News Bits
""You don't have to go to a high major," Herb Sendek and Santa Clara's consistency is paying off"
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"Bell named Men’s Basketball Special Assistant to the Head Coach at Stanford"
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"California Prep Standout JRob Croy Signs with Gaels on National Signing Day"
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"Gaels Return to the Aussie Pipeline, Ink Flynn Pavely on National Signing Day"
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"SPARTANS SIGN FOUR STAR PROSPECT ROKIEM GREEN"
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"Coach Mark Madsen added 6’ 5” Small Forward Dionycius Bakare from Vancouver, BC. Bakare was a Penn State signee through the summer, but decommitted in September. Multiple schools were quick to act, and Cal offered Bakare in early October. Bakare had penciled in Cal in late October. Today, he made it official. Bakare chose Cal out of a final four group that included Illinois, Kentucky, and Alabama. Bakare brings explosiveness to the swing spot reminiscent of early Jaylon Tyson."
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"Home Again: Annie Ward and Kevin Warren Return to Build the Next Era of Chico State Basketball"
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6-foot-7, 220 pound Will (Archie Williams High) Heimbrodt was a minimal contributor for Seattle University last season (2.0 points per game) but he has exploded his production thus far in 2025-26 as a redshirt sophomore. Try averages of 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 2.0 assists after two games. Heimbrodt is shooting 63% overall, 56% on three-point attempts.
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6-foot-1 Jorren (Washington High) Edwards transferred from Las Positas College to Hope International in southern California for the 2025-26 season and, after three games games, he leads HI with 17 assists. Never a big scorer, more a stat stuffer, Edmonds is averaging 6.7 points plus 5.0 rebounds alongside a team high 11 steals.
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6-foot-7 junior Tyler (Granada High) Harris is Vanderbilt's second-leading scorer this season at 15.3 points per game while playing in 22.5 minutes a contest. He is shooting 58%, 35% and 80% respectively. Harris is also grabbing a second-on-the-team 4.7 rebounds an outing. His five blocked shots (in three games) is best on his squad.
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CalHiSports offers a list of CA hoops high school transfers. Some that jumped out (no pun intended):
- Nicky Gklaros-Stavropoulos (6-11) from St. Francis to Archbishop Mitty (San Jose)
- Jackson Scarborough (6-9) from San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno) to Clovis
- Emmanuel Ahamefule (6-9) from United Kingdom to Riordan (San Francisco)
- Gabrielius Kerys (6-3) from Lithuania to Riordan (San Francisco
- Ron Selleaze Jr. (6-3) from Salesian (Richmond) to San Lorenzo
- Elijah Stanley (6-2) from Salesian (Richmond) to Amador Valley (Pleasanton)
- Zander Jensen (6-3) from Redwood (Visalia) to Hanford
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"The McFerren Miracle Lives On: Chico State Legend Gives Back to Future Wildcats"
Jalen McFerren is out of Castro Valley High and could have played D1 but found his hoops home at Chico State.
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"Through grief and loss, Will Berg is finding his joy again at Wichita State"
Not NorCal-related but an very touching read especially so for those who lost a parent early.
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More Early Season Games
Santa Clara jumped out to a 39-20 halftime lead en route to an 87-68 bigtime road defeat of Xavier before 10,000 Ohioans. The Broncos finished shooting 55% and attempted just 13 three-pointers. Elijah (West Valley College) Mahi led with 18 points.
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Santa Clara endures transfers as most programs do, grabs some new talents and continues its winning mojo as Coach Herb Sendek's crew bopped Nevada 98-83 with 6-foot-4 sophomore guard Christian Hammond tallying 27 points in 31 minutes on the court.
Stanford took down visiting Montana 77-68, winning by five and then four points in each half.
Pacific headed to Orange County and took the measure of Cal State Fullerton 85-73 as 44-24 first half Tiger advantage held up. TJ Wainright enjoyed a return to the Southland leading the victors with 20 points.
Money (Oakland High) Williams was on the money for 31 points in the Grizz 90-82 success versus Cal Poly. He shot 11-18, 4-8 and 5-6. 6-foot-4 newcomer junior Tyler (San Ramon Valley High) Isaak aided the Montana cause with 19 points, a team high seven rebounds, plus three assists. Peter Bandelj paced the Mustangs with 21 points.
Host Pacific downed Long Beach State 69-66 with Ralph Elias again leading the Tigers in scoring with 15 points. Freshman Gavin (Modesto Christian High) Sykes paced The Beach with 20 points in 30 minutes and pulled down seven rebounds, all likely in view of a number of MCH fans who made the drive.
Behind 23 points from senior point Ryan (Dougherty Valley High) Beasley, host USF beat Portland State 80-70. A 36-20 halftime score made all the difference.
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USF used a 39-27 second 20 minutes points differential to come from behind and down Bradley 75-64. Point Ryan (Dougherty Valley High) Beasley filled the stat sheet for the Dons with 23 points (shooting 8-12, 3-6, 4-4), five rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals as the victors shot 25-50 overall.
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"Dons Land Local Guard Andrew Hillman"
Hillman is a 6-foot-4 guard from nearby Archbishop Riordan.
