California State University Northridge Athletics

Photo by: Will Navarro
6/21/2022 4:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---Head coach Trent Johnson announced the recruitment class for the CSUN Men's Basketball team featuring four Division I transfers, two junior college transfers and three incoming freshmen. All nine student-athletes will join the Matadors for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
Â
"We are excited about the addition of these nine student-athletes to our program," said Johnson. "The commitment they have already shown to their training and the weight room has been impressive thus far, and we look forward to being a part of their continued development as student-athletes. We are excited to continue to help build a program that the community and the university will be proud of."
Â
Adam Afifi – Forward, 6-9, 235 lbs., West Valley College
Â
A San Jose native, Adam Afifi spent three years at West Valley College from 2019-22. This past season, Afifi was named Coast South Conference Player of the Year and a first-team all-state selection after helping the Vikings to a 28-4 record, conference championship and CCAAA State Championship runner-up finish. Afifi averaged 17.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks to go with a 47.7 field goal percentage and 35.3 3-point percentage this past season. He also averaged 13.9 points and 7.6 rebounds as a freshman in 2019-20. Afifi graduated from Mater Dei Prep in Middletown, N.J.
Â
De'Sean Allen-Eikens – Guard, 6-6, 215 lbs., University of New Orleans
Â
De'Sean Allen-Eikens has played in 52 career games at the Division I level including making 38 starts. A native of Williston, N.D., Allen-Eikens has racked up 561 career points and averaged 10.8 points per game. Allen-Eikens began his collegiate career with the University of North Dakota where he spent three seasons including a redshirt year. He would set a UND freshman record in 2019-20, totaling 454 points as he averaged 13.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Allen-Eikens transferred to the University of New Orleans last season where he played in 14 games, starting seven times while averaging 5.9 points and 3.2 rebounds. Allen-Eikens was also a former first-team all-state player at Williston High School.
Â
Dionte Bostick – Guard, 6-2, 190 lbs., Murray State
Â
Originally from Clearwater, Fla., Dionte Bostick has spent the past two seasons with Murray State, playing in 35 games with the Racers. Bostick played in a career-high 19 games as a true freshman, starting the team's final 16 games. He averaged 4.9 points and 2.9 assists per game that season while shooting 44.6 percent from the floor. He was also a member of a Murray State team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season. Before Murray State, Bostick prepped at East Lake High School where he scored 724 points as a senior. He would earn Florida Dairy Farmers Class 6A Player of the Year honors after helping ELHS advance to the state tournament semifinals.
Â
Ethan Igbanugo – Guard 6-2, 185 lbs., University of North Dakota
Â
Originally from Lakeville, Minn., Ethan Igbanugo spent the past five seasons at the University of North Dakota including a redshirt season. He has played in 90 career games with the Fighting Hawks, scoring 531 total points. Igbanugo has also shot a career 36.3 percent from 3-point range (97-of-267). This past season, Igbanugo posted a career-high 8.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in 29 games including eight starts. His 43 triples and 255 points in 2021-22 were both the third-highest totals on the team. Igbanugo also improved his scoring and rebounding averages in each season with UND. Before college, Igbanugo pepped at Lakeville North High School where he averaged nearly 14 points as a senior.
Â
Lamine Niang, Forward, 6-10, 190 lbs., Central Pointe Christian Academy
Â
Originally from Dakar, Senegal, Lamine Niang began his high school career at Fairmont Prep where he played alongside CSUN guard Atin Wright for two seasons from 2018-20. Niang finished off his prep career at Central Pointe Christian Academy (CPCA) in Kissimmee, Fla. He helped CPCA post two impressive seasons including a 30-win season and No. 20 national ranking in 2021. His team advanced to the state championship final four and the Grind Sessions national championship elite eight this past season. Niang came to the United States as a freshman in high school.
