Fab Five: Five Citrus College Men’s Basketball Players Sign With Four-Year Schools

Citrus College men’s basketball team, which finished the season as the State Playoff Runners-Up, had five players sign scholarship offers to play at four-year universities next year.

Freshman DJ Shelton, and sophomore’s Lateef McMullan, Greg McFarland, Hakeem Washington, and Donnel Phifer have all accepted scholarship offers this past week. They join Owls teammate Jacob Ranger, who committed to Cal State San Marcos earlier this month.

“We are so proud of the legacy these men have left,” said Citrus College men’s basketball coach Chris Victor. “They are all moving on to great universities with great basketball programs and we look forward to watching them compete next year.”

For the first time in years, Citrus has a player moving on to the Pac-10. Shelton signed with PAC-10 Conference member Washington State University. As a freshman, he was selected first-team All-Western State Conference, averaging 12 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

“The bottom line is that it (Washington State) was just a great situation with some great coaches,” Shelton said. “The coaches and I have developed a great relationship, and there’s a chance for me to come right in and contribute right away.

“Citrus has helped change my life around and get me back on track. I’ve found myself here. I’ve got a new motor, and it’s brought the best out of me.”

Sophomore point guard Lateef McMullan will play at Division I Portland State out of the Big Sky Conference next season. In one season with Citrus after playing one season at UC Riverside, McMullan averaged a team-high 16 points and 4 assists per game. He also sank a team-high 89 three-pointers and was selected All-Conference and All-State.

“I chose Portland State because, the head coach had been checking up on me for most of the season, and I appreciated that the head coach took his time to recruit me himself,” McMullan said. “I felt like they wanted me the most, and their style of play was a good fit for me.”

“Coming to Citrus was the best decision I’ve ever made, and my dad says the same thing. I gave up a lot to come here after being on scholarship at a four-year last year, but it’s made me better and more responsible and more mature,” McMullan said. “I just go about things in a different way now. The program has taught me how to be a leader and how to win.”

Sophomore Donnel Phifer signed with NAIA power Concordia University in Irvine. Phifer averaged 7.4 points and a team high 4.9 assists per game last season, garnering All-WSC South Honorable Mention honors.

“On the court, I’ve improved my game a lot,” Phifer said. “And the coaching staff has helped put me in that position.”

Signing with NCAA DII Eastern New Mexico was Citrus big man Greg McFarland. McFarland only got better for Citrus down the stretch, averaging 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds for the Owls last season.

“I chose Eastern New Mexico because it was a combination of the teammates who are there and the coaching staff that is there. It’s going to be a good fit for me,” McFarland said. “My year here at Citrus has done a lot for me athletically. I’m a completely different player than what I was when I started. It’s made me a harder worker too.”

Point guard Hakeem Washington will continue his playing career with NCAA Division II power Cal State San Bernardino. In 2010-2011 Washington was arguably Citrus’ best player off the bench. Washington averaged 9.3 points on 47.8% shooting from the floor.

“The San Bernardino coaching staff had been following me the whole year and checking in with me. I really like the coaching staff they have there, and the campus is nice. Out of all the schools that I had a chance to play for, I just liked Cal State San Bernardino the most,” Washington said.

“Citrus has helped me become a man. I’ve become more responsible on and off the court,” Washington said. “It’s really helped my game, and helped me flourish as a player. When I came here I was really immature, but Citrus has helped change that.”