California State University Northridge Athletics
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
Men's Basketball Announces 2026-27 Recruiting Class
7/14/2026 11:50:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN head men's basketball coach Andy Newman has announced the 2026-27 recruiting class, consisting of nine signings.
Among the group, the Matadors have added seven Division I transfers along with a pair of junior college recruits. Joining the Matadors this season will be Daniel Culberson, Brooklyn Hicks, Mikah Ballew, Naceiar Kirksey, BJ Omot, Caleb Smith, Lamine Niang, Jael Martin and Emmanuel Stephen.
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"We did a really good job in the transfer portal this year, replacing a lot of key players," said Newman. "Obviously, with our commitment to playing fast, scoring a lot of points and getting up and down the floor, I think we recruited a really good group of guys to continue that style of play."
Daniel Culberson | Guard | 6-0 | Little Rock, Ark. | Howard College
Culberson spent the past two seasons at Howard College in Big Springs, Texas, where he helped the Hawks capture the NJCAA National Championship this past season as a starting point guard. A native of Little Rock, Ark., he averaged career bests in points per game (10.5), rebounds per game (5.0) and assists per game (4.8) over 36 games in 2025-26. He also tallied 10 points, eight rebounds and two steals in the Hawks' national title victory. In his two-year junior college career, Culberson played in 65 games, making 53 starts, and averaged 8.8 points to go with shooting 42.3 percent overall and 33.8 percent from 3-point range.
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"Daniel has all the intangibles," said Newman. "His team at Howard won the national championship because he does all the things between the lines. He's a great leader and defender, a pass first point guard and ultra quick. He's going to push the ball up the floor really fast for us."
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Brooklyn Hicks | Guard | 6-3 | Lacey, Wash. | Montana
Hicks competed with the University of Montana in 2025-26, helping the Grizzlies to a runner-up finish in the Big Sky Tournament. The 6-3 guard averaged a career-high 9.0 points to go with 3.8 rebounds per game and 29 total steals over 34 games. He shot 46.6 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three-point range (43-of-117). Overall, he reached double figures in scoring 17 times. Prior to Montana, Hicks began his collegiate career at UNLV where he played in 65 games over two seasons. Hicks was a 2023 graduate of Timberline High School in his hometown of Lacey, Wash. He averaged 25 points in high school, capped by a 30-point average as a senior.
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"Brooklyn is going take a lot of the scoring load that Larry Hughes II left," said Newman. "He can shoot it, he could penetrate it, go by you and score on all three levels. He's a dynamic athlete and really good on the open floor. He could shoot the three, really attack close outs and get to the rim and finish."
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Mikah Ballew | Guard | 6-5 | Palmdale, Calif. | Portland
Ballew spent the past two seasons at the University of Portland, appearing in 62 career games. After playing in a reserve role as a freshman, Ballew started 15 of 31 games last season, averaging 8.7 points over 23.7 minutes per game. In addition, he made 50 three-pointers and collected 20 steals on the defensive end. Prior to Portland, Ballew prepped at Valencia High School, helping the Vikings to their first CIF championship in school history with a 30-point game in the finals. He also would be named Division 4AA Player of the Year as a senior. Ballew played post-graduate basketball at SoCal Academy.
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"Mikah is a Valley kid," said Newman. "He grew up right around the corner from here in Northridge. He actually grew up playing youth basketball in the auxiliary gym. A transfer from the University of Portland, and another three level scorer. He can shoot the three and go by you, and score in a lot of different ways. He's really crafty in that sense where you put the ball in his hands and give him an advantage, he's going to find way to get it in the basket."
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Naceiar Kirksey | Guard | 6-0 | Newark, N.J. | Monroe University
Kirksey most recently played at Monroe University where he appeared started 28 of 32 games. He would register a team-high 17.0 points and 4.3 assists while he led the squad with 71 three-point makes to go with 66 steals. Overall, he shot 43.2 percent from the floor, 35.2 percent from long range and 78.0 percent at the free throw line. Kirksey scored 21 points in leading Monroe to a NJCAA district championship. He previously spent his freshman season at Odessa College in 2024-25. Originally from Newark, N.J., Kirksey prepped at Our Saviour Lutheran School.
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"Naceiar took his team to the national championship tournament at Monroe and was a junior college All-American," said Newman. "He could really score and flat out shoot it. He's going to be a really good weapon for us. He's a spark plug, and he can come into the game, and in a matter of a few minutes, score 12 points for you."