Â
Cam Slaymaker – Guard, 6-5, 195 lbs., London Basketball Academy
Â
Another incoming freshman, Cam Slaymaker is a native of Coquitlam, British Columbia. A sharpshooting guard, Slaymaker prepped at Terry Fox Secondary School for three years before finishing up his high school career at London Basketball Academy (LBA) in Ontario. Slaymaker impressed during his time with LBA as he made the 2022 BioSteel All-Canadian Team this past March. Showing his shooting touch, Slaymaker scored 56 points in a game this past February.
Â
Dearon Tucker – Forward, 6-10, 240 lbs., Indiana State
Â
A Dallas native, Dearon Tucker has played 60 career Division I games over the past three years. Tucker began his collegiate career at Oregon State where he played in 46 total games including 29 in 2020-21. He averaged 2.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in under 10 minutes per game for a Beaver team that advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2021. Tucker spent last season at Indiana State, playing in 14 games while making two starts. He totaled 31 points and 38 rebounds for the year with the Sycamores. Before his collegiate career, Tucker averaged 12.7 points and 8.8 rebounds as a senior at Legacy Early College in Greenville, S.C.
Â
John Wade III – Guard, 6-5, 180 lbs., Contra Costa College
Â
John Wade III lettered two seasons at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif. from 2019-22. He would have a breakout sophomore campaign this past season where he averaged 14.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.5 steals per game for the Comets. Wade helped Contra Costa finish atop the Bay Valley Conference with a 14-2 league mark and 23-5 overall record. After the season, he was named CCCMBCA All-State and first-team all-conference. Before Contra Costa, Wade prepped at American Canyon High School and graduated in 2018.
Â
Johnnie Walter – Forward, 6-9, 215 lbs., Hotchkiss School
Â
Johnnie Walter played post-graduate basketball this past season at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn. A Westlake Village native, Walter averaged 17 points and five rebounds while shooting 55 percent from the field and 80 percent at the free throw line. Walter helped Hotchkiss to a 22-1 record, a Founder League title and the New England Class A Championship. He previously played high school basketball at Oaks Christian School. Walter's parents are both CSUN alums and former Matador volleyball players. His father, Eckhard, was a 2002 AVCA All-American while his mother, Laura, was a four-time first-team all-conference player.
Â
#UniteTheValley
Â
Â
"We are excited about the addition of these nine student-athletes to our program," said Johnson. "The commitment they have already shown to their training and the weight room has been impressive thus far, and we look forward to being a part of their continued development as student-athletes. We are excited to continue to help build a program that the community and the university will be proud of."
Â
Adam Afifi – Forward, 6-9, 235 lbs., West Valley College
Â
A San Jose native, Adam Afifi spent three years at West Valley College from 2019-22. This past season, Afifi was named Coast South Conference Player of the Year and a first-team all-state selection after helping the Vikings to a 28-4 record, conference championship and CCAAA State Championship runner-up finish. Afifi averaged 17.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks to go with a 47.7 field goal percentage and 35.3 3-point percentage this past season. He also averaged 13.9 points and 7.6 rebounds as a freshman in 2019-20. Afifi graduated from Mater Dei Prep in Middletown, N.J.
Â
De'Sean Allen-Eikens – Guard, 6-6, 215 lbs., University of New Orleans
Â
De'Sean Allen-Eikens has played in 52 career games at the Division I level including making 38 starts. A native of Williston, N.D., Allen-Eikens has racked up 561 career points and averaged 10.8 points per game. Allen-Eikens began his collegiate career with the University of North Dakota where he spent three seasons including a redshirt year. He would set a UND freshman record in 2019-20, totaling 454 points as he averaged 13.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Allen-Eikens transferred to the University of New Orleans last season where he played in 14 games, starting seven times while averaging 5.9 points and 3.2 rebounds. Allen-Eikens was also a former first-team all-state player at Williston High School.
