NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt men’s basketball head coach Mark Byington announced the addition of NC State transfer Mike James to the Commodores’ 2025-26 roster Tuesday.
Standing at 6-foot-5, James spent the previous season with the Wolfpack where he was sidelined with an injury. Prior to NC State, James played two seasons at Louisville where he averaged 11.3 points and 4.1 rebounds.
“Mike is very competitive and extremely hungry for success,” said Byington. “He’s had to overcome some challenges in his college career, and I believe he will show how talented he is this year. Mike can play multiple positions and contribute in all areas of the game. My favorite thing is he is obsessed with winning this year.”
James began his collegiate career in 2021-22 at Louisville where he redshirted after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in preseason practice. He returned to the court in 2022-23, starting all 32 games for the Cardinals while averaging 10.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in his first collegiate season. James ranked fourth in scoring among freshman in the ACC and shot 45.3 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from beyond the arc.
As a sophomore, James built upon his rookie success in averaging 12.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He started all 32 contests in his second season at Louisville. James scored in double figures in 22 games and averaged over 33 minutes per game in his sophomore campaign. He shot 34 percent from three on 106 attempts and also ranked among the best free throw shooters in the ACC at 81.8 percent.
He scored a career-high 26 points in a win over Miami in January 2024, playing 39 minutes in the contest. He also has a double-double to his name, pouring in 25 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against UMBC in nonconference action.
James has also excelled in the classroom, earning 2022-23 ACC All-Academic honors and is a two-time ACC Honor Roll recipient.
A native of Orlando, Florida, James was a consensus four-star and top-100 prospect coming out of high school. He played for Oak Ridge in Florida and was voted the 7A Player of the Year in his home state.