BJ Omot | Forward | 6-8 | Mankato, Minn. | Minnesota
Omot is coming off an injury that sidelined him for the entire year at Minnesota. Prior to last season, Omot played for Cal in the 2024-25 season where he competed in four games and averaged 10.8 points. His first two seasons of college included a stint with North Dakota, earning All-Summit First Team honors in his sophomore season. Omot averaged 16.7 points and 4.2 rebounds that season, playing a team-high 35.2 minutes while shooting 41.6 percent. He also averaged 12.1 points as a freshman with UND. In 54 games, all starts, with North Dakota, Omot totaled 799 points and 222 rebounds. In high school, Omot prepped at Mankato East High School, averaging 22.5 points as a senior while he totaled 1,118 career points.
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"BJ is probably one of the highest-rated student-athletes we've recruited at Northridge," said Newman. "He's been at two power four schools and he's all of that. He can score at all three levels in a myriad of ways. We're really looking forward to him being able to score from that combo forward position for us. He's struggled with injury, but if we can keep him healthy, he'll be one of the best players in the Big West."
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Caleb Smith | Guard | 6-5 | Atlanta, Ga. | Rider
Smith played in 29 games, starting 25 times this past season at Rider. As a 6-5 guard, Smith topped the Broncs in rebounding at 7.1 per game while he averaged 7.2 points and collected 33 steals. Smith posted nine double-digit scoring and six double-digit rebounding performances with Rider. Prior to this past season, Smith spent two seasons at the junior college ranks, each of which he scored in double figures, highlighted by a career-high 14.5 points in his freshman season at Pratt Community College. Smith also had a stint at Garden City CC, scoring above 12 points per game in helping the team reach the NJCAA Region VI Tournament.
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"Caleb is a tough, hard-nosed basketball player," said Newman. "He can do the intangibles and rebound the heck out of the ball. He averaged over seven rebounds at the wing position, so that will hopefully translate to eight or nine rebounds a game for us. We think he'll fit into that Joshua O'Garro and Keonte Jones role, where he's defending, rebounding, pushing the break, and he's another guy that is a tremendous athlete. He's very vertical and he's going to have some moments next year that the crowd is going to love."
Lamine Niang | Forward | 6-10 | Thies, Senegal | UT Martin
Niang returns to CSUN after spending the past two seasons at UT Martin. He played in 56 games with the Skyhawks including a career-high 31 games with 13 starts in 2024-25. He helped the Skyhawks win 22 games this past season and post one of the top defenses in the nation at 63.2 points allowed. Niang averaged 3.3 points on 57.1 percent shooting (80-of-140) to go with 3.1 rebounds per game and 45 blocks in his two seasons with UT Martin. Previously, Niang began his collegiate career at CSUN. He played in 18 games in his freshman season, totaling 18 points and 26 rebounds with seven blocks before redshirting the 2023-24 season.
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"We're super excited about Lamine returning to CSUN," said Newman. "My first year, he redshirted for us, and over the course of the last two seasons he has improved his game. He's a threat around the block to really score it, which is something he's developed over the last two years. That goes along with he's always been a good defender and rim protector. I'm really looking forward to him coming back to where it all started and book ending his college experience at CSUN."
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Jael Martin | Forward | 6-9 | Carlsbad, Calif. | LMU
Martin comes to CSUN from nearby LMU where he spent the past two seasons. After redshirting his first season, Martin made his debut on the court for the Lions in 2025-26, where he averaged 7.8 minutes and totaled 32 points and 23 rebounds in 17 total games. Martin also shot an efficient 59.1 percent from the floor. Prior to LMU, Martin prepped at Carlsbad High School, helping the program to 30 victories as a senior as well as the San Diego Section Division Open title. He would average 13.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 2.3 assists in his senior season.
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"An L.A. kid from Loyola Marymount, Jael is super athletic, gives us great rim protection and is very versatile," said Newman. "He can play the five, possibly the four, and even the three for us. He's a tremendous athlete and he'll do some things on the basketball court that are going to wow this crowd."
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Emmanuel Stephen | Center | 7-0 | Lagos, Nigeria | UNLV
Stephen played his sophomore season with UNLV, appearing in 24 games with 12 starts. The 7-0 center averaged 3.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 15.4 minutes while he shot 50.6 percent from the field (40-of-79). Stephen also totaled 17 blocks on the campaign. Prior to UNLV, Stephen was a member of Arizona's Sweet Sixteen team in his freshman year in 2024-25. Stephen would play limited minutes with the Wildcats, appearing in eight total games. In high school, Stephen played his senior season at Dream City Christian in Glendale, Ariz. Stephen also spent time at the NBA Academy Africa prior to arriving to the United States.
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"Emmanuel is a seven-foot, long and athletic player who can run the floor," said Newman. "Usually, as we push the break, seven-foot players can't keep up, but Emmanuel can. It's going to be great to have someone with his size to keep up with our perimeter guys."
