Coming off a first-place finish in the California Collegiate Athletic Association conference last season, basketball added three players after losing four seniors to graduation.
The Broncos finished 23-7, but a first-round exit in the NCAA Division II tournament ended the Broncos’ season.
“We have had a great offseason, we are focusing on getting bigger, faster and stronger at this point. Our guys have a good attitude and are fired up for next year,” said coach Greg Kamansky.
The Broncos lost four players to graduation in guards Jeff Nibo, Jeremy Dennis, and starters Daylan Lawrence and Quentin Taylor.
Looking to reload their roster, the Broncos added two new recruits in forwards Sione “Ziggy” Lauese Jr. and Elijah McCoy.
Lauese is 6’6 and from Redwood City, California and played at Sequoia High School.
Lauese led the Ravens to a 22-8 overall record and a trip to the Peninsula Athletic League South Championship.
Lauese averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per game earning him the MVP of the Peninsula Athletic League.
McCoy, 6’9, redshirted this past season at Division I Louisiana Lafayette. A Fresno native, McCoy played at Roosevelt High School where he averaged 16 points and 13 rebounds per game, earning him First Team All-North Yosemite League Team honors.
The Broncos also added guard Dwight Ramos who played the past two seasons at Division I Cal State Fullerton.
Ramos averaged six minutes per game while averaging two points per game.
“We were targeting certain needs for our team, we are excited about them especially in the future. We have a really good recruiting class and have a lot of guys returning and they are motivated for next year,” said Kamansky.
The new players bring a different skill set for the Broncos.
Lauese and McCoy bring in attitude and bulk to the Broncos’ front court.
Ramos can bring the ball up the court and can also shoot whenever he gets the ball.
The Broncos have a lot of experience returning for the upcoming season.
All-CCAA guards Jordan Ogundiran and William Christmas will be key to the Broncos’ offense.
Ogundiran will be a senior and Christmas will be a junior next season.
To go along with Ogundiran and Christmas, guard Phoenix Shackelford is returning after earning CCAA freshman of the year honors.
“Jordan just wants to win and is willing to do whatever it takes for the team to win, whether it’s scoring more, passing the ball, or even just playing defense he will do it all,” said Kamansky.
The Broncos’ defense will continue to be the focal point for the upcoming season.
The Broncos finished first in the CCAA by holding opponents to 61 points per game and 38 percent shooting from the field.
The Broncos won 11 more games this season than they did the previous season.
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