Dominican signs a pair of newcomers

Courtesy of Dominican University Associate Director of Public Relations David Albee:

The Dominican University of California men’s basketball team has signed two Southern California recruits, led by Devin Golston, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound transfer from Saddleback College in Mission Viejo who was an All-CIF player at Gahr High School in 2009.

Golston will be coming to Dominican with Jonny Bates, who won 49 games the past two seasons at Capistrano Valley High School.

They will join a 2012-13 recruiting class that already includes Sacramento-area products Kevin John (K.J.) Logue of Bella Vista High School, Matt Hayes, the all-time leading scorer at Yuba City High, and Christopher Schwartz-Edmisten of Waldorf High who led California prep boys’ basketball in scoring with a 34.1 points per game average last season.

“We are excited to add Devin and Jonny to our class,” said Dominican head men’s basketball coach Booker T. Harris. “This group will help us as we try to become more competitive in NCAA Division II. We will have more versatility with players who can compete at multiple positions and can find different ways to score. It also will allow us to add to our group of young men who represent the University and what we want Dominican basketball to be on and off the court.”

Golston averaged 6.9 points and three rebounds a game for a 20-9 Gauchos team last season. He was second on the team in field goal and free throw percentage. Prior to that, Golston played as a freshman at Cypress College, starting 28 games and averaging 14.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game to lead the Chargers in rebounding and field goal percentage (.545).

The power forward had a brilliant four-year career at Gahr High School in Cerritos. With the Gladiators, he averaged 24.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 1.4 assists and 1.3 steals a game in his senior season when he was named First Team All-CIF Division III Southern Section. He scored 30 points in his final high school game in the semifinals of the CIF South Div. III playoffs.

“Devin is a player that will play multiple positions for us and give us flexibility on the floor,” Harris said. “He comes from successful winning programs and has athletic ability to add quickness and length for us on the floor. We expect him to be a helpful addition to the returners that we have coming back.”

Bates, a 6-4, 215-pound swingman, averaged 8.0 points and 5.2 rebounds last season for the Cougars while shooting 52 percent from the floor, 47 percent from 3-point range and nearly 80 percent from the foul line. He had a career-high 17 points and four 3-pointers against Westchester on Feb. 4 after the Cougars had won 21 of their first 23 games. He made 11-of-12 free throws in a 14-point, 10-rebound performance against Dana Hills on Jan. 13.

“Jonny also comes from a very successful program and that appeals to us,” Harris said. “He has the ability to play around the basket and make shots from the perimeter.”

The Penguins, who won eight of their last 11 games last season to finish in fourth place in the Pacific West Conference, open play this season on November 10 at home in the Conlan Center against Cal State Stanislaus.