The new-look Monarchs boast almost an entirely new roster

The men’s basketball team boasts almost an entirely new roster as they look ahead toward conference play. 

By: Alejandro Garcia and Shane Hurley, Staff Writers 

(Alejandro Rafael for the Valley Star)

The Valley College men’s basketball team ended last year on a downward note, finishing the season with a 5-22 mark. However, the team is filled with a new roster and is hoping for better results in 2026.  

After a slow start to the 2025-26 season, the Monarchs have won two of their last three contests. They defeated Oxnard College 80-74 and Rio Hondo College 72-63, and narrowly lost to Compton College, 63-60, earlier this month. 

One of the new faces includes freshman guard Derek Peterson, who is leading the team with 16.6 points per game. The star player dropped 32 points against Oxnard and 28 points against Compton.

“Being one of the top performers is good, just being able to trust my teammates,” Peterson said. “Being with my teammates every day, I feel like it is a big part of my success.” 

Peterson’s running mate, Will Young, is second in scoring as he is chipping in 10.6 points per contest. He scored 15 points against Oxnard and 18 points against Rio Hondo. Center Deng Lual, who stands at 6-foot-11 inches, is averaging almost 9 rebounds per game. 

Fifteen of the 17 players on the roster are new to the team. In addition, assistant coach Devon Richardson is making his coaching debut for the Monarchs. Richardson joins the squad after a stint at Blair High School and said Valley plans to play an up-tempo game.

“Expectations are just to rebuild and get competitive,” Richardson said. “Just develop basketball players. We're talking about we’re young, so just understanding the little things and fixing those things.”

Today, the men head to a holiday tournament at El Camino College where they face off against Cuesta at 3 p.m. The Monarchs travel to Irvine Valley College on Dec. 30 for a 5 p.m. start in their last game before conference play begins.

The team's first Western State Conference game is set for Jan. 3 when the Monarchs host the Ventura College Pirates for a  5 p.m. tipoff.