By Matt Schwab

Las Positas College women's basketball coach Caleb Theodore has landed a bumper crop of recruits for the 2023-24 season.

The new Hawks include a pair of Patterson High graduates Rayna Manu, a 5-foot-5 guard, and Joyce Mulumba, a 6-0 forward, along with Sarah Negrete-Lopez, a 5-9 guard/forward out of Dougherty Valley; Sophie Fletcher, a 6-1 forward out of Mountain House; Evelyn Orozco, a 6-1 forward out of West-Tracy; and Merry Ferro, a 5-8 forward out of Lodi.

Manu and Mulumba are coming off strong seasons helping Patterson to a 20-8 overall record.

The half-dozen newcomers should bolster the Hawks' inside game for Theodore's second season heading the program

"I am excited to announce the incoming class we have coming in for women's basketball," Theodore said. "Evelyn, Sophie, Joyce and Merry immediately bring us a presence in the paint. They are versatile forwards who can block shots, grab rebounds, affect opponents' shot selection, and they make an impact on offense.

"Sarah and Rayna provide depth and high IQ at the guard position. I cannot speak enough in great volumes on the amazing work our coaching staff put in throughout the course of this year to recruit and elevate the program into a position where we can make a big impact on the Coast-North conference for the 2023-24 season. I couldn't be more excited to get to work," the coach concluded.