Fansmanship Podcast Episode 217 – Chris Sylvester and Brint Wahlberg
It’s another podcast episode! Cal Poly basketball teams are at the Big...
On Thursday, Cal Poly announced receiving letters of intent from a pair of Southern California junior college players. They are Victor Joseph, a 6-foot guard from Rancho Cucamonga who went to Chaffey College and Josh Mishler, a 6′ 5″ wing player from Saddleback.
Joseph was recruited out of Rancho Cucamonga High School by Colorado State and Florida A&M. One didn’t work out and the other had a coaching change and Joseph ended up at the local junior college, where he could work on getting his weight up and on his game.
“I liked the junior college route,” said Joseph. “It made me work hard and grind it out. Now I just feel so good, signed to Division I Cal Poly and a great school like this.”
Joseph chose Cal Poly over San Diego, Hawai’i, Montana State and Quinnipiac. He said the Cal Poly coaching staff made the difference in his decision.
“The whole coaching staff, they just have your back,” said Joseph. Not only on the court, but off the court too. It seemed like a real family environment and we have a chance to get to the tournament next year. I just feel like it was the right place for me.”
So happy to welcome @vic_hoops to the Cal Poly family! #GoMustangs #SoCalPOY
— Coach Fortier (@CoachFortier) April 14, 2016
Cal Poly head coach, Joe Callero is excited to get Joseph on campus.
“Victor is quick, skilled and competitive,” Callero said via a Cal Poly release on Thursday. “He can play both guard positions, but will be counted on to knock down perimeter shots. He has great patience, a feel for the game and is well-respected on his team. Victor will be a great addition to our program.”
Cal Poly’s proximity to the beach didn’t hurt either in Joseph’s recruiting process. Cal Poly was his first and last recruiting trip this time around.
“I’m kind of a competitive guy and I like winning. My last five years playing basketball I’ve been on teams with winning records. Trying to get to the [NCAA] tournament: that’s the main goal. Coach Callero has been saying we have the pieces to do it so I’m excited to get up there with the guys and gel with them,” said Joseph.
Joseph’s AAU team was the Compton Magic, which outgoing Cal Poly senior David Nwaba was a part of as well as local high school products Cameron Walker (Righetti, Stanford) and Quinton Adlesh (Mission Prep, Columbia).
Last summer, Cal Poly traveled to Paris, France — an International trip each program is allowed to take every four years. In the season that followed, the Mustangs finished a disappointing 10-20 overall, 4-12 in the Big West, and were the seven-seed in the conference tournament, losing to second-seeded UC Irvine in the first round.
This summer, Joseph is planning on taking summer classes in San Luis Obispo.
After losing Reese Morgan, Nwaba, Brian Bennett, and Joel Awich to graduation, the team will add two freshmen — forward, Jacob Cushing and guard, Mark Crowe — along with Joseph and Mishler.
Joseph has some first-hand knowledge of Mishler. Mishler’s Saddleback beat Joseph’s Chaffey by five in the final of a tournament in Riverside.
“When he played us, he knocked down some big threes,” said Joseph of his future teammate. “He always made that extra pass. He was a good defender too.”
It's official! Thanks to all my family, coaches, teammates, and friends. Go Mustangs? pic.twitter.com/Z4ZXTMajfS
— Josh Mishler (@joshjmish) April 14, 2016
— Josh Mishler (@joshjmish) April 8, 2016
Mishler’s “glue guy” tweet combined with Callero’s comments in Cal Poly’s release make me think of Chris O’Brien, another Orange County product who transferred to Cal Poly. O’Brien was a guy who could kind of do whatever the team needed, including defend multiple positions. I’m thinking Mishler is a little smaller and will play the 2 and 3 (instead of the 3 and 4, like O’Brien), but he would do pretty well to be in the Chris O’Brien range of guys who can fill gaps and do whatever the team needs.
Joseph played in a system with two point guards, but he was more of the scorer in the back court last season. His addition means that Cal Poly now has three point guards. Ridge Shipley will be a senior and Jaylen Shead will be a sophomore next season. Joseph’s addition gives Cal Poly some additional options with the 1 and 2 guard spots. Presumably, Taylor Sutlive, and perhaps Serigne Athj will also have something to say about that.
While Joseph will be a junior next season, Mishler will be a sophomore. Their addition gives the Cal Poly roster two more California natives. Last season, the roster of 16 players included just 7 from the Golden State.
Two additional players who could see their first action on the floor in 2016-17 are 6’10” Hank Hollingsworth and the 6’4″ Athj, both of whom redshirted last year.
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