Meet the 2025-26 SMCC Men's Basketball Team
PHOENIX ---
South Mountain Community College first-year head coach Cory Hoff announced the 2025-26 roster for the Cougars. Despite being hired in June, Hoff and his staff have assembled a class of three returners, four transfers, and ten freshmen.
The three returners for the Cougar program are redshirt sophomore point guard Parker Escalante (Mesa, AZ/Mesa), redshirt freshman forward Dionte LaMaide (Chandler, AZ/Saguaro) and sophomore point guard Brandon Mangahas (Apache Junction, AZ/Desert Ridge).
The four transfers joining the Cougar program are sophomore guard Blake Carabio (Peoria, AZ/Ironwood), redshirt freshman forward Thor Hawkins (Okinawa, Japan/LFPA), redshirt freshman wing Semajay James (Inglewood, CA/Deer Valley) and redshirt freshman point guard Travis Vasquez (Glendale, AZ/Deer Valley).
The new freshman joining the Cougar program are freshman point guard Zakaria Ali (Tempe, AZ/Corona del Sol), forward Eric Butler (Phoenix, AZ/Central), wing Dylan Eaddy (Atlanta, GA/ Imagine Prep), wing Brody John (El Paso, TX/El Paso), wing Jadden Jones (Phoenix, AZ/Ironwood), forward Gak Kueth (Phoenix, AZ/Kellis), wing Devone Pless (Gilbert, AZ/AZ Compass Prep), point guard I'yar Shadowvine (Tacoma, WA/Ironwood), forward Gray Swift (Phoenix, AZ/North) and forward Miles Swift (Phoenix, AZ/North).
"As we established our first roster, we focused on two priorities – winners and defenders," Hoff said. "Our group includes six State Champions and three region Defensive Player of the Year awards, with numerous other accolades. Although we may be younger than other teams in our conference, we were fortunate to sign players from some of the strongest high school programs in the area. We are glad that these young student-athletes took a chance on us to join our program at South Mountain Community College."
Class Highlights
Six State Champions, One Region Player of the Year award, Three Region Defensive Player of the Year awards, One Region Offensive Player of the Year award, Two All-State awards, and 20 All-Region Awards.
Here are the individual highlights for the Cougar 2025-26 roster (listed by classification and alphabetical order).
Returners
Parker Escalante (Mesa, AZ) – 6-0 154 lbs | RS Sophomore | Point Guard
Escalante sat out the 2024-25 season and received a Medical redshirt.
During the 2023-24 season, Escalante started 30 games as a freshman and earned Third Team All-ACCAC honors. He averaged 13.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, and shot 42.9 percent from the floor, 23.5 percent from the three-point line and 78.2 percent from the free-throw line. He scored a season-high of 25 points against Mesa CC and secured six rebounds against Chandler-Gilbert CC.
Hoff on Escalante – "Parker brings the experience of battling in the ACCAC his freshman year while receiving All-Conference recognition. He is really tough defensively and loves to pressure the basketball. After spending the year healing, it provided a different outlook while he sat out. He has put in the work to improve his shooting. Parker has grown as a leader for us and has a chance to have a strong sophomore campaign."
Dionte LaMaide (Chandler, AZ) – 6-8 212 lbs | RS Freshman | Forward
LaMaide received a Medical redshirt for the 2024-25 season. He played in three games before suffering a season-ending injury, and averaged 3.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He scored seven points and secured seven rebounds against Park University – Gilbert JV.
Hoff on LaMaide – "Dionte was able to get on the floor for a few games before having a season-ending injury last season. The experience of going through a college season will provide him with valuable experience. He has improved his strength and gained the necessary weight so far this season. He gives a strong presence inside with the ability to battle on the glass. Dionte has started to put things together this year."
Brandon Mangahas (Apache Junction, AZ) – 6-0 171 lbs | Sophomore | Point Guard
During the 2024-25 season, Mangahas appeared in 16 games as a freshman. He averaged 1.5 points per game and shot 38.1 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from the three-point line, and 100% from the free-throw line. He posted a season-high six points and two made three-pointers against Gillette.
