Jizzle James is officially back with Cincinnati Basketball, and it’s one of those updates that kind of sneaks up on you. The former four-star guard was removed from the team earlier this offseason, and now he’s back on the roster like nothing happened.
For Cincinnati, this becomes more of a necessity than anything else. James was expected to take a big step this season after flashing real upside under Wes Miller. In 2024-25, James posted 12.7 points, 3.5 assists, and three rebounds per game on 40% shooting from the field.
Miller’s squad this season has been pretty bad, to say it plainly. They sit 6-4 with losses to No. 6 Louisville, Eastern Michigan, Xavier, and Georgia. Outside of the Louisville loss, that’s a pretty brutal stretch of losses.
There’s also the locker room part of this. Anytime a guy leaves the team and comes back, there’s going to be some questions, but from the sound of it, it wasn’t a messy situation, just some quiet issues behind the scenes. James kept things quiet, the staff kept the door open, and now it’s just about moving forward. If he’s bought in, and it looks like the flashes we’ve seen in the past, this could end up being one of the better midseason boosts in the Big 12.
It’s also worth noting that Cincinnati’s schedule isn’t doing them any favors. The Bearcats need depth, they need backcourt toughness, and they need guys who aren’t afraid to go take shots when things get tight. James checks all those boxes. He’s not a finished product yet, but he’s talented, and he’s been in the system long enough to know what’s expected.
Bottom line: Jizzle James is back, and that’s great news for Cincinnati. The Bearcats aren’t out here making headlines every week, but getting one of your top guards back right before the grind of conference play? That’s the kind of quiet win you take.
