RIVERSIDE — Brian Wright would rather speak from the heart.

In front of a standing-room only crowd inside La Sierra University’s gymnasium on Thursday, Feb. 12, Wright, the general manager of the San Antonio Spurs, put aside his prepared speech and talked about the meaning of family during his college days as a Golden Eagle.

“What this night gives me the opportunity to do is to stop, pause, and give back to the people that helped me get here and helped push me to go forward,” Wright said. “So many made the journey and my time here special, and they all gave me the most valuable thing you can give to another human being – their time.”

Wright had his No. 12 retired at halftime of La Sierra’s game against Embry-Riddle, marking the completion of a side quest for Eagles athletic director Javier Crumm that started 3 years ago and was delayed last year by the Eaton and Palisades Fires.

“His whole family and so many of his college teammates were here,” La Sierra University athletic director Javier Crumm said. “It was amazing to see so many people but I’m still learning just how loved he is in this community.”

A 5-foot-9 guard and an all-conference player for La Sierra in 2003 and ’04, Wright was previously the player development and college scouting manager for the Orlando Magic and the assistant general manager for the Detroit Pistons. He has been the Spurs GM since 2019.

“His success in the basketball and NBA world is having an impact,” Crumm said. “He’s come to speak to students several times over the last few years. I mean, imagine you have an alumni who is the general manager of the San Antonio Spurs who wants to give back.”

During Wright’s tenure with the Spurs, legendary coach Gregg Popovich retired and the team has drafted back-to-back NBA rookie of the year award winners Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle.

Wright remembers his formative days at La Sierra wondering if he was good enough to even get playing time for the former NAIA program transitioning to NCAA Division III. The Golden Eagles now play in Division II.

“This place gave me confidence and it gave me life and it gave me discipline,” Wright said. “Being a Golden Eagle taught me how to take accountability and taught me how to care about something bigger than myself.”

DANIELS DOES IT AGAIN

California Baptist senior guard Dominique Daniels Jr. continues to add to his collection.

Daniels Jr. has been named the Western Athletic Conference player of the week for the fifth time this season after averaging more than 30 points per game on the road in Utah last week.

Averaging 22.4 points per game this season, Daniels Jr. ranks sixth in NCAA Division I. Currently 15 points away from 3,000 for his collegiate career between San Bernardino Valley College and CBU, his 1,531 points are the most in CBU’s Division I era.

The Lancers (19-7 overall, 9-4 WAC) return to Utah this week to play at Utah Valley on Thursday. The Wolverines (18-7, 8-4) are now a half game behind CBU. The teams have split their previous two meetings, with each team winning on its home floor.

JOHNSON JOINS BULLDOGS

The University of Redlands football team announced Jamar Johnson as its assistant head coach on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

A native of Southern California, Johnson is a La Verne University alum and a decorated wide receivers specialist with a track record of player development at every level of collegiate football from junior college to Division I FCS.

“For me personally, being able to join the staff here at Redlands means getting back to my SCIAC roots where my journey as both a ULV player and coach all started over a decade ago,” Johnson said. “It was always understood that Redlands was known to be a well-respected premier program with a rich history of overall success, one that always had a target on its back as a top program to beat. Ironically, for me to now have the opportunity to be a part of a historical powerhouse such as Redlands means a great deal that I don’t take lightly.”

Johnson recently served as receivers coach at Truman State, helping the Bulldogs earn a postseason playoff berth for the first time in 31 years. Previously, he was receivers coach and transfer portal coordinator at Central Arkansas, one of the nation’s top FCS programs. He also was one of just 25 coaches nationwide to participate in the recent NFL/NCAA Coaches Academy.

EIGHT STRAIGHT FOR MSJC

The Mt. San Jacinto College women’s basketball team continues to reign in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference.

MSJC clinched their eighth consecutive conference championship with a dominant 103-63 win at San Bernardino Valley on Wednesday, Feb. 11. The Eagles (21-5 overall, 12-0 IEAC) have won the conference title every year since 2018 and in 11 of the past 13 seasons.

Sophomore guard Kohen Marshall (Vista Murrieta High) had a double-double with a game-high 30 points and 10 rebounds, and sophomore guard Karsen Marshall (Ontario Christian) had 25 points in the win. First-year point guard Kiara Williams (Santiago High), currently third in the CCCAA with 6.0 assists per game, added 21 points and nine assists.

MSJC travels to Blythe to play Palo Verde on Wednesday before hosting its final game of the regular season against Victor Valley on Friday at 5 p.m.

ODDS & ENDS

UC Riverside’s baseball game against UNLV scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 17, was postponed due to inclement weather. No make up date has been announced yet. The Highlanders (0-4 overall) were swept by Utah Tech to start the season. … Sophomore guard Aidan Fowler sank an off-balance, one-handed 3-pointer at the buzzer as the Cal State San Bernardino men’s basketball team defeated Stanislaus State 73-72 in overtime on Saturday, Feb. 14 at Coussoulis Arena. The Coyotes (12-13 overall, 9-9 CCAA) currently hold a one-game lead over Cal Poly Pomona (13-11, 8-10) for sixth place with two weeks remaining in the regular season. … Cal Poly Pomona senior Neshara Smith broke her own school record in the long jump with a mark of 6.10 meters at the Battle Born Indoor Classic hosted by University of Nevada in Reno. She currently ranks 8th in Division II. … Sophomore Grant Gray (Norco High) and freshman Isaac Castenon (Summit High) had three hits each as the No. 11-ranked Riverside City College baseball team beat Ventura 11-1 on Saturday, Feb. 14. The Tigers (9-3 overall) host Southwestern on Thursday and Palomar on Friday at Evans Sports Complex.