Hoff on Mangahas – "Brandon has made real strides since his freshman season. He is an 'everyday guy' and does all of the little things. Brandon can really shoot the basketball & has spent time improving as a ball-handler. He competes defensively and has been a vocal leader for us. Brandon provides experience playing on and off the ball for us offensively. We are really glad to have Brandon return this year."
Transfers
Blake Carabio (Peoria, AZ) – 6'1 181 lbs | Sophomore | Guard
Carabaio played at Ironwood High School in Glendale, Ariz., for Coach Jordan Augustine and was a three-year varsity player. He was a member of the 2024 5A State Champion and earned 5A Northwest First Team honors in 2024.
As a senior, Carabio averaged 15.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He shot 44 percent from the floor, 43 percent from the three-point line, and 78 percent from the free-throw line. He scored a season-high 29 points in a win over North Canyon and made a season-high six three-pointers in a win over Centennial. Carabio had a season high of eight rebounds in a playoff win over Cactus Shadows.
He spent the 2024-25 season at Phoenix College but did not appear in any games.
Hoff on Carabio – "Blake brings experience from playing in the ACCAC previously. He comes from a winning program at Ironwood and has carried that over to our program. He is a big-time shooter off the catch or bounce. Blake competes every single day, works hard in the weight room, embodies toughness, and never takes a play off. He just contributes to winning. Blake has the potential to have a big-time sophomore season for us."
Thor Hawkins (Okinawa, Japan) – 6-6 224 lbs | RS Freshman | Forward
Hawkins played at Learning Foundation & Performing Arts (LFPA) in Gilbert, Ariz., for Coach Derek Freeman. As a senior, he averaged 6.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Hawkins shot 47 percent from the floor and 86 percent from the free-throw line. He posted a season-high 13 points in a win over EVAC and secured 12 rebounds in wins over EVAC and Ajo.
He received a medical redshirt in the 2024-25 season while at Phoenix College.
Hoff on Hawkins – "Thor has experience after medically redshirting in our conference. He is a big, strong post player who can play inside or out. Thor is learning how to utilize his strength to contribute to the glass and on the block. He plays unselfishly and focuses on contributing to the team's success. Thor has the potential to be a presence in the paint. Really excited to watch Thor develop after two years with us."
Semajay James (Inglewood, CA) – 6-2 262 lbs | RS Freshman | Forward
James played at Deer Valley High School in Glendale, Ariz., for Coach Jed Dunn and was a three-year varsity player. He earned 4A West Valley First Team honors in 2022. He earned 4A West Valley Honorable Mention honors in 2020.
Hoff on James – "Semajay has a unique game that fits our program. He seeks out the right play consistently. Semajay can cause mismatches due to his ability to play inside-out and his overall strength. He has a remarkably high IQ that enables him to fit into different line-ups naturally. As he grows defensively, his game will really take off. He has been a mature presence within our group and demonstrates leadership."
Travis Vasquez (Glendale, AZ) – 6-3 187 lbs | RS Freshman | Point Guard
Vasquez played at Deer Valley High School in Glendale, Ariz., for Coach Jed Dunn and was a four-year varsity player. He was a member of the 2024 4A State Champions and earned 4A Second Team All-State, 4A West Valley First Team (2024), and 4A West Valley Region Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2024. Vasquez also earned 4A West Valley Honorable Mention honors in 2023.
Hoff on Vasquez – "Travis is a natural scorer. He has really worked hard on his shooting to complement his game off the bounce. If Travis can commit to the defensive end, he has a high ceiling. He's gotten tougher and can play multiple positions. Travis has been incredibly coachable so far. Has shown his athleticism off the bounce. He's a winner, proven by a 4A State Championship at Deer Valley HS and is hungry to show it at our level."
Freshman
Zakaria Ali (Tempe, AZ) – 6-0 141 lbs | Freshman | Point Guard
Ali played at Corona del Sol in Tempe, Ariz., for Coach Neil MacDonald and was a two-year varsity player.
As a senior, Vasquez averaged 2.7 points and 1.7 assists per game. He shot 73 percent from the free throw line and posted season highs of six points and five assists in a win over ACP.
