Cal Poly men’s basketball has now retained its top two scorers from last season after Hamad Mousa announced Saturday that he will return to the Mustangs, joining Cayden Ward in withdrawing from the transfer portal.
The top three scorers from last year’s team entered the portal, and Peter Bandelj was the only departure from the group with his move to Nevada.
After his breakout season, in which he averaged 20.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, Mousa drew significant interest in the transfer portal, reportedly including defending national champion Michigan.
Despite the opportunity to grow his game elsewhere, Mousa is committed to the vision that head coach Mike DeGeorge has and should continue to flourish in the Mustangs’ free-flowing system. Under DeGeorge, Cal Poly has adopted an NBA-style, positionless playstyle that Mousa has previously said he enjoys playing in, and it should also bode well for his professional aspirations.
After finishing eighth in the Big West last season, Cal Poly is trending up and has one of the more talented rosters in the conference. Injuries and inexperience kept the Mustangs from reaching their potential last season, but with Mousa and Ward returning and the rest of the roster aging, next season should more accurately reflect the team’s talent level, even with Bandelj’s departure.
In the NIL era, Cal Poly has served as a launchpad for athletes looking to level up through the transfer portal. Mousa and Ward clearly see what the Mustangs are building and want to be a part of it, potentially setting a precedent for star Cal Poly athletes going forward.
With its two leading scorers returning and a budding core in place, Cal Poly enters next season with legitimate expectations of competing near the top of the Big West.
