The Mt. San Jacinto College Eagles men’s basketball team will begin their 2026-27 season by hosting the Eagle Tip-Off Classic on November 5 and 6 in San Jacinto, California. The Eagles will face Southwestern College on Thursday and Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, with both games scheduled for 7 p.m.
Coming off a 21-8 record in the 2025-26 season, the Eagles finished second in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference (IEAC) and advanced to the 3C2A Regional Tournament. Head Coach Trent Skinner, entering his fifth permanent season with a 104-44 record, leads the team aiming for the program’s 17th playoff appearance in 18 seasons.
Four players return from last year’s roster, including sophomore guard Daniel Crawford, the team’s leading returning scorer. Crawford, a 6-foot-3 guard from Linfield Christian in Temecula, averaged 9.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last season and made a team-best 61 three-pointers. Other returning players include guards Stephen Castleberry and Caio Da Silva, and forward Tate Gates.
New additions include transfers Gor-El Zollicoffer from Pasadena City College, who averaged 11.3 points per game and led his previous team with 72 made three-pointers, and Corey Mitchell from Riverside City College, who averaged 7.3 points and nearly 4 rebounds per game. Freshmen contributors include point guard Quinton Skinner, a three-time All Inland Valley League selection and league MVP from Hemet High, as well as forwards Jamessen Lima and David Carbajal Jr.
The Eagles face a challenging 28-game schedule with 14 opponents ranked in Southern California’s pre-season top 20. November matchups include games against top-ranked Fullerton, third-ranked Citrus, fourth-ranked San Diego City, and IEAC rival San Bernardino Valley ranked second.
CSB Take
The Mt. San Jacinto College Eagles men’s basketball team enters a pivotal season in 2026-27 with a promising blend of returning talent and new additions. With Daniel Crawford ready to lead offensively and key transfers and freshmen bolstering the roster, the Eagles aim to uphold their strong tradition in a highly competitive Inland Empire Athletic Conference. Early tests against several top-ranked teams will be crucial in shaping their playoff aspirations under Coach Trent Skinner’s experienced guidance.
Source: Original report
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