UC Davis men’s basketball has added another player to the roster for the upcoming season in Cyril “CJ” Franklin Jr., head coach Jim Les announced Thursday. Franklin Jr. transfers to UC Davis from the College of Southern Nevada (CSN), where he played one season for the Coyotes.

“We’re thrilled to welcome CJ to the Aggie family,” Les said. “He brings great size and length at the guard position, and he plays with a high motor that we love. CJ is dynamic in the open floor and gives us tremendous flexibility in the backcourt. His ability to defend multiple positions, especially as an elite on-ball defender, sets him apart. CJ’s upside is through the roof, and we’re excited about his future here at UC Davis.”

Franklin Jr., a 6-foot-5 guard from Las Vegas, Nevada, dominated the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) during his lone season at the NJCAA Division I level. He averaged 14.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 49.4% from the field for the Coyotes.

OFFICIAL: Got us a good one! ✍️

Excited to announce the addition of Cyril “CJ” Franklin Jr. to the Aggie Family 🐴#GoAgs pic.twitter.com/IQoOtqyfPP

— UC Davis Men’s Basketball (@ucdavismbb) June 26, 2025

His standout campaign included 17 double-digit scoring efforts, highlighted by a career-high 28 points against Arizona Western College, and 11 multi-steal games, featuring a career-best six steals vs. Phoenix College. Franklin Jr. also showcased his playmaking with 11 games of five or more assists, including a pair of eight-assist performances, and was a consistent presence on the boards from the guard position with 17 games grabbing five or more rebounds, ranking third on the team. His performance during his lone season with the Coyotes earned him ACCAC Freshman of the Year and all-conference accolades in the very competitive ACCAC.

Before his standout JUCO season, Franklin Jr. starred locally at Silverado High School in Las Vegas under his father, head coach Cyril Franklin Sr. As a senior, he was named First Team All-4A and an all-district selection by the Las Vegas Review-Journal after averaging 18.0 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.

Franklin Jr.’s combination of size, athleticism and defensive upside projects him as a versatile backcourt contributor for the Aggies. Franklin Jr. becomes the seventh player of the offseason to sign with the Aggies.

More on UC Davis basketball

UC Davis men’s basketball alumnus TY Johnson has signed a summer league contract with the Los Angeles Lakers following the 2025 NBA Draft.

Johnson, the Big West Conference’s most dynamic two-way player this season, earned All-Big West First Team honors after finishing as the nation’s sixth-leading scorer at 21.1 points per game. He topped the conference scoring charts while also averaging 3.0 assists and 4.1 rebounds per contest.

Defensively, Johnson ranked second in the Big West and 18th nationally with 2.3 steals per game. He set UC Davis’ Division I single-season record with 72 steals and recorded three or more steals in 12 games, including a six-steal performance against Cal Poly. He finished his career ranked second in program history for steals.

TY Johnson became UC Davis’ all-time leader in career free throws made (470). His 178 free throws made this season ranked 15th in the NCAA, and he set a program single-game record with 18 made free throws. He scored in double figures in 30 of 32 games, exploding for 20 or more points 21 times, including five 30-point performances. His 35-point games against Washington and UC Santa Barbara tied for the fourth-most by an Aggie since 2005.

Read more below:

UC Davis product TY Johnson signs with Lakers

Thank you for reading SactownSports.com. Follow us on Twitter and Google News, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.