Hoff on Ali – "Zak is a pass-first point guard that understands how to run an offense. He has really improved from his time at Corona Del Sol HS. His shooting has become more consistent, and he does a good job of pressuring the basketball. Zak is a positive influence on the court and does a great job of picking his teammates up. As he gets stronger, his game will continue to grow."
Eric Butler (Phoenix, AZ) – 6-3 214 lbs | Freshman | Forward
Butler played at Central High School in Phoenix, Ariz., for Coach Darren Bustos and was a two-year varsity player. He was a member of the 2025 5A State Champions and earned 5A Metro Second Team honors in 2025, as well as Honorable Mention accolades in 2024.
As a senior, Butler averaged 9.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He shot 60 percent from the floor and 36 percent from the three-point line. He scored a season-high 29 points and 24 rebounds in a win over Camelback High School.
Hoff on Butler – "Eric is coming off a 5A State Championship at Central HS. He makes a huge impact on the glass, utilizing his strength and athleticism to create extra opportunities. He is working hard to expand his offensive game and learn our defensive concepts. He played really well throughout the Arizona State Tournament and understands how to impact winning."
Dylan Eaddy (Atlanta, GA) – 6-5 227 lbs | Freshman | Wing
Eaddy played at Imagine Prep in Surprise, Ariz., for Coach Al Luna. As a senior, he averaged 14.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game. Eaddy shot 51 percent from the floor, 31 percent from the three-point line, and 74 percent from the free-throw line. He scored a season-high 29 points in a win over Eduprize and secured 15 rebounds in a win over Bella Vista.
Hoff on Eaddy – "Dylan is a strong wing that can really stretch the floor for us. He understands how to utilize his size to his advantage, which can be a valuable defensive asset. As he continues to develop, he can be a plus defender. Dylan has picked up concepts quickly since joining us. Dylan's growth will allow him to transition to a wing and play multiple positions on the floor for us this season."
Brody John (El Paso, TX) – 6-4 182 lbs | Freshman | Wing
John played at El Paso High School in El Paso, Texas, under the guidance of Coach Luis Celaya. He earned All District 1-5A First Team honors in 2025 and scored over 1,000 points in his career.
As a senior, John averaged 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. He shot 41 percent from the floor, 23 percent from the three-point line, and 66 percent from the free-throw line. John posted season highs of 32 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Austin.
Hoff on John – "Brody comes from a basketball family and scored over 1,000 points in his high school career. Brody has focused on gaining size and strength to transition to a wing position at the college level. He had some big games his senior season in El Paso and is a natural scorer. We are glad that Brody has agreed to move to Arizona & join our program to help unlock his potential."
Jadden Jones (Glendale, AZ) – 6-2 183 lbs | Freshman | Wing
Jones played at Ironwood High School in Glendale, Ariz., for Coach Jordan Augustine and was a member of the 2024 5A State Champions. He earned 2024 5A Northwest Second Team honors and was named 5A Northwest Region Defensive Player of the Year.
As a senior, Jones averaged 5.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. He shot 59 percent from the floor, 57 percent from the three-point line, and 78 percent from the free-throw line. He posted a season-high 14 points in wins over Horizon and South Mountain, and secured 12 rebounds in a win over Centennial.
Hoff on Jones – "Jadden does all of the little things that contribute to winning. He was overlooked due to his 'stats,' but we are glad to have him here. He's a state champion and Defensive Player of the Year, so he knows what it takes to win. It's really hard to outwork Jadden Jones. Our program values what Jadden brings to us daily – toughness, leadership, defense and winning plays."
Gak Kueth (Peoria, AZ) – 6-6 180 lbs | Freshman | Forward
Kueth played at Raymond S. Kellis High School for Coach Reginald Moore and was a three-year varsity player. He earned 5A Northwest Valley Honorable Mention honors in 2024 and 2025.
As a senior, Kueth averaged 6.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game and shot 60 percent from the floor and 60 percent from the free-throw line. He scored 15 points in a win over Independence and secured 17 rebounds in a win over Washington.
Hoff on Kueth – "Gak brings length and rebounding to our program. He has a knack for getting on the glass and creating extra possessions. Gak doesn't know how good he can be yet, but we are excited to help him reach his potential. As he grows as a shooter, he will be able to play inside-out. Gak uses his length to make an impact defensively, which fits with what we are trying to build."
