Get to Know the UCI Basketball Roster

The UCI Anteaters are looking to build on last year’s success and make a run at the Big West title. Get to know the team by reading this blog post.

UCI’s Roster: Who’s Who?

The University of California Irvine men’s basketball team is composed of 14 student-athletes from all over the country. Here’s a look at who makes up the team:

Guards
Senior guard Evan Leonard is the team captain and was named Big West Defensive Player of the Year last season. He averaged 12 points per game and led UCI with 41 3-pointers made
Sophomore guard John Edgar Jr. is a transfer from UNLV. He appeared in 11 games for the Runnin’ Rebels last season, averaging 1.5 points per game
Freshman guard Tommy Rutherford hails from Seattle, Washington and was a three-star recruit according to ESPN.com.

Forwards
Junior forward Collin Welp is UCI’s leading returning scorer after averaging 13.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season. Welp hail from Berlin, Germany and played High School basketball in Southern California before coming to UCI.
Sophomore forward Elston Jones returns after averaging 2.5 points and 2 rebounds per game as a freshman. Jones is originally from Compton, California.

Centers
Senior center Brad Greene comes to UCI as a graduate transfer from Texas Tech University Greene appeared in 17 games for the Red Raiders last season, averaging 1 point per game.

New Additions to the Roster

The UCI basketball roster has several new additions this season.

Headlining the new recruits is McDonald’s All-American, Kelli Murphy. Murphy, a 6-foot-1 guard from Mater Dei high school in Santa Ana, California, was ranked as the No. 8 guard in the nation by ESPN Hoopgurlz. She averaged 17.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game as a senior and helped lead her team to a 28-4 record and the Cif Southern Section Division 1AA title game.

Joining Murphy in the backcourt is Finnish guard Heidi Jonnalainen. Jonnalainen, who played for UCI Head Coach Molly Goodenbour at Finlandia University during the 2014-15 season, was named an honorable mention NAIA All-American after averaging 15.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 37 percent from 3-point range.

Also joining the Anteaters this season are forwards Cassidy Barr (Chino Hills HS/Chino Hills, CA), Samantha Shelton (Hart HS/Newhall, CA) and Lauren Saiki (Bishop Montgomery HS/Torrance, CA).

Departures from the Roster

The UCI Basketball team has seen some turnover from last year’s squad. Here are the departures from the roster:

-Player 1
-Player 2
-Player 3

In addition to the departures, the team has also welcomed some new faces. Here are the additions to the roster:

-New player 1
-New player 2
-New player 3

Roster Breakdown by Position

The UCI Men’s basketball team is composed of 12 student-athletes, all of whom are committed to achieving success on the court. This year’s team includes 3 seniors, 5 juniors, and 4 sophomores. Below is a breakdown of the roster by position:

Guards: 6
-Seniors: 1
-Juniors: 3
-Sophomores: 2

Forwards: 4
-Seniors: 2
-Juniors: 1
-Sophomores: 1

Center: 2
-Seniors: 0
-Juniors: 1
-Sophomores: 1

Player Profiles

The University of California Irvine Men’s Basketball team is composed of many talented and hardworking student-athletes. Here is a closer look at the members of the 2020-2021 roster:

Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was drafted out of high school by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 and went on to have a legendary 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won five NBA championships Bryant was an 18-time All-Star and was named MVP of the NBA Finals twice. He retired in 2016 as the Lakers’ All-time leading scorer with 33,643 points.

Lebron James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. He was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 and played for them for seven seasons before joining the Miami Heat in 2010. James won two NBA Championships with the Heat before returning to the Cavaliers in 2014. He led them to their first ever NBA Championship in 2016 and was named Finals MVP In 2018, James joined the Los Angeles Lakers where he currently plays. He has been named All-Star MVP a record four times and is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time.

Zion Williamson was born on July 6, 2000, in Salisbury, North Carolina He played one season of college basketball at Duke University before declaring for the 2019 NBA draft where he was drafted first overall by the New Orleans Pelicans Williamson is one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory and is widely expected to be a future superstar in the league.

Team Captains

The UCI basketball team captains are no stranger to hard work and dedication. They have put in the hours on the court and in the weight room to earn their spot as team leaders. These student-athletes are not only Great players but they are also excellent role models for their teammates.

The team captains for the UCI men’s basketball team are seniors Luke Nelson and Ioannis Dimakopoulos. Nelson is a guard from Orange, California who is known for his scoring ability. Dimakopoulos is a center from Athens, Greece who is an intimidating force on defense. These two seniors have played an important role in the success of the program over the past three years and will be looked to for leadership as the team looks to make a run at the Big West Conference title.

The captains of the UCI women’s basketball team are also seniors: guard Andi Nakano and forward Mokun Fajemisin. Nakano, from Los Alamitos, California, is the Heart and Soul of the team. She is a tenacious defender and a gifted scorer. Fajemisin, from London, England, is a 6-foot-3 post player who is one of the best rebounders in the conference. These two experienced players will be counted on to provide leadership and production as the Anteaters look to make a run at a conference championship

Best of UCI Basketball

The University of California, Irvine’s men’s basketball team has had an impressive start to the season. Here is a look at some of the best players on the team.

Forwards:

Max Hazzard – Hazzard is a redshirt junior from Orange, CA. He is one of the team’s leading scorers and rebounders.

Evan Leonard – Leonard is a sophomore from Long Beach CA. He is a versatile player who can score, rebound, and play defense

guards:

Rex Pflueger – Pflueger is a senior from San Juan Capistrano, CA. He is the team captain and a vocal leader on and off the court.

Robert Cartwright – Cartwright is a junior from Los Angeles CA. He is one of the team’s best shooters and defenders.

Rivalries

Southern California college basketball These two teams play each other twice every season and the games are always heated affairs. The fans are very passionate about their team and the students often paint their faces to show support

UCI in the News

Recently, the University of California, Irvine Mens Basketball team has been in the news for their success in the 2019-2020 Season The team has a talented roster of players who have helped the team achieve a great record. In this article, we will take a look at the UCI Basketball Roster and get to know some of the players.

Leading the way for UCI is Maxwell kirsch, a junior guard from Los Angeles Kirsch is averaging 15 points per game and is the leading scorer for the Anteaters. He is a talented player who can shoot from long range and drive to the basket. Joining Kirsch in the backcourt is junior guard Evan Leonard. Leonard is averaging 11 points per game and is a very good shooter from three-point range He is also a good defender and averaged 2 steals per game last season.

In the frontcourt, UCI has two very good players in junior forward Collin Welp and senior center Ioannis Savva. Welp is averaging 10 points and 7 rebounds per game while Savva is averaging 9 points and 5 rebounds per game. Welp is a very good shooter from long range while Savva is a big body who can score in the paint and rebound well.

UCI also has two talented freshman who are expected to make an impact this season. Guard Isaiah Lee is a high energy player who can shoot from long range and penetrate to the basket. Forward Elston Jones is a big body who can rebound well and score in the paint.

The UCI Basketball Team has a lot of talent and should be able to compete at a high level this season. Be sure to check out their games and support your local team!

UCI Basketball Schedule

The University of California, Irvine Men’s Basketball Schedule for the 2019-2020 season has not been released yet. The Anteaters roster includes 22 players, 11 of which are returners from last year. Coach Russell Turner has said that he is excited about the team’s potential this season. Theixtures will be announced soon, so check back for updates!