The term twofer is fairly well known, threefer not as much. Count 5-foot-7 sophomore Dayton Magana of San Joaquin Delta College as affiliated with the latter. Coach Levi Sieg is aware of what he is getting as Magana has committed to Linfield College (OR): of being a basketball talent with multiple hoops skills, also an ace in the classroom plus a team leader on and off the court.
Why the choice of Linfield? "I was super excited after my visit as I've never been to Oregon and the scenery was great," Magana recalled. "I had a good experience with the guys on the team and the coaching staff was locked in on me. It was fulfilling and somewhat relieving" after he made his choice. Magana's decision came in late April.
Although he is a big scorer, Magana will be positioned at the point. As he put it, "it's sort of a given considering my stature."
Away from the court, Magana sports a 3.67 grade point average, he has earned Big 8 Academic All League honors and at the end of this semester he will have earned three AA degrees in science and mathematics, physical education and a basic associate degree during his three-year tenure in Stockton. A wrist injury unfortunately severely limited his playing time his regular sophomore season so he was able to return in 2023-24 still designated as a sophomore.
Magana will be a bit older as a transfer and feels confident that his experience will be beneficial. "I lead by example everyday, on a daily basis. But what I say, I back it up with what I do on the court."
Magana averaged a team high 18.7 points per game this past season alongside 3.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds. Add in a team-leading 42 steals and it's easy to see how critical his efforts were to Delta finishing with an 11-5 Big 8 Conference record. His production earned him a First Team All Big 8 Conference inclusion this season.
Two years earlier, Magana earned a spot on the California Community College All State Team, the sole sub-six-feet player chosen. He also was named the Big 8 Conference Most Valuable Player.
Asked to name his goals for next season, Magana offered, "win our conference and either make a deep run in the D3 national tournament or win it."
Magana will major in kinesiology. But first comes his plans for this summer. "I'll be working out with Calen Coleman of the Versus Hoop Academy. I want to improve my athleticism."
That doesn't bode well for Linfield's opponents in the next two years.
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