Men's Basketball Season Preview: Reloaded and Ready for a Run in 2024-25

The Chaffey College Panthers men's basketball team is gearing up for the 2024-25 season, building on the momentum of a successful 2023-24 campaign that saw them capture the Inland Empire Athletic Conference (IEAC) title with a 25-4 overall record and a 15-1 conference mark. Despite a second-round exit in the Southern California Regionals, the Panthers are ranked #5 in the CCCMBCA preseason poll and are eager to make a deeper postseason run this year.

Head Coach Jeff Klein, the reigning IEAC Coach of the Year, is optimistic about the team's potential. "There's a sense of unfinished business," Klein states. "This team is focused and determined to improve on last season's finish. We're going to play with high energy, full-court pressure for a full 40 minutes. We want to put pressure on our opponents on both ends of the floor.”

The Panthers will be led by returning all-conference players Uriyah Rojas, a 6'3" guard who averaged 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game last season, and Nate Simon, a 6'0" point guard from Eastvale, CA, who will be instrumental in directing the team's offense.

While the Panthers will miss key contributors Marcus Green, Brody Davis, and Shaden Knight, Coach Klein is confident in the team's new additions and the returning players' ability to step up. "Uriyah Rojas and Nate Simon will take on larger roles this season," Klein notes. "We also expect sophomores Jermaine Rogers and Peja Boyd to make immediate contributions, and Ryan Lewis will help fill the void left by Brody Davis."

Guards Elijah Goad and Mourad Toure will also play key roles in 2024.  Toure, a 6'5" guard from Chino Hills, California, averaged 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and an impressive 54.2% field goal percentage last season. Goad, hailing from Palm Springs, California, averaged 6.9 points per game and will provide valuable scoring depth.

Newcomers to watch this year include sophomores Rogers and Boyd, along with first-year players Jace Conway, Levi Sweeney, Semaj Morrison, Dior Brown, and Hakeem Banuelos.

The Panthers tip off their season on Saturday, November 2nd, 2024, at Cerritos College at 3:00 p.m. With a blend of returning talent, promising newcomers, and a strong team chemistry, the Panthers are poised for another successful season and a deep run in the playoffs.