REDLANDS, Calif. – Eric Bridgeland, Head Men's Basketball Coach at the University of Redlands announced his 2025-26 recruiting class Monday, which includes six newcomers, broken up by four first years and two transfers.
Redlands is coming off the best season in program history and within the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), posting a 25-5, 14-2 SCIAC record, being crowned the 2024-25 SCIAC Regular Season Co-Champions, making a historic run to the NCAA Tournament Elite 8 and finishing the season ranked No. 7 in the NCAA Division III National polls.
"We love our guys (and aren't shy about it). Our culture is 100% relationship-based," Bridgeland explained. "We've continued add to our culture by recruiting spectacular and talented young men who are going places, both on and off the floor. The young men we've added are humble leaders, student-athletes, role models, and great teammates. We are only as good as the young men we can attract with the above characteristics to go on this wonderful journey ahead with us. RECRUITING IS EVERYTHING!"
On paper the Bulldogs are looking for great culture guys (High Character, Student-Athletes, Humble, Going Places), athleticism, length and skill, specific position players (Creators, Wing Players, Height, Mobile Length), 4-5 talented freshmen, and 1-2 talented transfers that are the right pieces for the roster.
This class has it all, a 6'7" Division I transfer guard/forward who can create and has national Player of the Year capabilities, a 6'4" lockdown freshman who can guard all five positions, a 6'3" freshman scoring machine, a 6'1" point guard who is athletic all around, an absolute winner at the junior college level who took his team to the Elite 8 in state, and a three-point specialist and defensive player with ridiculous upside that has knocked down eight three-pointers in a single game.
Let's take a look at Bridgeland's incoming class and what he had to say about their addition to the program.
Jaiden Agbo | 6'2" – Rancho Christian High School
Highlights
Averaged 16.0 PPG, 5.0 APG, and 2.0 SPG – 1st Team All-League – Led Rancho Christian to the Ivy League Title with a 15-13 overall Record and 8-2 mark in League – 70+ COMMUNITY Service Hour.
"Talk about HUMILITY…. Jaiden is about as selfless and unassuming as they come. Lockdown D, you ask? Yes. Find the open man? Yep. Need him to score? For sure. Jaiden is just ROCK.SOLID. His greatest challenge is going to be being a little more selfish (believe it or not). HUGE upside here."
Elijah Duncan | 6'4" – Bear Creek High School
Highlights
3x All-League Player – 19.0 PPG – Team MVP + Led Bear Creek to a Playoff Appearance – Hit eight three-pointers in a single game – Volunteers for homeless programs in his community, his church and children's basketball camps.
"First thoughts when watching and meeting Elijah: class, mature, and upside. Elijah is a young man going places on and off the floor. What's mentioned above, Elijah is a dangerous shooter with no ceiling. Additionally, he can literally guard each position on the floor. Elijah has a love for his community and will fit our culture like a glove."
Christian Trusclair | 6'3" – St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School
Highlights
Article on Christian
18.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, while shooting 45% from the field – Led St. Patrick-St. Vincent to the North Coast Section Championship -- 2x League MVP – Vallejo Times Harold Athlete of the Year – Volunteers for the Omega Fraternity and local food drives – Helps the homeless on holidays.
"Christian is just a great kid. Fun to be around and his positivity and vibe are contagious. On the floor, he's a proven winner. Further, he can really create scoring opportunities for himself. His work-ethic gives him a very high ceiling. Off the floor, you'll find Christian volunteering in his free time….very excited about him!!"
Austin Unegbo | 6'4" – Long Beach Poly High School
Highlights
Four-Year Varsity Player – 3x 1st Team All-League – 2x 2nd Team All-Press Telegram – Led Long Beach Poly HS to a 23-7 Record – Led LB Poly to the Moore League Title – Volunteers at his Local Church – Recipient of Disney's Dreamer Academic Scholarship – Four-Year Participant in LB Poly Christian Club
"Austin is an amazing young man. He's got a heart for little kids and his faith the size of Redlands. As a player, his potential is through the roof. Austin is a lock down defender and his feet are spectacular = no one's getting around him! Offensively, Austin is a matchup problem for Bulldog opponents; if they stick a guard on him, he can wheel and deal in the post – if they stick a big on him, Austin will be at the cup. Can't wait to coach him!!"
Marcel Hayes | 6'4" – Cerritos College
Highlights
1st Team All-South Coast Conference – Led Cerritos to Back-to-Back South Coast Conference Championships – Rare Member of the '50-40-70' Club: 50% FG, 40% 3-PT, 74% FT – Led Cerritos to the Most Wins over the last 25-years – Led Cerritos to its First Elite 8 in the State Tourney since 2018.
"The first impression anyone gets from Marcel is 'He's going to do positive things in our world.' Marcel's presence, on and off the floor, propelled Cerritos to one of its greatest seasons in program history. Blessed with length and quickness, Marcel's work-ethic added tremendous skill to his package as well (50-40-70 club). Need a bucket? Marcel will take care of it. Need him to trigger the offense to set up a shooter? Marcel's got it. Marcel has the talent to make simple plays and yes that is a talent. Marcel will make his presence felt from the get-go, on and off the floor."
Derek Sangster | 6'7" – Princeton University & UC Davis
Highlights
2x CCS Scholar Athlete of the Year – 2021 CCS Champion – 3x All-State at Archbishop Mitty HS – 1000pt Club Member – 3x West Catholic Athletic League Champion/'23 POY – Ivy League Champions (Princeton) – National Honor Society – Dean's List (UC Davis) Fall + Spring Quarters
"What do you say? Off the floor, we landed an amazing student, person, and leader to our culture. On the floor, we landed a legitimate Div. I, 6'7 creating guard… Derek is as skilled as 6'7 gets. He can pass, dribble, shoot, and create with the best of them. Derek is a classic tweener: doesn't really have a true position other than to say, he can play and excel 'anywhere out there between the lines." Derek's impact will be immediate in all facets of our program and culture. National Player of the Year potential."
