Submitted photo – CR head coach Ryan Bisio with new recruits Jon Nchekwube, left, and Matt Bryant at their recent letter signing.

By Ray Hamill — College of the Redwoods men’s basketball head coach Ryan Bisio will have plenty of options to call on next season with a big battle looming for roster spots.

The defending conference champions will return four starters and have an abundance of players now looking to establish themselves with the program, with around 25 quality players expected to try out for the team.

Last week, Bisio added two more players expected to play a major role, Jon Nchekwube, a 6-foot-7 forward from Portland, and Matt Bryant, a 6-4 shooting guard from La Center High in Washington.

Two other locals — St. Bernard’s Lito Pabalate and Arcata’s Aidan Atkins — have also recently joined the program.

Pabalate will grey shirt this season, which means he will practice with the team, with an eye on a roster spot next year.

“He’s looked wonderful in the summer class, and just brought a great spirit to the class,” Bisio said of the recent Crusaders graduate. “Regardless of his status, I’m just glad he’s going to be with us.”

Atkins, meanwhile, is a recent Arcata graduate and also has been impressing the head coach during the summer sessions, while showing substantial improvement.

Ray Hamill/HumboldSports.com – Lito Pabalate in action for St. Bernard’s last season.

“I’ve always appreciated Aidan’s game since he was young,” said Bisio, who coached at Arcata High before joining CR. “But I can’t remember ever seeing a kid get this much better in two weeks. We’re really excited about where he’s going. Aidan has certainly positioned himself very handsomely.”

The two new locals join talented returning starters Drew Gillette, Zac Claus, Donald Willis and Bradley Willis, all from Fortuna, as well as numerous other H-DNL stars with the program, including Arcata’s Mason Railsback and Niko Zambas, Del Norte’s Omar Banuelos and Ferndale’s Gio Magdaleno, among others.

The two out-of-area recruits, meanwhile, are expected to bring a different dynamic to the team.

Submitted photo – Jon Nchekwube

Submitted photo – Matt Bryant

“I think these guys bring just a different flavor into our program with the guys we have,” the head coach said. “Each individual has a different ingredient we didn’t have.

“Jon is a real bruising physical presence, and I think he’s got a high ceiling.

“Matt’s a very athletic shooting guard. He posses incredible quickness for his size and really can finish at the rim for a shooting guard.”