Devone Pless (Chandler, AZ) – 6-5 199 lbs | Freshman | Wing
Pless played at AZ Compass Prep for Coach Peajche Howard and earned 2023 4A Desert Sky Honorable Mention honors.
As a junior at Mesquite High School, Pless averaged 11.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. He scored a season-high 22 points in a win over Marcos de Niza and grabbed 13 rebounds against Seton Catholic Prep.
Hoff on Pless – "Devone adds size and shooting at the wing position. He has a versatile offensive game. You can see the work he has put into improving his shooting. His commitment to the defensive game will determine his ceiling. Devone has a high IQ that gives him position flexibility in our program. Devone has the potential to make an instant impact in our program."
I'yar Shadowvine (Tacoma, WA) – 5-8 162 lbs | Freshman | Point Guard
Shadowvine played at Ironwood High School in Glendale, Ariz., under Coach Jordan Augustine, was a 4-year varsity player, and a member of the 2024 5A State Championship team.
Shadowvine scored over 1,000 points in his career and left Ironwood as the all-time leader in assists and wins. In 2025, Shadowvine received 5A First Team All-State, 5A Northwest Valley Region Player of the Year, and 5A Northwest Valley First Team honors. He also earned 5A Northwest First Team honors in 2023 and 2024, and was named 5A Northwest Region Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.
As a senior, Shadowvine averaged 12.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He shot 43 percent from the floor, 36 percent from the three-point line, and 74 percent from the free-throw line. He scored a season-high 20 points in wins over Desert Mountain and Centennial, and had 14 assists in a win over Raymond Kellis. He also had six steals in wins over Horizon and Kellis.
Hoff on Shadowvine – "If I had to choose one word to describe I'yar, it's 'winner.' He is everything you ask for in a point guard. He makes his teammates better and controls the game. He's a pitbull defensively and understands defensive concepts. Guys naturally gravitate towards I'yar because they understand he's about the right things. We are excited for I'yar to bring that winning mindset to our program."
Gray Swift (Phoenix, AZ) – 6-6 191 lbs | Freshman | Forward
Swift played at North High School in Phoenix, Ariz., for Coach Dana White Jr. and was a two-year varsity player.
As a senior, Swift averaged 4.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He shot 41 percent from the floor and scored a season-high 12 points in a win over North Canyon. Swift grabbed nine rebounds in a win over Betty Fairfax.
Hoff on Swift – "Gray brings size to the forward position with the ability to play on the perimeter. He can stretch the floor, yet is athletic enough to get on the glass. He is just scratching the surface of his potential, and we are excited to help him develop as a student-athlete. As Gray gains confidence in his abilities, he will be able to play multiple positions. He brings energy and effort every day."
Miles Swift (Phoenix, AZ) – 6-8 201 lbs | Freshman | Forward
Swift played at North High School in Phoenix, Ariz., for Coach Dana White Jr. and was a two-year varsity player. He earned 2025 5A Honorable Mention All-State and 5A Metro First Team honors.
As a senior, Swift averaged 17.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game. He shot 58 percent from the floor and 64 percent from the free-throw line. Swift scored a season-high 31 points and 28 rebounds in a win over Tempe and blocked six shots in a win over North Canyon.
Hoff on Swift – "Miles brings a defensive presence at the rim. He is a long, athletic shot blocker who runs the floor. Miles can change the game on the glass. He is expanding his offensive game to contribute on the perimeter. Miles has a high ceiling that will rise as he improves his offensive game. We are fortunate that Miles has decided to stay home and join our program."
The Cougars will tip off the season on the road, participating in the Phoenix JUCO/JV Classic over at Phoenix College, Oct. 31st through Nov. 2nd. The Cougars' first home contest in the Cougar Den will be on Nov. 10th against Benedictine University Mesa JV at 7:30 pm. ACCAC play opens with the Cougars traveling to Chandler-Gilbert CC on Nov. 26th for a 7:30 pm tip-off.
For complete coverage of SMCC Men's Basketball, be sure to follow the Cougars on social media at @SMCC_MBB (X), @southmountaincc_mbb (Instagram) or visit the official home of Cougar Athletics at SMCCCougars.com.