REDLANDS, Calif. - Eric Bridgeland, Head Men's Basketball Coach at the University of Redlands announced his 2023-24 recruiting class Wednesday, which includes eight newcomers, broken up by six first-years and a pair of transfers.
In this year's class Bridgeland and his staff looked for proven winners who exemplified leadership, perseverance, humility, sacrifice, selflessness, and competitiveness. They also added student-athletes who had great study-habits, handles their academics and are overall learners. This group also wants to be involved in their community, in the positive development of children and of course to have fun. Finally these eight like to run and press and they each can move, are agile, versatile and long.
The Maroon and Grey return over 80% of their scoring and rebounding off a 19-8 team that lost on a putback at the buzzer in the SCIAC Tournament Championship Game.
This class includes a lightning quick combo guard from the best high school boy's basketball program in Southern California, a creating guard who may be of the best passers ever recruited by Coach Bridgeland, an instant offensive threat at forward who stands at 6'7", a wing who can score anywhere and anyway, a knockdown shooter with an unlimited ceiling, a jack of all trades transfer, a national level junior that can't be guarded in space and a state leader in blocks and steals.
Let's take a look at his incoming class and what he had to say about their addition to the program.
Pharaoh Amadi (Dallas, TX)
Richardson High School | 6'3" | 190 lbs. | 12.0 PPG | 5.0 RPG | 2.0 APG
Accolades: Led Richardson to 23-13 Record –2x First Team All-District Performer - 2x Academic All-District - 3x District Champion - RHS Offensive Player of the Year- 4th Grade Mentor - Special Olympics Volunteer
"What do you say? The Amadi family knows how to make rock, solid, men (See Chozen). Pharaoh is, or has been, college ready for a while now. Pharaoh's positive habits, routines, and vision are that of a college graduate. On the hardwood, Pharaoh can shoot off the catch or the dribble. In addition, he is programmed to rebound and defend with the best of them.
Ivan Belkin (Encino, Calif.)
Crespi Carmelite High School | 6'7" | 210 lbs. | 12.0 PPG | 5.0 RPG | 5.0 APG | 2.0 SPG
Accolades: Led Crespi to an 18-12 Record – 2x Scholar Student-Athlete-Played Semi-Pro in Home Country of Ukraine.
"Ivan is a 6'7" guard. Although he is a lethal shooter, it would be an insult to label him as just that. Ivan can create anywhere and anyhow on that court. Pass it, shoot it, create with it, finish with it = ALL THE ABOVE. He is a talent and his impact will be felt immediately."
Jhace Boston (Bakersfield, Calif.)
Stockdale High School | 6'4" | 190 lbs. | 23.0 PPG | 8.0 RPG | 6.0 APG
Accolades: Led Stockdale to its best season in program history (27-5) - Co-MVP of the SWYL - Player of the Year – 1st Team All Central Section – Mentor to Struggling Elementary Students + Reading Program Volunteer
"Jhace is a steal for this program and is the total package offensively. Yes, he can score at all levels but has an unreal eye to find his teammates. Jhace can play in a crowd and is a one-stop shop for offense. No question, a match-up problem for any defender in space."
Malachi Miller (Modesto, Calif.)
Central Catholic High School | 6'4" | 190 lbs. | 20.0 PPG | 8.0 RPG | 3.0 APG
Accolades: Led Central Catholic to a 22-11 Record - League MVP – _2x First Team All-League selection– 2x First team All-District - MaxPreps Honorable Mention All-State - San Joaquin Section Finalist - 1000-Point Career Scorer – Volunteer, Modesto Gospel Mission
"Malachi is just solid; as a person and a player with no weaknesses on either front. His maturity is well beyond his years. Malachi excels in competition, he can score at all three levels (Deep, Mid-Range, Rim) and will be literally un-guardable in our style of play."
Adrian Mosely (West Linn, OR)
West Linn High School | 6'2" | 200 lbs. | 17.0 PPG | 8.0 RPG | 5.0 APG | 4.0 SPG | 2.0 BPG
Accolades: Led West Linn to the 6A Championship Game and a 30-2 Record – Listed as a Top-3 prospect in the State of Oregon – Led the state of Oregon in steals and blocks – Starred in wins over national high school powers (Sierra Canyon – Bronny James & Duncanville (TX).
"Adrian is a special player and a steal for our program. As a player he can do just about anything he puts his mind to. His versatility is unmatched, which makes him a perfect fit for our style of play. An elite defender, Adrian can dominate defensive matchups at any position he happens to be guarding. We will utilize Adrian's talents in any and every way, possible."
BJ Taylor (Corona, Calif.)
Corona Centennial High School | 5'10 | 180 lbs.
Accolades: 3x Open Division Southern Section Champions – 2022 CIF Open Division State Champions – Gold Honor Roll (4.00-4.49 GPA Six Times) – 2022-23 Scholar-Athlete Award – 2021-22 All-League Academic Team – Student of the Month (2x), 2022-23 Umoja Certificate of Excellence – 2021-22 Academic Achievement Award from Parents of African American Student Advisory Council (PAASAC).
"Not sure one can find a better person/student than BJ Taylor. Played a prominent role in SoCal's most dominant high school program. While his hesitation move is 'next level' there is no better defender in SoCal; it's like looking in the mirror and you can't escape yourself in the mirror. He guards like that. BJ will impact our program immediately in all facets."
Kendrick Currey (Manteca, Calif.)
San Joaquin Delta College | 6'4" | 195 lbs. | 21.0 PPG | 9.0 RPG | 4.0 APG
Accolades: CCCAA All-State for California (Incredible Accomplishment)
"Kendrick is an elite, playmaking, guard – period. He can drain the open three, get to his spots and rise over you and knock it down, dunk on a help defender, and will make the simple play in a chaos-filled environment. We'll have an advantage over anyone at our level at Kendrick's position."
Cameron Joseph (Fairfield, Calif.)
Napa Valley College | 6'4" | 190 lbs. | 1,000 Point Scorer
Accolades: First Team All-Bay Valley Conference - STLB NorCal JUCO All Star - Armijo HS 2019 MEL All-League - 707 Premier Sports Camp Counselor - Basketball Jones Napa Kids Camp Counselor - 2017-2022 Skyhawks Sports Academy Leadership Intern/Kid's Camp Counselor
"CJ is a jack-of-all-trades. Whatever you need him to do, CJ can do it. He guards, shoots it, creates, and finishes. His greatest strength, however, may be his humility. CJ will be utilized everywhere in our style of play."