The San Diego Mesa College men’s basketball team enters the 2025–26 season with a focus on growth. Coming off a 13–15 overall record and an even 8–8 mark in conference play, the Olympians closed last season strong, winning four of their final five games. The  only loss in that stretch came against Southwestern College in December, giving this year’s group momentum to build on.

Head coach Travis Nichols returns for his seventh season at the helm and is excited about the roster. “We’ve brought in a lot of really good young players who are fun to be around,” Nichols said. “One of the things I always enjoy is the camaraderie that builds during our road trips, it helps us both on and off the court.”

The squad will look to fill the void left by several key contributors from last season. Chanel Mballa, Donovan Avery, Isaiah Baker, and Luciano Casini each played significant roles in the program and have all moved on to continue their basketball careers at the next level.

Mballa chose to stay close to home, committing to Cal State San Marcos, while Avery took his talents to Montana State University–Northern. Baker is now playing for West Virginia Wesleyan, and Casini is continuing his journey at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. Although they’ll be missed, the coaching staff is excited in seeing them move on to four-year programs. Helping players take that next step is what the program is all about.

With those departures, the Olympians turn to a promising group of newcomers led by freshmen Jeremiah Parks, a 6’5” forward from Denver, and Joshua Henderson, a 5’10” point guard out of Dallas. Both are expected to make an immediate impact.

“This year’s team will be aggressive,” Nichols said. “We’re smaller, so our guards have to create, make shots, and pressure the ball. With technically only two returners, it’s a rebuild, but one we’re excited about. Our biggest player is 6’6. Success for us comes down to three things: play hard, play together, and play to win.

We have to take charges, make our free throws, and capitalize on every open look,” he added. “It all starts in practice. The players who compete the hardest will earn playing time on the court.”