Fresno Pacific has added a host of newcomers to its roster after losing all five starters from a year ago. The ten-man class features players from all over the country with all different types of skill sets that will be counted on to contribute right away.
First year head coach Chris Wright gets the tough task of replacing seven seniors, including two All-American players that helped the Sunbirds win 51 games in the past two seasons, but he's confident that the incoming group will be able to offset the losses and keep the Sunbirds at the high level they've become accustomed to.
“We feel great about the guys that we were able to sign and bring in,” said Wright. “Talent-wise, we're definitely in the same ballpark as the last couple years. Obviously when there's a bunch of new guys, it's a process to get everyone on the same page, but we feel extremely confident that we'll be able to continue the success that we've started here.”
The group includes eight junior college transfers, one four-year transfer and one freshman.
Bautista joins the Sunbirds from Gavilan College in Gilroy where he played point guard and led his team in assists and steals last season. He prepped at San Benito High School in Hollister, where he was a second-team All-League selection.
FPU landed one of the top point guards in San Diego County when they signed Bradford, a first team All-League player out of Cuyamaca College. Bradford averaged 14.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game last season. Prior to that, he starred at Eastlake High School, averaging 20 points per game and earning league player of the year honors. He should step in right away and be a major contributor at the point guard position.
Christman joins the Sunbirds after playing two seasons with one of the state's top junior college teams at Foothill College. He averaged nine points per game last season and began to turn it on as the season wore on, scoring a season-high 24 points in a state playoff game. Christman played his high school ball at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo. He gives the team a good, consistent shooter that could find his way into the rotation right away.
The lone freshman recruit in this year's class, Goslinga completed a stellar prep career at Ripon Christian High School, averaging 20.4 points and 11.0 rebounds per game as a senior. He gives the team a strong inside presence and also shot 75 percent from the line in high school.
Hesseldal grew up in Denmark and moved to the U.S. prior to his senior year of high school. He spent the last two seasons at Northwest College in Wyoming, averaging 16 points and seven rebounds per game, while shooting 55 percent from the field. Hesseldal gives the Sunbirds a versatile, athletic forward who can both handle the ball and post up an opponent.
An accomplished scorer, Legree joins the Sunbirds from Contra Costa College where he led the Bay Valley Conference with 22 points per game. He was a junior college All-American and is a deadly shooter from long-range, making over 41 percent from beyond the arc last season.
Jerante Morgan – 6'6 Forward/Center (Texas A&M International)
Coach Wright looked to his home state to sign Morgan, a senior from Texas A&M International. He averaged 10.3 points and 6.4 rebounds, and had 54 blocks in 26 games in his last season at A&M. Prior to that, Morgan starred at Traveler's Rest High School in Greenville, South Carolina. He provides the Sunbirds with a post presence that can also get up and down the court well.
A native of Salinas, Rosario-Dawson comes to FPU from Hartnell College and North Salinas High School. As a senior, he averaged 12 points and eight rebounds per game while being named team MVP and second-team all-league.
Rowe joins the Sunbirds all the way from Alabama where he spent last season playing guard at Northwest Shoals Community College, averaging 12 points per game. Rowe played his high school ball at Litchfield High School in Alabama, where he averaged 14 points per game. He's a versatile player who should contribute in many ways right away.
Originally from Oklahoma, Vick played two years of college ball at Hesston College in Kansas where he led the team with 16 points and seven rebounds per game. An All-League selection and team captain, Vick gives the Sunbirds tremendous athleticism and can also shoot the three (40 percent last season).
