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Santa Clara University

Mahi/Darlan

Men's Basketball

Mahi and Darlan Named Preseason All-WCC, Broncos Picked Fourth in Preseason Coaches Poll

SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Santa Clara men's basketball's Elijah Mahi and Thierry Darlan both earned a spot on the 10-man 2025-26 West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Team, as announced by the conference on Thursday. Additionally, the Broncos were selected to finish fourth by the league's head coaches in the annual preseason coaches poll.

Under the direction of Herb Sendek in his 10th season at the helm, the Broncos have finished in the top four of the final WCC standings in each of the last four seasons. Santa Clara reached 20 or more wins each year during the span and was selected to participate in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in three of the four seasons.

A senior forward from Toronto, Canada, Mahi is a preseason All-WCC pick after a great debut season with the Broncos in 2024-25. The West Valley College transfer averaged 11.1 points, led the team in 3-point shooting at 43.4 percent and tallied 15 total double figure scoring efforts as a junior, and is the team's top returning scorer on the 2025-26 roster.

Darlan has yet to play in his first collegiate game, but is anticipated to be among the top newcomers in the WCC this season after joining the Broncos by way of the NBA G League during the summer. A 6-foot-8 guard out of the Central African Republic, Darlan played two seasons in the G League prior to joining the collegiate ranks, most recently with the Delaware Blue Hens alongside fellow former Bronco Jared Brownridge. He averaged 11 points, six rebounds and two assists in 29 games with the Blue Hens in 2024-25.

This is the second consecutive season that Santa Clara has had multiple preseason All-WCC selections. Adama-Alpha Bal and Carlos Stewart Jr. were both tabbed to the 11-man 2024-25 edition ahead of last season.

The full 2025-26 WCC Preseason All-Conference and Coaches Poll are below. 

2025-26 West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Team
Name Year Position School
Ryan Beasley Jr. G San Francisco
Thierry Darlan Jr. G Santa Clara
Braden Huff Jr. F Gonzaga
Graham Ike Sr. F Gonzaga
Mikey Lewis So. G Saint Mary's
Elijah Mahi Sr. F Santa Clara
Paulius Murauskas Jr. F Saint Mary's
Elias Ralph Sr. F Pacific
Tyrone Riley IV So. G San Francisco
Harry Wessels Sr. C Saint Mary's

2025-26 West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
Place Team Points (1st Place)
1. Gonzaga 119 (9)
2. Saint Mary's 109 (2)
3. San Francisco 98 (1)
4. Santa Clara 92
5. Oregon State 76
6. Washington State 69
7. LMU 61
8. Seattle U. 53
9. San Diego 36
10. Pacific 32
11. Pepperdine 24
12. Portland 23

 
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Players Mentioned

Adama-Alpha Bal

#4 Adama-Alpha Bal

G
6' 7"
Senior
Elijah Mahi

#8 Elijah Mahi

F
6' 7"
Junior
Carlos Stewart Jr.

#10 Carlos Stewart Jr.

G
6' 1"
Senior
Thierry Darlan

#15 Thierry Darlan

G
6' 8"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Adama-Alpha Bal

#4 Adama-Alpha Bal

6' 7"
Senior
G
Elijah Mahi

#8 Elijah Mahi

6' 7"
Junior
F
Carlos Stewart Jr.

#10 Carlos Stewart Jr.

6' 1"
Senior
G
Thierry Darlan

#15 Thierry Darlan

6' 8"
Junior
G