So ill: Saluki standout Rolyns Aligbe joins Xavier

TL;DR

Rolyns Aligbe, a standout forward from Southern Illinois, has joined Xavier, adding depth to their roster. He averaged 9.5 points and 7.4 rebounds last season, showcasing elite rebounding skills.

Key points

Rolyns Aligbe joins Xavier from Southern Illinois
He averaged 9.5 points and 7.4 rebounds last season
Aligbe had a significant improvement in offensive efficiency
His younger brother Harrison also joins Xavier
Coach Pitino continues to enhance the team's roster

Rolyns AligbeHarrison AligbeXavierSouthern Illinois Salukis

Nov 26, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Southern Illinois Salukis forward Rolyns Aligbe (0) dunks the ball against the Memphis Tigers during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Wesley Hale-Imagn Images | Wesley Hale-Imagn Images One thing Xavier still needed was a little depth. Sure, they had retained their best player and the guy who was supposed to be their best player, added a point guard, added an elite defender, and added a shooter, but sometimes guys need to rest, right? Yes, Evan Miyakawa did say the roster as compiled was a top 25 type roster, but there’s always room for more talent. Enter Rolyns Aligbe. Rolyns is a large lad, standing 6-9 and weighing 240. As you can see above, there isn’t a lot of wasted timber on that frame. Last season, his sophomore year, Aligbe averaged 9.5/7.4/0.7 on 46.7% from the floor and 34.8% from three. He was 65th in the nation in defensive rebounding rate (23%) and 179th in offensive rebounding rate (11%). That’s elite type rebounding and it came with a 3.1% block rate and only moderate fouling issues. Aligbe took a massive jump forward in his sophomore year. His 108 offensive efficiency rating was up 21 points from the year before. He shot free throws 12% better than the year before. He was better from the floor, took 54 more threes, saw his usage increase, fouled less… you get the idea. He played 24.5 very effective minutes per game. Against Drake in the conference tournament Rolyns grabbed 16 rebounds, one of twice he did that and six times he had double digit rebounds. His best game was probably a Northern Iowa contest in which he went for 21/10/1, was 4-4 from deep, and committed only one foul in 32 minutes. Only six times in 32 games did he not have at least six rebounds. Joining Rolyns is his younger brother Harrison, a 6-8 forward from Prep in Barrington, Rhode Island. Harrison is a two star recruit who profiles far more as a wing than he does a post. He’s a solid shooter and defender who probably needs a bit of time to develop before he can be a consistent contributor. So, once again, Coach Pitino has out done himself. Can we just start the season now?

Q&A

What were Rolyns Aligbe's statistics during his sophomore year at Southern Illinois?

Rolyns Aligbe averaged 9.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 0.7 assists while shooting 46.7% from the floor and 34.8% from three.

How does Rolyns Aligbe's performance compare to his freshman year?

Aligbe saw a significant improvement, with his offensive efficiency rating increasing by 21 points and shooting free throws 12% better than his freshman year.

Who is Harrison Aligbe and how does he fit into Xavier's roster?

Harrison Aligbe is Rolyns' younger brother, a 6-8 forward from St. Andrews Prep, who is a two-star recruit and is expected to develop into a solid contributor for Xavier.