EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE men's basketball Head Coach Brian Barone has added more size and experience to his roster for 2025-26, announcing the addition of transfer Gestin Liberis (Havertown, Pennsylvania).

Liberis is a 6-foot, nine-inch, 215-pound forward who comes to SIUE after four seasons at Saint Francis.

 Liberis played in 87 games, making 32 starts over three seasons at SFU (missing 2024-25 season due to injury). He averaged 5.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game for his career.

"Gestin is a welcome addition for our program," Barone said. "Four years at the Division I level makes Gestin a valuable piece because of his experience and maturity. He was part of an NCAA Tournament team the same season we went to March Madness."

Leberis had his best season in 2025-26, appearing in 31 games while making 29 starts. He averaged 7.3 points and 5.2 rebounds a game while also blocking 18 shots.

"I'm excited to commit to a program that's building something special," Liberis said. "The coaching staff and their vision for the future made this an easy decision for me. I'm ready to get to work"

"The pedigree is exciting," Barone added. "He will be a graduate this spring, so he knows the commitment and discipline it takes to succeed on and off the court. What really stands out is the urgency and toughness he plays with every possession. He exemplifies the 'Find A Way' attitude we hold at SIUE, and we're looking forward to what he'll bring to our program."

The Cougars have enjoyed four consecutive winning seasons, including an Ohio Valley Conference Championship in 2025. At 19-13 it is also the third time in four seasons that SIUE has won at least 19 games.

Liberis is the third summer transfer announced by Barone, joining Jacob Martin (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) from Alabama and Gianni Cobb (Chicago) from Northern Illinois. They join four early signees: Jayden Riley (Oswego, Illinois), David Wilson (Norman, Oklahoma), Dorea "Kain" McCaskill (St. Louis) and Brennan Miller (Indianapolis) who were announced November.

SIUE returns seven players from the 2025-26 roster.