Cal Basketball: Mark Madsen Evaluates His Revamped Roster

In seven weeks since accepting the assignment as Cal’s new head basketball coach, Mark Madsen already has filled our his staff, begun work on a 2023-24 game schedule and greeted donors about supporting plans for a practice facility.

Above all else, he has solidified the Bears’ roster, keeping five returnees and two signed incoming freshmen in the fold while adding five Division I transfers.

Without question, the Bears have better talent, more size and greater depth than they had a year ago when they staggered to a 3-29 record.

“I anticipate every single player on the roster is going to contribute and help the team win," Madsen said. "Obviously, some will get more minutes than others. It comes down to who comes in in great shape? Who comes in and learns the system? Who comes in and makes the plays?”

*** Madsen talks about his goal of making Haas Pavilion a go-to destination for East Bay sports fans.

Madsen has one remaining available scholarship for the 2023-24 season and said he plans to utilize it. He is not permitted to discuss prospective recruits, but Cal was believed to be courting a pair of Madsen’s players from Utah Valley — 7-foot junior shot-blocker Aziz Bandaogo and 6-4 senior guard Trey Woodbury.

Bandaogo will not be coming to Berkeley, though, having committed to Cincinnati on Saturday.

Madsen also has ratcheted up the push to land commitments from high school prospects in the class of 2024. The Bears will have at least five seniors on the roster this season so Madsen will be looking to bring in a deep class.

Among those cited by the various recruiting services as being involved with Cal are point guards Zoom Diallo, Jase Richardson and Trent Perry, small forward Zion Sensley and power forward Aiden Sherrell. Diallo is rated as the No. 15 prospect nationally in the Class of ’24, according to Rivals, while Sherrell checks in at No. 22.

Again, while he's limited in what he can say about recruits, Madsen said the response from prospects has been “very, very strong. I can feel their excitement because they know things are changing. They know we’re going to get this back to where it’s been.”

In the meantime, we asked Madsen to provide his impressions of the 12 players already on the Cal roster. His remarks on the Bears' five returnees are captured on the video at the top of this story.

Here’s what he had to say about all 12 players:

-- THE RETURNEES (5)

DEVIN ASKEW (6-3 senior guard, 15.5 points, 3.0 assists, 13 games): “Really, really good passer — he’s one of the best passers in the country. Great court vision. A guy who has the ability to make big plays. He can go down on the block, can make the mid-range shot and he’s a worker. As Devin continues to get more into a rhythm you’re going to see his game continue to expand and grow. As he gets completely healthy, I think his efficiency is only going to improve.”

MONTY BOWSER (6-7 junior forward, 3.8 points, 27% 3-point): “Smooth shooter. He’s also a guy who has a great strong mid-range game. It comes off his hand and it’s a beautiful shot. As he expands out more in volume from 3, I think his game will take off. The stroke is there. I’ve encouraged him, `Every time you’re open from 3, you let it fly.’ Because with his length and athleticism, not a lot of guys are going to be able to get to his shot.”

JALEN CELESTINE (6-7 junior guard, DNP in 2022-23 - knee injury): “Obviously, (he brings) physicality. Great shooter. A guy who can get to the rim in different ways — he’s got a spin move, he’s got a Euro step, he’s got the same-hand, same-foot finish. He can go to the block and post-up a smaller guy. He’s really being diligent in terms of the training room, coming back from injury. We’re very, very excited for Jalen.”

GRANT NEWELL (6-8 sophomore forward, 8.0 points, 3.9 rebounds): “Grant had games where he really injected energy into the game with really great 3-point shooting, physicality and finishing inside. He’s got versatility. He came off ball screens last year, finished at the rim. We’ve only seen that continue to expand this spring. He can play multiple positions, he can guard multiple positions.”

ND OKAFOR (6-9 sophomore forward, 3.7 points, 2.5 rebounds): “A big, tough, physical, bruising type of player. He’s had a great spring. ND can go to the block — he’s got a spin move. The footwork continues to improve. Proficient free-throw shooter. And really strong defensive rebound.”

-- THE TRANSFERS (5)

FARDAWS AIMAQ (6-11 senior center/forward from Texas Tech, 11.1 points, 7.9 rebounds; spent previous 3 seasons at Utah Valley): “Fardaws is one of the best defensive rebounders in the country. He’s one of the best offensive rebounders in the country. He’s a strong passer. The final year at UVU, Fardaws shot 44 percent from 3 on 46 attempts. Daws has a strong post-up game.