#GoMatadors
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Among the group, the Matadors have added seven Division I transfers along with a pair of junior college recruits. Joining the Matadors this season will be Daniel Culberson, Brooklyn Hicks, Mikah Ballew, Naceiar Kirksey, BJ Omot, Caleb Smith, Lamine Niang, Jael Martin and Emmanuel Stephen.
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"We did a really good job in the transfer portal this year, replacing a lot of key players," said Newman. "Obviously, with our commitment to playing fast, scoring a lot of points and getting up and down the floor, I think we recruited a really good group of guys to continue that style of play."
Daniel Culberson | Guard | 6-0 | Little Rock, Ark. | Howard College
Culberson spent the past two seasons at Howard College in Big Springs, Texas, where he helped the Hawks capture the NJCAA National Championship this past season as a starting point guard. A native of Little Rock, Ark., he averaged career bests in points per game (10.5), rebounds per game (5.0) and assists per game (4.8) over 36 games in 2025-26. He also tallied 10 points, eight rebounds and two steals in the Hawks' national title victory. In his two-year junior college career, Culberson played in 65 games, making 53 starts, and averaged 8.8 points to go with shooting 42.3 percent overall and 33.8 percent from 3-point range.
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"Daniel has all the intangibles," said Newman. "His team at Howard won the national championship because he does all the things between the lines. He's a great leader and defender, a pass first point guard and ultra quick. He's going to push the ball up the floor really fast for us."
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Brooklyn Hicks | Guard | 6-3 | Lacey, Wash. | Montana
Hicks competed with the University of Montana in 2025-26, helping the Grizzlies to a runner-up finish in the Big Sky Tournament. The 6-3 guard averaged a career-high 9.0 points to go with 3.8 rebounds per game and 29 total steals over 34 games. He shot 46.6 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three-point range (43-of-117). Overall, he reached double figures in scoring 17 times. Prior to Montana, Hicks began his collegiate career at UNLV where he played in 65 games over two seasons. Hicks was a 2023 graduate of Timberline High School in his hometown of Lacey, Wash. He averaged 25 points in high school, capped by a 30-point average as a senior.
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"Brooklyn is going take a lot of the scoring load that Larry Hughes II left," said Newman. "He can shoot it, he could penetrate it, go by you and score on all three levels. He's a dynamic athlete and really good on the open floor. He could shoot the three, really attack close outs and get to the rim and finish."
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Mikah Ballew | Guard | 6-5 | Palmdale, Calif. | Portland
Ballew spent the past two seasons at the University of Portland, appearing in 62 career games. After playing in a reserve role as a freshman, Ballew started 15 of 31 games last season, averaging 8.7 points over 23.7 minutes per game. In addition, he made 50 three-pointers and collected 20 steals on the defensive end. Prior to Portland, Ballew prepped at Valencia High School, helping the Vikings to their first CIF championship in school history with a 30-point game in the finals. He also would be named Division 4AA Player of the Year as a senior. Ballew played post-graduate basketball at SoCal Academy.
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"Mikah is a Valley kid," said Newman. "He grew up right around the corner from here in Northridge. He actually grew up playing youth basketball in the auxiliary gym. A transfer from the University of Portland, and another three level scorer. He can shoot the three and go by you, and score in a lot of different ways. He's really crafty in that sense where you put the ball in his hands and give him an advantage, he's going to find way to get it in the basket."
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Naceiar Kirksey | Guard | 6-0 | Newark, N.J. | Monroe University
Kirksey most recently played at Monroe University where he appeared started 28 of 32 games. He would register a team-high 17.0 points and 4.3 assists while he led the squad with 71 three-point makes to go with 66 steals. Overall, he shot 43.2 percent from the floor, 35.2 percent from long range and 78.0 percent at the free throw line. Kirksey scored 21 points in leading Monroe to a NJCAA district championship. He previously spent his freshman season at Odessa College in 2024-25. Originally from Newark, N.J., Kirksey prepped at Our Saviour Lutheran School.
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"Naceiar took his team to the national championship tournament at Monroe and was a junior college All-American," said Newman. "He could really score and flat out shoot it. He's going to be a really good weapon for us. He's a spark plug, and he can come into the game, and in a matter of a few minutes, score 12 points for you."
