BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball has announced the return of five backcourt players as Teagan Moore, Armelo Boone, LJ Hackman, Kade Unseld and Lawson Rice will continue their careers on The Hill in 2026-27.
5️⃣ Hilltoppers will return for 2026-27
— WKU Hilltopper Basketball (@WKUBasketball) May 4, 2026
Lock in your season tickets below 👇
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WKU's returning backcourt provided a large share of the Hilltoppers' offense in 2025-26, combining to score 41.5 of WKU's 79.3 points per game (52.3%). Moore paced WKU and finished second in Conference USA at 18.7 points per outing, while Boone added 10.9 points per game in his debut season and Hackman contributed 8.5 points per contest.
The five guards also made a sizable impact across the stat sheet, accounting for 310 of the Hilltoppers' made free throws (49.3%) and averaging 16.3 rebounds per game (36.7%) while logging 38.0% of the available minutes. They combined for 114 steals (46.7%), 170 assists (39.9%) and knocked down 92 made 3-pointers, representing 34.1% of the team's output from beyond the arc.
Moore, a rising redshirt junior from Dry Ridge, Kentucky, returns to The Hill following one of the most productive and efficient seasons in recent program history that saw him earn All-CUSA First Team and NABC All-District Second Team honors. He averaged 18.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting 52.9% from the field, 42.9% from 3-point range and 80.0% at the free throw line, ranking second in CUSA in scoring and third in field goal percentage. His 18.7 points per game marked the highest single-season scoring average by a Hilltopper since Courtney Lee in 2007-08.
Boone, a rising sophomore from Lexington, Kentucky, returns after emerging as one of CUSA's top newcomers in 2025-26. He appeared in 29 games with 11 starts and finished as WKU's fourth-leading scorer, averaging 10.9 points, a team-high 6.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 24.4 minutes per game. Boone tied for a league-best four CUSA Freshman of the Week honors and became the first WKU freshman with four or more steals in a game since 2011, as well as the first in program history to record four-plus steals in his collegiate debut. He posted three double-doubles, the most by a WKU freshman since Charles Bassey in 2018-19.
Hackman, a rising senior from Columbus, Mississippi, returns after appearing in all 32 games with 21 starts in 2025-26. He averaged 8.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals in 21.7 minutes per game, reaching double figures 13 times. From Feb. 5-28, he delivered one of his best stretches of the year, averaging 13.4 points over seven games while shooting 50.0% from the field and 86.1% at the free throw line.
Unseld, a rising redshirt sophomore from Bowling Green, Kentucky, appeared in 22 games with four starts in 2025-26. He scored 15 points off the bench on 5-of-8 shooting and 4-of-7 from 3-point range with two steals and a block in a win over Bethel (Tenn.), then posted a career-high 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting and 5-of-12 from long distance with four rebounds and two steals in a 65-60 road victory at Middle Tennessee. Unseld also contributed on the glass, totaling 38 rebounds and grabbing six boards off the bench in back-to-back outings against Jax State and FIU.
Rice, a rising redshirt freshman from Morgantown, Kentucky, did not see action during the 2025-26 season while recovering from a leg injury. The former Butler County standout finished his high school career with 1,533 points and 892 rebounds, helping lead the Bears to their first-ever 3rd Region Championship and KHSAA Sweet 16 appearance in 2023-24, while earning First Team All-3rd Region honors.
Season tickets for WKU Hilltopper Basketball are now on sale for the 2026-27 season, with men's season tickets starting as low as $75 per seat (plus an additional HAF donation). Fans can secure their seats by clicking HERE, calling 1-800-5-BIGRED or visiting the WKU Ticket Office at E.A. Diddle Arena. New this year, Priority I-III men's basketball season ticket prices have been significantly reduced, with Priority I now $300 per seat, Priority II at $250 and Priority III at $200 per seat, each requiring an additional HAF donation.
How to follow WKU Hilltopper Basketball: For complete information on WKU Hilltopper Basketball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @WKUBasketball on Instagram and X.
