2025-26 Season Links
Returners
Three players return to the Cougar program for the 2025-26 season. Sophomore point guard Brandon Mangahas saw limited action last season while Redshirt Sophomore point guard Parker Escalante and Redshirt Freshman Dionte LaMaide used a medical redshirt.
Guards
The Cougars are led at the guard spot by Sophomore Blake Carabio, Escalante, Mangahas, Freshman I'yar Shadowvine and Redshirt Freshman Travis Vasquez.
Hoff on the Guards - "Our guards have been competitive amongst each other this entire preseason. They have made things very interesting with our rotation. They have allowed us to have great lineup versatility for the upcoming season. We will rely on their leadership throughout the year.
Escalante & Shadowvine have done a great job of serving as point guards. Carabio & Vasquez can really score the basketball. Mangahas has been our most steady guard throughout the preseason & doesn't make a lot of mistakes."
Wings
This season will feature Freshmen Jadden Jones and Devone Pless at the wing position. Additionally, Freshman Dylan Eaddy can slide down to provide depth at the wing position.
Hoff on the Wings - "Our wings bring different skill sets to the position. Jadden Jones is a monster on the glass & is a smart defender. Pless has a high I.Q. & creates offense for others. Eaddy can shoot the leather off of the ball.
They will allow us to play small or big lineups at different points of the season. Their development is crucial to our ceiling as a program."
Forwards
The forward position will be led by Freshman Eric Butler, Redshirt Freshman Semajay James and Freshman Gak Kueth. Redshirt Freshmen Thor Hawkins and Dionte LaMaide provide strong, physical presences at the forward position.
Hoff on the Forwards - "Our forwards have done a good job of utilizing their strengths to combat their lack of traditional size. They understand their roles & have finally gotten healthy. While we've had some transition with this position, we are pleased with the group that has emerged.
Butler leverages space on the glass & is a strong on-ball defender. James has a unique offensive game that fits our system & is incredibly strong. Kueth is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential & is our best post defender. Hawkins is our most technically sound forward & plays within himself. LaMaide has one of the best rebounding rates in the program & provides size inside."
ACCAC
The 2024-25 season saw three of the ACCAC DII teams finish with winning records. Pima CC spent time as the #1 ranked team in the country in the NJCAA DII Top 25 Poll while wrapping up with a 3rd place finish at the NJCAA DII National Tournament. The top 4 regular season finishers advance to the NJCAA Region I Tournament with an automatic bid on the line for the NJCAA DII National Tournament
Hoff on the ACCAC - "The ACCAC is recognized nationally for its depth & competitiveness. Last season it featured a NJCAA Final Four participant. We will need to be prepared & play our best every single night to have a chance to compete in this league. We are excited to see if we can compete with the best within the ACCAC."
Each ACCAC team will play each other three times during the regular season. The conference opener for most teams will be on November 25th with the last conference game being played on February 28th. The first round of the Region 1 Tournament will occur during the first week of March.
Hoff anticipates being picked at the bottom of the conference in the preseason ACCAC poll with the program starting over for the 2025-26 season.
"We should be picked at the bottom of the conference & rightfully so. We haven't proven anything. We have a long ways to go to prove that we deserve to compete within this conference."
Scheduling
Fans will get to see the Cougars square off inside the Cougar Den 17 times during the 2025-26 season. Additionally, the Cougars hit the road for 10 games while also participating in three neutral site games to open up the 2025-26 season.
SMCC MBB travels to Phoenix College on October 31st through November 2nd for their PC Classic. The Cougars open up at 2:00 pm MST against Arizona Christian University JV.
Your first opportunity to see the Cougars at home in the Cougar Den will be on November 10th at 7:30 pm PST as they square off against the visiting Redhawks from Benedictine University Mesa JV.
ACCAC play opens on November 26th as the Cougars must travel over to defending ACCAC runner-up Chandler-Gilbert CC. Tip-off occurs at 7:30 pm PST.
2025-26 Season Outlook
The 2025-26 season is the inaugural season of the Hoff era at South Mountain CC. Despite starting his tenure on June 1st, the Cougars were able to put together a full staff & roster for the 2025-26 season.
Assistants Coaches Trent Hill and Justin Pluid were hired on staff while Hoff retained Assistant Coach Scott Winter.
The roster features three sophomores, 10 freshmen and 3 redshirts. Four players have previous college experience within the ACCAC.
Hoff on the 2025-26 season - "We have a long ways to go to achieve the success necessary to compete in this conference. We have to embrace being the best defensive team in the conference. We won't beat anyone on talent, size or experience. Our discipline & culture will need to carry us through the season. We must learn what it takes to win in this highly competitive conference. We are eager for the challenge."
Head Coach Cory Hoff
Hoff takes over the Cougar program after serving the last two seasons as Associate Head Coach at New Mexico Military Institute, a NJCAA DI program in Roswell, New Mexico.
In a homecoming of sorts,. Hoff is no stranger to the ACCAC after serving as an assistant coach under legendary Head Coach Sam Ballard with rival Mesa Community College. During Hoff's tenure on staff, the Thunderbirds went 84-36 while making the NJCAA DI Region 1 playoffs in all 4 seasons.
During the 2013-14 season, Hoff was on staff when Mesa CC won the ACCAC Regular Season & Region 1 DI Playoff Championships.
SMCC MBB History
SMCC MBB hasn't achieved a winning season since the 2017-18 season. Fans will have to look back to the 2015-16 season to find the Cougars last trip to the NJCAA DII National Tournament, where SMCC finished in 8th place after falling to Monroe Community College in the Consolation Championship. The 2010-11 season was one to remember for Cougar fans, as SMCC MBB finished as the ACCAC Regular Season Champions for the only time in school history.