ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – Five GSAC men's basketball programs received national recognition in the 2026-27 Gared-NAIA Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Top 25 Poll, released Wednesday, October 21. Arizona Christian leads the conference at No. 3, followed by No. 17 The Master's and No. 20 Hope International, while Benedictine Mesa and Embry-Riddle received votes.
Arizona Christian enters the season as the highest-ranked GSAC program and received one first-place vote in the national poll. The Firestorm, who finished 25-8 last season, shared the 2025-26 GSAC regular-season championship with Hope International and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Championship.
The Firestorm return All-GSAC guard Rashaud Bradley, who shot 43 percent from three-point range last season. Arizona Christian also welcomes Spencer Langowski, an all-state transfer from Santa Rosa Junior College who averaged 15 points per game and shot 49 percent from beyond the arc in 2025-26.
Arizona Christian extends its active streak to 50 consecutive national polls, dating back to February 19, 2020. The Firestorm have appeared in 104 polls all-time and have reached No. 1 on four occasions, most recently November 27, 2024. Their current 50-poll streak is the longest in program history.
The Master's begins the season ranked No. 17 following a 21-10 campaign in 2025-26. The Mustangs return to the national Top 25, marking their 67th all-time appearance in the poll. The program has reached No. 1 nationally four times, most recently October 23, 2018, and owns a program-best streak of 33 consecutive ranked polls from January 31, 2017, through January 25, 2021.
Hope International checks in at No. 20 after posting a 26-7 record and sharing the GSAC regular-season championship last season. The Royals extend their active streak to eight consecutive national polls, dating back to November 12, 2025. During that stretch, Hope International climbed as high as No. 6 on February 11, 2026.
The Royals have appeared in 76 national polls all-time, highlighted by a No. 1 ranking on March 11, 2015. Their longest streak of consecutive Top 25 appearances stands at 31, spanning March 4, 2014, through December 6, 2016.
Benedictine Mesa and Embry-Riddle round out the conference's representation among teams receiving votes.
Grace (Ind.) earned the preseason No. 1 ranking with 14 first-place votes, followed by defending national champion Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) at No. 2 with four first-place votes. Arizona Christian collected the remaining first-place vote.
The 2026-27 NAIA men's basketball season officially tips off Thursday, October 22, with OUAZ opening the GSAC schedule on the road against Pacific Union at 4 p.m. PT.
Friday's five-game slate features Embry-Riddle facing Walla Walla in La Grande, Oregon, while OUAZ concludes its two-game visit to Pacific Union. Park Gilbert takes on Lewis-Clark State, La Sierra hosts Bethesda, and No. 3 Arizona Christian opens its campaign against Taylor at 6 p.m. PT.
Saturday's action includes Embry-Riddle facing Eastern Oregon, No. 20 Hope International hosting Carroll, Park Gilbert meeting Taylor, and Arizona Christian taking on Lewis-Clark State.
The opening stretch continues Monday, October 26, when Life Pacific hosts Bethesda, followed by Park Gilbert visiting Nelson (Ariz.) on Tuesday, October 27.
All home contests will be available to watch live on Overnght, the official streaming home of the GSAC.
The next NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll is scheduled for November 11, with additional fall rankings set for November 25 and December 16. The NAIA Men's Basketball National Selection Committee will assume responsibility for the Top 25 rankings beginning January 20, 2027.