines’ matchup against UConn in Boston. Thiam finished with two points and five rebounds in 15 minutes.

The early numbers don’t tell the full story, but Thiam brings an established Big 12 résumé and valuable frontcourt experience to Ann Arbor.

Arrinten Page | Providence (Big East)

Senior forward | Cincinnati: 2024-25

Page appeared in 31 games during his Cincinnati tenure before transferring to Northwestern. He averaged 10.2 points per game last season and has since moved on to Providence, where he started the Friars’ season opener against Maine.

Sage Tolentino | UNC Asheville (Big South)

Redshirt senior forward | Cincinnati: 2022-24

The 7-footer spent two seasons at Cincinnati before transferring to UNC Asheville in 2024. Tolentino returns to the Bulldogs for his redshirt senior season.

JJ Rembert | McNeese (Southland)

Sophomore guard | Cincinnati roster: 2024-25

Rembert appeared on Cincinnati’s 2024-25 roster as a redshirt before continuing his career at McNeese. He has appeared in two games off the bench, including a performance against College of Biblical Studies in which he recorded seven points, four rebounds and five assists.

On Hold

Dan Skillings Jr. | Grand Canyon (Mountain West)

Fifth-year guard | Cincinnati: 2022-25

Skillings led Cincinnati in scoring during his sophomore season before spending last year at Baylor. He now appears on Grand Canyon’s roster as he awaits an eligibility decision.

His status remains one to watch as the season progresses.

The Takeaway

Former Bearcats have spread across college basketball, and several have already found success at their new destinations.

Tillery and Griffith headline the early scoring surge, with both averaging more than 24 points per game. Reed and Betsey have secured starting roles at high-major programs, while Abaev has emerged as a contributor at Florida State. Dzellat has also found a starting opportunity at Seattle.

The former Bearcats won’t have to wait long to cross paths with their old program.

Haynes and Dayton welcome Cincinnati to UD Arena on Saturday, marking the first matchup against a former Bearcat on this season’s schedule. Betsey and BYU await in January when the Bearcats travel to Provo.

No matter where their college careers take them, the former Bearcats remain connected to the program that helped launch their journeys.