SANTA CLARA, Calif.- After finishing fourth in the WCC last season, the Santa Clara men's basketball team was picked to finish third in the WCC Preseason Poll this year. Head Coach Herb Sendek's team returns eight key rotation players from last season, while adding two key transfers: junior forward Elijah Mahi (West Valley College), and 2024-25 All-WCC preseason team honoree senior guard Carlos Stewart Jr. (LSU).
 
Among the returners, the Broncos bring back 2023-24 First Team All-WCC senior guard Adama-Alpha Bal (14.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.1 apg), All-WCC Honorable Mention junior center Christoph Tilly (9.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.9 apg), and All-WCC Freshman Team selection sophomore forward Jake Ensminger (4.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.6 apg). In addition, the Broncos return senior forward Johnny O'Neil (11.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.5 apg), senior guard Tyeree Bryan (8.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg), junior guard Brenton Knapper (6.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.4 apg), senior forward Camaron Tongue (4.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg), and sophomore guard Christian Hammond (3.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.0 apg), all key rotation players for Santa Clara last season. 
 
"We have tremendous character on our team," Sendek said. "We have a terrific culture that we're working hard to maintain and we're fortunate to have some continuity from last year."
 
As for the new guys, Carlos Stewart Jr. leads the way after playing his freshman (2021-22) and sophomore (2022-23) seasons at Santa Clara before transferring to LSU last year. Stewart was a First Team All-WCC selection his sophomore season at Santa Clara, averaging 15.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, and 2.3 apg, on 44.1 percent shooting and 40.3 percent from beyond the arc. Stewart's lone season at LSU was derailed due to a season ending knee injury suffered in the conference opener against Texas A&M.
 
"Carlos brings a tremendous work ethic," Sendek said. "He always plays with a great deal of energy, heart, hustle, and he's experienced. He knows what we do, and how we do it. And as a senior, he's somebody who's been in big games and understands what it is."
 
The other transfer, Elijah Mahi, comes from West Valley College, where he led the Vikings to an undefeated 33-0 season in 2023-24 capturing the state championship title. Mahi was named the California Player of the Year and won MVP honors at the CCCAA State Tournament, averaging 17.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 54.2 percent from the floor and 47.1 percent from three point range. As a freshman, Mahi earned a spot on the 2022-23 CCCAA All-State Team (one of just five freshmen to do so), and was an All-Coast First Team and All-Coast Freshman Team honoree in addition to winning Coast Freshman of the Year and Coast-South Defensive Player of the Year honors.
 
The Broncos also brought in freshman forward Allen Graves, a standout from Ponchatoula High School, who led his team to back-to-back state championship titles and was named Most Outstanding Player in the state title game two years in a row as well as Max Preps Louisiana Player of the Year his senior season. Graves is set to have an immediate impact on the Broncos conference title chances this year.
 
"Both [Mahi and Graves] are terrific additions to our program," Sendek said. "Both come highly acclaimed and we're looking forward to both guys having phenomenal careers here at Santa Clara."
 
The Broncos will look to contend for their third postseason berth in four years under Sendek. They will open the season in Sioux Falls, S.D. in the Field of 68 Opening Day Showcase against St. Louis on Monday, Nov. 4 at Noon, before playing in the Las Vegas Hoopfest against Arizona St. on Friday, Nov. 8 at 5 p.m. The Broncos home opener is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. against North Dakota State.