Keelhauler Hoops signs five recruits
VALLEJO, Calif. - Cal Maritime head men's basketball coach Tim Bross announced the addition of five new players to the Keelhauler program for the 2021-22 season on Wednesday afternoon.
The signing of this crop of talent, listed below in alphabetical order by last name, brings a total of eight new players for the upcoming campaign. Miles Pennington and Eric Figueroa signed in February while Landon Courtman inked in April.
Amil Fields (College of the Sequoias/Moreau Catholic High School), a 6'6" forward from Hayward, spent two seasons at College of the Sequoias where he averaged 9.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and shot 34.4-percent from 3-point range. A graduate of Moreau Catholic High School, Fields is a proven winner who will help stretch the floor for Cal Maritime.
"Amil has been a part of two successful programs at both Moreau Catholic High School and College of the Sequoias and knows what it takes to win," said Bross. "His outside shooting ability will help bolster our offensive attack, and we are excited to see Amil continue his development as a defender and rebounder."
Tomas Gomez-Espana (Santa Monica College/Napa High School), a Napa native, transferred to CSU Maritime from Santa Monica College, where he maintained a stellar 4.0 GPA. A 6'2" sharp-shooter, Gomez-Espana averaged 11.5 points and three rebounds while shooting 38-percent from behind the arc as a freshman at Napa Valley College in 2018-19. He'll have three years of eligibility remaining for the Keelhaulers.
"Tomas is a high-quality young man known for his shooting ability," said Bross. "He is a local product, a strong student, and has been working hard to expand his game. We are looking forward to seeing how this hard work pays off."
Lucky Hampton (Salesian High School) is a 6'3" guard out of Salesian College Prep in Richmond.
"Lucky is a high-energy perimeter player who will bring poise, toughness, and determination to our group. He comes from Salesian and plays to win the game," said Bross. "Lucky is someone with whom you want to go to battle."
Alex Maze (Sacramento High School), a 6'2" guard from Sacramento, is an athletic hustle player that can both shoot from long range and attack the basket.
"We are delighted to welcome Alex to our program, as he brings scoring and athleticism. We value his shooting ability and are eager to see him continue to grow as a defender," said Bross. "He has a tremendous upside and we are excited to be a part of his journey."
Eric Norton (Foothill College/Menlo-Atherton High School) started 28 of 29 games for Foothill College in 2019-20, averaging 16.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. A 6'1" guard from Menlo Park, he'll bring experience and versatility to the Keelhauler backcourt.
"We are fired up that Eric is a Keelhauler. He is a dynamic scoring guard who will enhance our guard play," said Bross. "He was productive and successful during his two years in junior college and will bring that experience to our team. We can't wait to see Eric in action."
The Cal Maritime men's basketball schedule will be announced later this summer. The Keelhaulers did not compete in 2020-21, but went 20-9 and made a trip to the Cal Pac Conference Championships in 2019-20.