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Big West: Cal Poly adds backcourt depth with transfers

By Andrew Nostvick

Dec 17, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; Cal Poly Mustangs head coach Joe Callero watches the game against the California Golden Bears in the first period at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; Cal Poly Mustangs head coach Joe Callero watches the game against the California Golden Bears in the first period at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cal Poly continues offseason success with the addition of two JuCo transfer guards.

The recruiting season continues for Head Coach Joe Callero and Cal Poly, who announced Thursday the addition of two guard transfers.

Marcellus Garrick and Eric Toles, both Juco transfers, signed letters of intent to play for the Mustangs next season. Garrick transferred from Hancock College in Santa Maria, Calif., while Toles transferred from Sierra College in Rocklin, Calif.

At Hancock College, Garrick led the team in scoring, averaging 15.9 points per game in 29 games played this season. Hancock finished the 2016-17 season with a 14-16 record.

Toles, meanwhile, led Sierra College in scoring this season, averaging 17.2 points per game. Sierra College finished the season 12-18.

Both players are immediately eligible and will have two seasons of eligibility with the Mustangs.

The two guards will likely replace a pair of guards departing from the program. Taylor Sutlive, a junior, will graduate and forgo his senior season, while sophomore Alec Raven opted to not continue with the program, according to the school.

Neither Sutlive or Raven had much playing time for Cal Poly this season. Both players averaged less than a point per game.

In addition, Cal Poly will also lose three seniors, including guard Ridge Shipley, who was third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.8 points per game.

The Mustangs also lose guard Kyle Toth, just behind Shipley on the scoring list with 9.5 points per game.

With Garrick and Toles signed up, they both can add scoring capability to a Cal Poly team that needs it.

This season, Cal Poly averaged 67.2 points per game, third worst in the Big West. In fact, Cal Poly has scored 70 or more per game in two of the eight seasons that Callero has been the coach.

Even when Cal Poly made the NCAA Tournament in 2014, they averaged only 63 points per game.

Garrick and Toles can contribute right away and help the Mustangs become a bigger threat in the Big West.

Next: Early top 25 for 2017-18

Cal Poly finished the season 11-20 with a 6-10 record (seventh) in the Big West.