Prim Roongruangyot
The University of San Francisco men’s and women’s basketball programs are gearing up for a new chapter, welcoming a talented group of transfers set to make immediate impacts in the 2025-26 season. Here are some of the standout recruits.
Men’s Basketball New Talent
Head Coach Chris Gerlufsen has strengthened his roster with two crucial additions: Serbian sharpshooter Vukasin Masic and former Oregon forward Mookie Cook.
Masic, a 6’5″ guard from Belgrade, Serbia, provides extensive experience from stints at the University of Portland, University of Maine, and Hofstra University. Masic averaged double figures in the West Coast Conference (WCC) over the previous two seasons, shooting a collective 38% from three. This season with the Portland Pilots, he averaged 10.6 points, 3.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds, culminating in a 26-point performance with seven three-pointers against Pepperdine University in the WCC tournament on March 7. Masic, known for his shooting ability and strong basketball IQ, is projected to be a consistent force for the Dons in his final collegiate season.
Masic is joined by Cook, a 6’6″ forward from Portland, Oregon. Cook, a former McDonald’s All-American and top-25 recruit nationally, played two seasons at Oregon under head coach Dana Altman. In his first season at Oregon, Cook was limited to only five games due to ankle surgery. He played in 24 games the following season and acquired postseason experience, which included a six-point performance in the Ducks’ NCAA Tournament victory over Liberty University on March 21. With a large portion of USF’s backcourt leaving, Cook will get several opportunities to showcase his agility, versatility and defensive skill.
Women’s Basketball Adds Key Pieces for next Season
captured from @usfdonsmbb on Instagram
On the women’s side, Head Coach Molly Goodenbour has announced the additions of sophomore Candy Edokpaigbe and Mara Neira.
Edokpaigbe, a transfer guard from Seattle University, is coming off a strong freshman season in which she led the Redhawks in scoring with 11.1 points per game while also averaging 5.1 rebounds and shooting 51.9 percent from the field. Her gutsy style of play garnered her All-WAC Freshman Team recognition. Edokpaigbe, a native of Naples, Italy, also demonstrated her defensive instincts, averaging 1.8 steals per game and recording two double-doubles this season. Before moving to Seattle, she honed her skills in Italy’s competitive club system, playing for Faenza Basket Project and Pallacanestro Vigarano.
“She has exceptional athleticism and uses assertive play to draw fouls and reach the free-throw line at a high rate. She also brings tenacious on-ball defense and will be a solid rebounder,” Goodenbour said.
Neira, a seasoned guard who has previously played for Presbyterian College and Appalachian State University, will also join the Dons. At Presbyterian, Neira helped the Blue Hose to their first NCAA Tournament berth, scoring 11.2 points per game and setting a program single-game record with seven threes. At Appalachian State, she led the team in steals and three-point shooting while also scoring 20 points in several games. Throughout her Division I career, Neira has consistently supplied perimeter shooting, ball-handling, and leadership, which are characteristics that USF will rely upon.
“Her ability to knock down perimeter shots consistently will help keep defenses honest. She is an intelligent ball player, and her experience getting to the NCAA tournament at Presbyterian will be valuable as we try to reach that same goal with our team,” said Goodenbour.
