That makes me wonder if Noudjihidi could end up with ICE problems since his home country of Chad is one of the countries included in Trump's recent travel bans. I'm assuming that since he has already been playing at a community college in Louisiana for 2 years, that the Chad travel ban would not affect him. I certainly hope that Suljanovic and Noudjihidi don't encounter any problems.

DAVIS, Calif. — The UC Davis men's basketball program has signed 6-foot-11 forward Jonathan Noudjihidi, a Chad native and interior force from Coahoma Community College, head coach Jim Les announced Friday.

"Big Jon brings a unique combination of size, athleticism, and work ethic to our team," said Les. "He's a true rim protector who plays above the rim on both ends and runs the floor as well as any big I've coached. His presence in the paint gives us a real edge. We're excited about the impact he'll make and the energy he will bring every day."

Noudjihidi broke out as a full-time starter this past season at Coahoma CC, averaging 10.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 57.8% from the field - the seventh-best mark in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC). His 2024-25 campaign featured a career-high 23-point, 12-rebound performance against Southeast Arkansas College on December 14, along with six double-doubles and 10 double-digit rebound games that showcased his consistency. The athletic big man also recorded a career-high seven blocks against Shorter College on December 11, one of his 12 multi-block performances in 25 games.

The Chad native more than doubled his scoring output from 4.8 to 10.9 points per game while increasing his rebounding average from 3.5 to 7.2 per contest between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. He also demonstrated improved touch by raising his free-throw percentage to 72.4%, a near 10-point improvement from the previous year. His rim protection (50 total blocks) and finishing ability made him one of the conference's most impactful two-way players. Before his time at Coahoma, Noudjihidi developed his game at Our Saviour Lutheran in the Bronx.

https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2025/6/6/jonathan-noudjihidi-to-join-mens-basketball-program.aspx

I'm really happy to see that Noudjihidi is officially an Aggie. He has one of the longest wingspans in the country and appears to be very athletic. He's definitely has the potential to be a disruptive defender and rim protector. I think this is one of the best recruiting classes I've seen in a very long time. Can't wait to see this team in action this fall!

After their official visits from this last weekend, a pair of 3 star DL studs in Ta'a Malu and Jeremiah Nonu have updated their 247 profiles to having UC Davis as "warm" basically saying that they have increased interest versus some of their other offers. — CA Forever

Does 247 Sports actually allow players to personally update their recruiting profiles? I thought 247 made those "interest predictions" based upon information they gathered from social media activity and visits etc.

It looks like being an Aggie will mean a lot to Rodriguez.

I'm looking forward to seeing Sujanovic play this fall. I think he will be an immediate impact player.

DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis men's basketball has signed Omer Suljanovic, a 6-foot-8 forward from Austria with professional experience in Italy's Serie A2, head coach Jim Les announced Friday.

"Omer's game is built for today's style of play," said Les. "He stretches the floor, initiates offense, and competes with the physicality and pace you expect from someone who's faced high-level competition across Europe. He's ready to contribute from day one."

"He brings a unique combination of size, athleticism, and basketball IQ that positions him to make an immediate impact," Les added. "A true modern-day forward, Omer's ability to handle the ball like a guard at 6-foot-8, combined with his strength and touch in the paint, makes him a matchup nightmare. He can create his own shot, finish through contact, and score at all three levels – with his perimeter shooting standing out as a major threat."

Suljanovic spent the 2024-25 season with UCC Assigeco Piacenza in Italy's Serie A2, a highly competitive league featuring seasoned professionals. During the 2023-24 season, he led Italy's U-19 league in scoring at 24.2 points per game for Pallacanestro Reggiana. He also competed for NGT Belgrade in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament, averaging 11 points and 7.3 rebounds against Europe's elite youth prospects.

Internationally, Suljanovic made his senior national team debut at just 17 years old – becoming one of the world's youngest players at that level during the 2025 FIBA World Cup qualifying window. He averaged 23 minutes per game in his two appearances, demonstrating remarkable poise for his age. He has since been called again to perform for Austria's second FIBA World Cup Pre-Qualifiers window this season.

Suljanovic's basketball pedigree runs deep: Fluent in four languages, he is the son of Ramiz Suljanovic – a 12-year professional veteran and Bosnian national team pioneer who was among the first Bosnians to establish himself in European basketball. His brother, Imran, will play at St. John's this season.

"Having competed internationally and trained in some of Europe's most respected development systems, Omer arrives with the poise and polish of a seasoned professional," Les noted. "We are confident he will strengthen our team and elevate the standard of play across the board. His presence is a significant addition to our program's culture."

Suljanovic will join the Aggies as a freshman for the 2025-26 season.

https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2025/5/30/omer-suljanovic-to-join-mens-basketball-program.aspx

I was thinking the same thing! We've been having all this great weather and, of course, we get near record heat on the weekend they're here but I'm glad we got at least one of them!

DAVIS, Calif. — Aggie Athletics has partnered with the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) to celebrate their bold scientific breakthroughs with a bold new color and logo to match. The Aggies will compete in a series of Tahoe-themed games sporting a new alternate uniform starting this fall.

The partnership will extend beyond the kits on the field as student-athletes will have opportunities to visit the facilities located on Tahoe's north and west shores for on-site learning and team retreats. Merchandise sporting the new logo will be available at the Aggie Sideline Store online debuting this summer.

"Athletics offers a national stage to showcase UC Davis — a top-5 public, R1 research university," said Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca. "We in Athletics strive to match the excellence of our institution's groundbreaking work, including the Aggies' legacy of innovation and global impact at Lake Tahoe. We're excited to give fans a behind-the-scenes look and celebrate that spirit through alternate uniforms and merchandise."

"This partnership brings together two UC Davis organizations with cultures of dedication and excellence," states UC Davis TERC Director Stephanie Hampton. "We are so excited for our work at Lake Tahoe and beyond to be highlighted on a national stage by our outstanding student-athletes."
Information on the UC Davis Tahoe fall game dates and times will be made public in June.

More here: https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2025/5/28/athletics-aggies-introduce-bold-aqua-in-partnership-with-the-uc-davis-tahoe-environmental-research-center.aspx

I definitely like them and the video is very cool also! Love seeing that we used the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center boat. I think we'll see the football team keep the classic blue and gold uniforms as well for some games.

End arounds and swing passes into the flats with that kind of speed and elusiveness could be tough to defend too.

I think Blocker could really be exciting. He's got blazing speed: 10.4 in the 100m, 21.3 in the 200m and 4.37 for 40 yards. He also shows lots of athleticism and quickness. He's going to be hard to catch once he has some separation. 4.0 GPA also. Perfect Aggie!

Check out this highlights video: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19530538/66ef1694602d2063ff7b83b3

It's fascinating to hear about your experiences in food service for special events. Thanks for writing about your memories.

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Great interview. Thanks!

Plough clearly explained the Davis approach of recruiting primarily outstanding high school players and keeping them in the program until they graduate versus going after big numbers of transfers each year. Sac State's approach is the exact opposite currently and they have brought in what must be one of the largest numbers of transfers ever seen by an FCS school. This would be a perfect time for you to interview their new head coach, Brennan Marion, where you could compare the pros and cons of these two entirely different approaches to recruiting.