Head coach Mike DeGeorge and the Cal Poly Men’s Basketball coaching staff have made some of their first offseason moves.
According to social media and basketball recruiting website Verbal Commits, the Mustangs have signed freshman guard Cayden Ward from St. Mary’s High School in Stockton, freshman guard Peter Bandelj from Team Royal Crown in Canada, and sophomore transfer wing Kieran Elliot from Division II West Texas A&M.
The team is looking to replenish a roster that only has seven players currently, according to GoPoly.com.
DeGeorge was hired on March 26, which put the Mustangs behind in the recruiting cycle. However, recruitment has ramped up in the past week with the signing of three underclassmen.
The Mustangs are still looking to fill a handful of spots. One area to look to is DeGeorge’s team, the Colorado Mesa team. According to Verbal Commits, most of DeGeorge’s players at his previous stop have entered the transfer portal after making a run to the Sweet 16 of the Division II NCAA Tournament this past season. Many could follow DeGeorge to San Luis Obispo.
Mac Rinker, Owen Koonce, Issac Jessup, and Christopher Seller are some names to look out for as possible transfers from Colorado Mesa, who played high amounts of minutes for the Mavericks.
DeGeorge and offensive coordinator Kyle Bossier will look to implement a new offensive system that emphasizes pace, ball movement and opening up driving lanes for rim attacks. Bringing in players familiar with his system will make the transition easier for the team.
The three recruits the coaching staff has brought in fit the versatile, free-flowing system the Mustangs will run on the offensive end.
Last season, Cal Poly Men’s basketball finished 4-28. The school parted ways with former head coach John Smith after five seasons at the helm. Following the end of the season, senior guard Kobe Sanders and freshman guards Quentin Jones and Justin Page, along with numerous other impact players, entered the transfer portal.
Cayden Ward,
- Position: Guard
- Height: 6 foot 5
- High School: Saint. Mary’s (Stockton)
Ward is the first recruit the Mustangs signed. The 6 foot 5 combo guard was originally committed to DeGeorge at Colorado Mesa but switched his commitment on April 9.
Ward was a two-sport athlete in football and basketball but will pursue basketball at the collegiate level.
While at Saint Mary’s High School in Stockton, he was named to the All-Tri City Athletic League First Team All-League and led the league in assists, rebounds, free throws, and double-doubles.
The Stockton native played for Jalen Green Elite on the Adidas Circuit in high school.
Ward fits into the roster construction DeGeorge is looking for. He has size at the guard spot and can play on or off the ball. With the team likely playing with smaller but more skilled players across the board, having size at the backcourt is crucial for the Mustangs.
Peter Bandelj
- Position: Guard
- Height: 6 foot 4
- Previous team: Team Royal Crown (Canada)
The Mustangs announced a commitment from Peter Bandelj on May 7 on Instagram. The 6 foot 4 guard previously played for Team Royal Crown in Canada, which is a member of the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA) and the international prep basketball circuit The Real Grind Session.
Internationally, Bandelj plays for Slovenia.
During the 2023 U18 FIBA Basketball Championship, Bandelj averaged 11.6 points per game, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.6 steals.
In OSBA play, Bandelj helped lead Team Royal Crown to a championship.
According to Synergy Sports, Bandelj finished in the 97th percentile in points scored per possession in transition situations (1.32 PPP). Bandelj will play mainly the shooting guard position and has a similar level of offensive versatility to fellow incoming freshman Cayden Ward.
Kieran Elliot
- Position: Wing
- Height: 6 foot 6
- High School: West Texas A&M
The Mustangs’ next recruit is sophomore Kieran Elliot. Elliot is from Lubbock, Texas, and attended Division II West Texas A&M. He announced his commitment on May 7 on Instagram.
At West Texas A&M, Elliot helped his team beat DeGeorge’s Colorado Mesa in the Sweet 16 last season. Now, the two will join forces at Cal Poly.
Elliot was named 2024 Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the Second Team All-Lone Star Conference.
Elliot started all 35 games he played in for the Buffaloes and averaged 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds.
At his previous stop, Elliot received many post-up touches, but it’s likely that at Cal Poly, he will play more on the perimeter in the team’s offensive system. He has a strong frame to drive the ball and good footwork around the basket.
Elliot made 39% of his threes, although he only made 28 attempts on the season.
What are the Mustangs missing?
The Mustangs will look to fill its last few roster spots over the coming weeks. As of now, the team lacks any true centers. It’s possible the team will play with traditional forwards at the center position to maximize spacing, but having at least one center on the roster could be important in certain situations.
Graduate student Jarred Hyder is still on the roster and is the most experienced college player on the team. Hyder is positioned to be one of the top scorers on the team, but the Mustangs will likely look to score by committee.
The team will look to round out its roster through the rest of spring and into summer.