Â
Dionte Bostick – Guard, 6-2, 190 lbs., Murray State
Â
Originally from Clearwater, Fla., Dionte Bostick has spent the past two seasons with Murray State, playing in 35 games with the Racers. Bostick played in a career-high 19 games as a true freshman, starting the team's final 16 games. He averaged 4.9 points and 2.9 assists per game that season while shooting 44.6 percent from the floor. He was also a member of a Murray State team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season. Before Murray State, Bostick prepped at East Lake High School where he scored 724 points as a senior. He would earn Florida Dairy Farmers Class 6A Player of the Year honors after helping ELHS advance to the state tournament semifinals.
Â
Ethan Igbanugo – Guard 6-2, 185 lbs., University of North Dakota
Â
Originally from Lakeville, Minn., Ethan Igbanugo spent the past five seasons at the University of North Dakota including a redshirt season. He has played in 90 career games with the Fighting Hawks, scoring 531 total points. Igbanugo has also shot a career 36.3 percent from 3-point range (97-of-267). This past season, Igbanugo posted a career-high 8.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in 29 games including eight starts. His 43 triples and 255 points in 2021-22 were both the third-highest totals on the team. Igbanugo also improved his scoring and rebounding averages in each season with UND. Before college, Igbanugo pepped at Lakeville North High School where he averaged nearly 14 points as a senior.
Â
Lamine Niang, Forward, 6-10, 190 lbs., Central Pointe Christian Academy
Â
Originally from Dakar, Senegal, Lamine Niang began his high school career at Fairmont Prep where he played alongside CSUN guard Atin Wright for two seasons from 2018-20. Niang finished off his prep career at Central Pointe Christian Academy (CPCA) in Kissimmee, Fla. He helped CPCA post two impressive seasons including a 30-win season and No. 20 national ranking in 2021. His team advanced to the state championship final four and the Grind Sessions national championship elite eight this past season. Niang came to the United States as a freshman in high school.
Â
Cam Slaymaker – Guard, 6-5, 195 lbs., London Basketball Academy
Â
Another incoming freshman, Cam Slaymaker is a native of Coquitlam, British Columbia. A sharpshooting guard, Slaymaker prepped at Terry Fox Secondary School for three years before finishing up his high school career at London Basketball Academy (LBA) in Ontario. Slaymaker impressed during his time with LBA as he made the 2022 BioSteel All-Canadian Team this past March. Showing his shooting touch, Slaymaker scored 56 points in a game this past February.
Â
Dearon Tucker – Forward, 6-10, 240 lbs., Indiana State
Â
A Dallas native, Dearon Tucker has played 60 career Division I games over the past three years. Tucker began his collegiate career at Oregon State where he played in 46 total games including 29 in 2020-21. He averaged 2.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in under 10 minutes per game for a Beaver team that advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2021. Tucker spent last season at Indiana State, playing in 14 games while making two starts. He totaled 31 points and 38 rebounds for the year with the Sycamores. Before his collegiate career, Tucker averaged 12.7 points and 8.8 rebounds as a senior at Legacy Early College in Greenville, S.C.
Â
John Wade III – Guard, 6-5, 180 lbs., Contra Costa College
Â
John Wade III lettered two seasons at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif. from 2019-22. He would have a breakout sophomore campaign this past season where he averaged 14.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.5 steals per game for the Comets. Wade helped Contra Costa finish atop the Bay Valley Conference with a 14-2 league mark and 23-5 overall record. After the season, he was named CCCMBCA All-State and first-team all-conference. Before Contra Costa, Wade prepped at American Canyon High School and graduated in 2018.
Â
Johnnie Walter – Forward, 6-9, 215 lbs., Hotchkiss School
Â
Johnnie Walter played post-graduate basketball this past season at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn. A Westlake Village native, Walter averaged 17 points and five rebounds while shooting 55 percent from the field and 80 percent at the free throw line. Walter helped Hotchkiss to a 22-1 record, a Founder League title and the New England Class A Championship. He previously played high school basketball at Oaks Christian School. Walter's parents are both CSUN alums and former Matador volleyball players. His father, Eckhard, was a 2002 AVCA All-American while his mother, Laura, was a four-time first-team all-conference player.
Â
#UniteTheValley
Â
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, September 16
Thursday, September 03
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, February 13