“Daws is truly one of those guys, when you talk about professionalism, Daws is at the top of the list. LeBron James — he’s working out on the court, he’s working out in the gym, he eats and trains like a boxer. That’s LeBron. Fardaws is all those things as well. That type of leadership will help elevate every single person on the team.

“We’re not going to pigeonhole Daws and put him only in the post because that wouldn’t utilize his full skillset. He’ll be on the perimeter some, he’ll be in the post some, he’ll get some rolls to the basket, he’ll be able to handle the ball some in certain actions, going into handoffs, pick-and-roll, pick-and-pop, things of that nature.”

JALEN CONE (5-10 senior guard from Northern Arizona, 17.6 points, 40% 3-point; by way of Virginia Tech): We played him twice and you have so much preparation that goes into getting ready for a player like Jalen Cone. First of all, the elevation he has on his jump shot is probably better elevation than 99 percent of the players in the country. Wait ’til you see it — it’s unbelievable. The balance, the shot preparation, the follow-through. It’s a textbook jump shot.

“Jalen Cone is a tremendous leader. He’s a locker room presence. He’s someone who’s an explosive player. He has great vision. Jalen can do different things on the court — there might be a 5-minute stretch where Jalen is feeding all his teammates and he may have a moment where he goes for 10 points in 5 minutes . . . 10 points in 2 minutes. He’s explosive.

“And you’ve got to realize he’s done that with the other team’s best defender on him. And he’s done that with a lot of the other team’s help-side defense focusing and loading up toward him. He’s going to be special here.”

KEONTE KENNEDY (6-5 senior guard from Memphis, 9.2 points, 38% 3-point; by way of Xavier and UTEP): “The 2-3 would be the first positions that come to mind, but you could also play him at some 1. He has the ability to bring the ball up the court. If you go really small, you could play him at some 4. The versatility.

“He led his conference (in AAC play) in 3-point percentage last year at 43 percent. He was part of a great Memphis team. He had an injury late and when he got hurt, it impacted that team. Keonte and his dad came out on the visit — we had a great time talking basketball. The basketball IQ, the passion for the game, the desire to continue to improve and expand his game. And Keonte is a lock-down defender. He’s a guy who can guard multiple positions.”

MIKE MEADOWS (6-2 senior guard from Portland, 11.0 points, 36% 3-point; by way of Eastern Washington): “He can play point, he can play the 2. A lot of teams nowadays go to that drop coverage (where the screener’s defender drops below the screener) . . . if any team goes to the drop coverage against Mike Meadows, it’s going to be a long night. His mid-range pull-up, which is kind of a lost art, it’s a knock-down shot. He’s very efficient from 3.

“He’s an efficient, smart passer. And he’s another guy that’s just a tremendous leader.”

JAYLON TYSON (6-7 junior guard from Texas Tech, 10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds; by way of Texas): "Jaylon Tyson was one of the top players available in the country. Jaylon is a three-level scorer — very proficient from 3. He puts the ball down, gets to a mid-range pull-up and he knocks it down. He finishes at the rim. He attacks the rim with force and power.

“Jaylon Tyson at one point last season in the Big 12 Conference was one of the best defensive rebounders in the conference at 6-7. But he’s really a guard. We will move him around on the court.

“After he signed, I’m at the house changing a diaper and he calls me at 6 in the morning. He’s fired up. And by the way, he’s just getting out of the gym. Now, that’s 8 a.m. Central, but he probably gets in there at 6:30 in the morning. Those early-morning workouts just show the work ethic and how seriously he takes this. Very, very excited about him.”

-- INCOMING FRESHMEN (2)

RODNEY BROWN JR. (6-6 freshman guard, Perris, CA): “Rodney Brown, he’s an explosive player. He’s one of those guys who can go into a game and make five 3’s in a half, to get to the rim and attack the rim.”

DEVIN CURTIS (6-11 freshman forward, Northridge, CA): “He’s already gotten with our strength coach and put on 10 to 12 pounds of lean muscle. That’s impressive.”

Cover photo of Fardaws Aimaq by Michael C. Johnson, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo

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