Walnut, Calif. – The Mt. San Antonio College Men's Basketball Team is gearing up for what promises to be an exciting and energetic 2025–26 season. Under the leadership of Head Coach Michael Fenison, the Mounties enter the year with a youthful, athletic roster eager to build on last season's impressive 25–5 record and a second-place finish in the South Coast Conference behind East Los Angeles College (ELAC).
"This year's team should be exciting," said Fenison. "We have a lot of young guys, and they are talented, but they've never played college basketball before. Seeing their growth is going to be really fun to watch. I think we have a chance to be good—it's just going to depend on how fast we mature."
The 15-player roster includes five sophomores and ten freshmen, with returning players Jaidyn Simpson, Jeremy Williams, Noah Layne, and Ryan Wheeler expected to provide leadership and experience. Simpson — described by Fenison as "our best player" — is currently sidelined with an injury but is expected back soon. The sophomore standout was a force last season, leading Mt. SAC with 537 points and averaging 19.9 per game.
The Mounties' conference competition remains tough, with Fenison citing ELAC, Pasadena, and Trade Tech as programs to watch. Still, confidence is high in the Mounties. "If we do what we are supposed to do, we have a really good chance of winning conference," Fenison said. "It's going to be hard, but we'll figure it out."
Off the court, the team is building chemistry and a brotherhood. "They're good guys off the court and they're learning each other on the court right now," Fenison explained. "A lot of the guys are not born leaders, so it's hard for them. They don't like stepping on each other's toes. I told them, you can't win unless someone decides to step up."
The Mounties' training regimen has been intense, with strength and conditioning sessions three times a week and a running program overseen by Coach Harrison. Fenison believes the hard work is paying off. "We're getting stronger and getting in better shape," he said. "We have the capability to be a really good defensive team. We're longer and more athletic—we just have to get the guys to understand what we need done."
This year's squad boasts impressive size, including five players standing 6'6" or taller, led by Ryan Wheeler (6'6"), Ethan Nelson (6' 6"), Zion Booker (6' 7"), Alejando Munoz (6'8"), and Antonio Camarao (6'7"). "That helps because now Ryan isn't by himself height-wise," Fenison noted. "When he gets in foul trouble, I don't have to go small. We can go big or small with better talent overall."
The Mounties are set to open their season on Friday, October 31 at 4:00 PM on the road against powerhouse Citrus College, a team that reached the State Final Four last year. "I would like to see how we function in our very first game against Citrus," Fenison said. "I think that will tell me a lot about how our season is going to go."
Mt. SAC recently got a taste of game action with preseason scrimmages against LA Valley and Ventura, experiences Fenison said were valuable in identifying areas for improvement.
The excitement surrounding the program was on full display during Mountie Midnight Madness, a spirited event that brought together Mt. SAC's athletic community. "That was so fun," said Fenison. "Just to see everyone come together—cheer, volleyball, football, and both men's and women's basketball supporting each other. The whole night was great. The competition, the dunk exhibition, the atmosphere—it got everyone hyped up for the season."
The message from Coach Fenison is clear: the Mounties have the tools, now it's time to put them to work.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.