DETROIT (7/16/2025) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team finalized its 2025-26 roster by going overseas and reeling in a large import as Australia's Xavier Istomin-Monroe has inked with the Titans.
 
The 7-1, 235-lb Istomin-Monroe hails from Sydney, Australia. He will be a freshman when he arrives on campus in the fall, bringing a championship resume to the Motor City after winning U-18 titles in both Canada and Australia.
 
"Xavier is an emerging big man who is long, athletic, and moves well for his size," said head coach Mark Montgomery. "He is still developing his all-around game, but gives us some size that is always needed."
 
Istomin-Monroe prepped at Royal Crown Academic School in Toronto last year, helping the team win a NPA title. He was tabbed the finals MVP after posting a season-high 22 points and eight rebounds in the championship game and also helped the school to back-to-back CIS crowns in 2023 and 2024. Overall, he averaged 12.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks as a Lion.
 
In his homeland, he has suited up for the City of Sydney basketball association for seven years, leading the team to a Melbourne Classic U-18 national title in 2023.
 
He is the eighth newcomer on the 14-man roster joining fellow incoming freshmen Zak Abdalla (Las Vegas, Nev./Trinity Prep), Jekel Cotton (Lima, Ohio/Lima Senior), Keshawn Fisher (Detroit, Mich./River Rouge) and Lance Stone (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) as well as transfers Ayden Carter (Fremont, Ohio/Fremont Ross/Walsh), London Maiden (Cleveland, Ohio/Richmond Heights/Blinn College ) and Tyler Spratt (Farmington, Mich./North Farmington/Cleveland State).
 
The Titans are set to bring back seniors Jared Lary, Legend Geeter, and Orlando Lovejoy, and sophomores Ryan Kalambay, Nate Johnson, and TJ Nadeau.
 
UDM also announced that transfer Joey Liedel (Mason, Mich./Mason/Kalamazoo Valley) has decided to withdraw from school to pursue another opportunity.