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"San Francisco Signs Dynamic Guard Mason Magee"
Magee is a 6-footer out of Arizona.
UC Davis and Sacramento State paired up in Davis (so it's a road game for Coach Henry Bibby's squad) and Aggie guard Connor (Dougherty Valley High) Sevilla delighted the home crowd with 20 points on 7-11, 4-8, 2-3 shooting as UCD won 77-73. The Hornets led by two at the half.
On the basis of a 37-26 second half edge, Sacramento State got by visiting Presbyterian 64-62 as big man Jeremiah Cherry was prominent again with team highs of 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Blue Hose missed a jumper at the buzzer in going down to defeat.
California moved 3-0 on the season with a 93-65 homecourt drubbing of Cal State Fullerton. For the Bears, Dai Dai Ames (real first and middle names are Darrin Sylvestor) tallied 24 points in 34 minutes and Justin Pippen (father is Scottie) stuffed the stat sheet via 14 points, nine boards, six assists and a pair of steals. 6-foot-9 Titan Landon (Will C. Wood High/Menlo College) Seamon (photo below) scored 20 points (9-14 shooting) in 26 minutes.
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He's back healthy for the Illini: "(Andrej (Jesuit High/Stanford/California) Stojakovic scores 23 and blocks late 3 attempt..."
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The Bears roared into Manhattan but were swatted around by the Kansas State Wildcats 55-34 after the initial 20 minutes. However, they roared back to finish down by just three points, 99-96. Cal shot 57% but allowed KSU to shot 64%. Game report.
As expected, host UC Irvine blasted Lincoln University 130-63 with 6-foot-10 freshman Nes (Archbishop Riordan) Emeneke totaling a double-double of 20 points and 10 boards plus five blocked shots in just 17 minutes of court time.
St. Mary's has no trouble with visiting Ohio University at 90-60 with only one Gael at 28 minutes (the most) of playing time.
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Behind 23 points in 26 minutes from sophomore guard Mikey (Prolific Prep) Lewis, host St. Mary's posted another rout, 80-49, over North Texas.
New Mexico bopped UC Riverside 82-68 in The Pit but noteworthy for the latter was sophomore De'Undrae (Salesian Prep) Perteete Jr. tallying 12 points in 27 minutes on 4-4 shooting from long distance.
Guard Money (Oakland High) Williams scored 30 points in Montana's 102-93 takedown of UNLV in Sin City. He added eight assists. Teammate Te'Jon Sawyer just missed a double-double, providing 18 points plus nine rebounds.
Aiden (Campolindo High/St. Mary's) Mahaney contributed 17 points in UC Santa Barbara's 92-87 defeat of Sacramento State.
The score was 46-23 Michigan State after 20 minutes. But the West Coast Spartans came within 10 at 67-57 with 4:40 remaining. However, Coach Tom Izzo's squad pulled back together after a timeout and prevailed over San Jose State University 79-60.
On the road, Loyola Marymount topped UTEP 71-58 behind 18 point from Myron (Vacaville High) Amey Jr. who added five boards. He shot 7-12 overall, 4-8 from long distance.
Dartmouth fell 82-75 to Bryant although sophomore guard Connor (Clovis North High) Amundsen finished with 15 points plus six assists and just one turnover in 30 minutes for the defeated.
Northern Colorado defeated Pepperdine 88-79 in overtime led by Quinn (Bellarmine College Prep/West Valley College) Denker's 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Community College Balling
"Banks Puts One In The Vault For LPC"
Coach James Giacomazzi's Las Positas squad nabbed a 78-77 victory over Cosumnes River in the championship game of the 19th annual Tony Costello Tip-Off Classic.
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"SRJC men’s basketball wins big over College of San Mateo"
Guard Tatum (Cardinal Newman) Kurpinsky buried seven treys on his way to 21 points in the win.
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Zion (Salesian Prep) Yeargin earned MVP honors.
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"CCSF Rams Start Title Defense with Back-To-Back Wins"
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In the Feather River College 86-65 win over Foothill College, 6-foot-1 sophomore Jerel (Rodriguez High) Victor scored 33 points. He shot 12-16 overall, 7-9 on trey attempts.
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6-foot-6 freshman Will (San Ramon Valley High) Ambidge posted a 16 point, 16 rebound line in Foothill College's 79-65 win versus Cuesta College.
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Shooting 8-13, 6-6 and 8-11, 6-foot-2 Blake Dibble totaled 33 points in Hartnell College's 92-71 fall to Cañada College. He added six rebounds, five assists and four steals with zero turnovers.
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Powered by 6-foot-5 sophomore Alex (St. Mary's High) Perasso's 29 points (10-14, 5-6 and 4-4 shooting) and seven boards, San Joaquin Delta College handled Mendocino College 82-71.
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6-foot-7 Cameron Kelly had a near perfect shooting night for the victors in the College of the Sequoias 70-67 success versus Cosumnes River College. He managed a 9-10, 3-3, 1-2 line on his way to 22 points.
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Butte College bested Merced College 78-74 despite 6-foot-5 sophomore Quincy White's best efforts. He totaled 25 points on 9-12 shooting from the floor and 7-7 at the foul line. White also grabbed 11 boards, five offensive.
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