BJ Omot | Forward | 6-8 | Mankato, Minn. | Minnesota
Omot is coming off an injury that sidelined him for the entire year at Minnesota. Prior to last season, Omot played for Cal in the 2024-25 season where he competed in four games and averaged 10.8 points. His first two seasons of college included a stint with North Dakota, earning All-Summit First Team honors in his sophomore season. Omot averaged 16.7 points and 4.2 rebounds that season, playing a team-high 35.2 minutes while shooting 41.6 percent. He also averaged 12.1 points as a freshman with UND. In 54 games, all starts, with North Dakota, Omot totaled 799 points and 222 rebounds. In high school, Omot prepped at Mankato East High School, averaging 22.5 points as a senior while he totaled 1,118 career points.
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"BJ is probably one of the highest-rated student-athletes we've recruited at Northridge," said Newman. "He's been at two power four schools and he's all of that. He can score at all three levels in a myriad of ways. We're really looking forward to him being able to score from that combo forward position for us. He's struggled with injury, but if we can keep him healthy, he'll be one of the best players in the Big West."
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Caleb Smith | Guard | 6-5 | Atlanta, Ga. | Rider
Smith played in 29 games, starting 25 times this past season at Rider. As a 6-5 guard, Smith topped the Broncs in rebounding at 7.1 per game while he averaged 7.2 points and collected 33 steals. Smith posted nine double-digit scoring and six double-digit rebounding performances with Rider. Prior to this past season, Smith spent two seasons at the junior college ranks, each of which he scored in double figures, highlighted by a career-high 14.5 points in his freshman season at Pratt Community College. Smith also had a stint at Garden City CC, scoring above 12 points per game in helping the team reach the NJCAA Region VI Tournament.
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"Caleb is a tough, hard-nosed basketball player," said Newman. "He can do the intangibles and rebound the heck out of the ball. He averaged over seven rebounds at the wing position, so that will hopefully translate to eight or nine rebounds a game for us. We think he'll fit into that Joshua O'Garro and Keonte Jones role, where he's defending, rebounding, pushing the break, and he's another guy that is a tremendous athlete. He's very vertical and he's going to have some moments next year that the crowd is going to love."
Lamine Niang | Forward | 6-10 | Thies, Senegal | UT Martin
Niang returns to CSUN after spending the past two seasons at UT Martin. He played in 56 games with the Skyhawks including a career-high 31 games with 13 starts in 2024-25. He helped the Skyhawks win 22 games this past season and post one of the top defenses in the nation at 63.2 points allowed. Niang averaged 3.3 points on 57.1 percent shooting (80-of-140) to go with 3.1 rebounds per game and 45 blocks in his two seasons with UT Martin. Previously, Niang began his collegiate career at CSUN. He played in 18 games in his freshman season, totaling 18 points and 26 rebounds with seven blocks before redshirting the 2023-24 season.
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"We're super excited about Lamine returning to CSUN," said Newman. "My first year, he redshirted for us, and over the course of the last two seasons he has improved his game. He's a threat around the block to really score it, which is something he's developed over the last two years. That goes along with he's always been a good defender and rim protector. I'm really looking forward to him coming back to where it all started and book ending his college experience at CSUN."
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Jael Martin | Forward | 6-9 | Carlsbad, Calif. | LMU
Martin comes to CSUN from nearby LMU where he spent the past two seasons. After redshirting his first season, Martin made his debut on the court for the Lions in 2025-26, where he averaged 7.8 minutes and totaled 32 points and 23 rebounds in 17 total games. Martin also shot an efficient 59.1 percent from the floor. Prior to LMU, Martin prepped at Carlsbad High School, helping the program to 30 victories as a senior as well as the San Diego Section Division Open title. He would average 13.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 2.3 assists in his senior season.
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"An L.A. kid from Loyola Marymount, Jael is super athletic, gives us great rim protection and is very versatile," said Newman. "He can play the five, possibly the four, and even the three for us. He's a tremendous athlete and he'll do some things on the basketball court that are going to wow this crowd."
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Emmanuel Stephen | Center | 7-0 | Lagos, Nigeria | UNLV
Stephen played his sophomore season with UNLV, appearing in 24 games with 12 starts. The 7-0 center averaged 3.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 15.4 minutes while he shot 50.6 percent from the field (40-of-79). Stephen also totaled 17 blocks on the campaign. Prior to UNLV, Stephen was a member of Arizona's Sweet Sixteen team in his freshman year in 2024-25. Stephen would play limited minutes with the Wildcats, appearing in eight total games. In high school, Stephen played his senior season at Dream City Christian in Glendale, Ariz. Stephen also spent time at the NBA Academy Africa prior to arriving to the United States.
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"Emmanuel is a seven-foot, long and athletic player who can run the floor," said Newman. "Usually, as we push the break, seven-foot players can't keep up, but Emmanuel can. It's going to be great to have someone with his size to keep up with our perimeter guys."
#GoMatadors
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