Dayton Flyers Begin Summer Training as New Faces Join the Team

On June 1, the Dayton Flyers men's basketball team began their summer practice sessions, marking a significant step towards the upcoming 2026-27 season set to commence in November. Players returned to campus last weekend, with official UD social media accounts sharing images and videos of both returning members and new recruits arriving.

Recently, Dayton secured commitments from six transfer players during a six-day span in April. The new additions include Travis Perry, a 6-foot-1 guard who has previously played for Kentucky and Mississippi; Jalen Haynes, a 6-8 forward who missed last season at Cincinnati due to a knee injury; and Tristian Ford, a 6-3 guard who redshirted during his freshman year at Murray State. Other transfers include Zaide Lowery, a 6-5 guard from Marquette; Grant Randall, a 6-9 forward who spent his first two years at Quinnipiac; and Landen Joseph, a 6-2 guard who played his freshman season at Marshall.

All of these players signed with Dayton shortly after their commitments, with the exception of Haynes, who was still unsigned when coach Anthony Grant spoke with the Dayton Daily News during his offseason interview on May 4. However, Haynes has since signed with the team. His health remains uncertain for the summer, as he recently posted on Instagram, sharing a photo of himself resting in bed with his knee elevated. He reflected on his recovery journey, stating, "Two surgeries in 8 months is something I could (not) ever imagine in my basketball career. I thank God for giving me the strength to keep going and for the ones who forgot about me, it's gonna be a scary sight."

Haynes underwent his first knee surgery in late October in Cincinnati after sustaining an injury. The summer practice period is scheduled to last for eight weeks, typically beginning in mid-June and concluding in early August.