De Anza College Men’s Basketball, under third-year head coach Joe Berticevich, revealed a season outlook focused on defense, depth, and strong sophomore leadership as the team prepares for the 2026-27 campaign. Coming into the season ranked No. 17 in the Northern California preseason rankings, the Mountain Lions intend to secure a top-three finish in the Coast Conference North and mount a competitive run in the California Community College state playoffs.
Coach Berticevich highlighted the team
philosophy, “Our Defense Creates Our Offense,” emphasizing a hustle mentality designed to outwork opponents on every possession. The squad returns four pivotal sophomores: guard Gio Brovelli, versatile forward Dasan Poston, redshirt sophomore Moses Kim, and team captain Josh Villanueva, each expected to provide leadership and production throughout the season.
The roster is bolstered by talented newcomers including transfer James Judge from Santa Clara University, seven-foot center Fabio Espitalier Botao from Frankfurt, Germany, point guard Camden Wright from Granite Bay, and freshman guard Obi Ehiogu from London, England. This infusion of size, scoring, and defensive ability is expected to deepen the Mountain Lions’ rotation substantially across all positions.
De Anza
schedule will be challenging with a season opener on November 3 at Solano and non-conference matchups against five California regional Top 20 teams. Conference play includes facing four other Northern California Top 20 programs, underscoring the need for consistent effort and execution.
CSB Take
De Anza College Men’s Basketball appears poised for one of its most competitive seasons under Joe Berticevich
leadership. The combination of experienced sophomores and impactful newcomers gives the team both depth and versatility necessary to execute a defense-first strategy that can translate into offensive success. The demanding schedule will test their resilience early, but the team culture and emphasis on process over results position the Mountain Lions to potentially make a significant impact in the Coast Conference and the state playoffs.
Source: Original report
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