Cincinnati Basketball Welcomes Back Jizzle James, Replacing Lucas Atauri on Roster
Cincinnati is adding a boost to its backcourt with the return of Jizzle James. The Bearcats have officially reinstated James to the basketball program after he was dismissed for personal reasons before the 2025-26 season. According to Bearcat Journal’s Keegan Knickoson, James will make his return to the court tonight against Alabama State.
James is taking the spot on the roster previously held by international guard Lucas Atauri, who has not seen any playing time this season. Atauri has been removed from the official roster as of today, with James filling his place.
Atauri had initially stepped in to replace James, but now James is stepping back in to replace Atauri. The situation began to unfold earlier this month when James attended the Tarleton State game and later traveled with the team for their recent loss to Georgia.
Cincinnati head coach Wes Miller spoke positively about James’ personal well-being, saying on December 1, “He’s enrolled here… he’s doing great, personally, and that’s what I care about. I’m really proud of him, and I’m glad he’s on campus, using our facilities.”
While Miller refrained from commenting on James’ role with the team at that time, he emphasized that James’ return was a positive personal development for the player and the program.
James, a 2025 All-Big 12 honorable mention, was Cincinnati’s leading scorer (12.7 points per game on 40% shooting) and assist leader (3.5 assists per game) last season. He was one of only three Bearcats to start all 35 games and scored in double digits 25 times.
The Bearcats have struggled at the guard position this season, with Day Day Thomas being the only reliable ball handler. James’ return is expected to help improve the half-court offense, especially in creating scoring opportunities during breakdown moments. Though not the most efficient player last year, his presence should help stabilize UC’s offensive play, which has dropped significantly this season, ranking below the 230s nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency on KenPom.
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