Fresno State Loads 3 Jucos Onto Roster

Fresno State University has dipped into the junior college ranks this spring and added three players to its roster.

The Bulldogs, under the guidance of new Head Coach Ray Lopes (right), have signed point guard Rolando Todd of Garden City C.C. in Kansas, swingman Renaldo Major and forward Jonathan Woods, both of whom attended South Plains College in Levelland, Tex.

Todd, a very quick 5-10 point guard from Detroit, Mich., averaged 21.9 points per game. He canned 89 three pointers for a Garden City squad that finished 21-11 this season.

"I think he liked Coach Lopes," Garden City Head Coach Earl Diddle said. "I think Coach Lopes sold him on the idea of him running the team, and for a JUCO guy who is going to get playing time, it's all about that."

Todd is expected to graduate from Garden City this summer.

Woods, a 6-7 forward from Phoenix, Ill., averaged 13.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a sophomore, shooting 56 percent from the floor and 65 percent from the charity stripe.

Major, a 6-6 swingman from Chicago, Ill., averaged 15.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He shot 53 percent from the floor and close to 39 percent from beyond the three point arc.

"Both of the guys were excited about playing for Coach Lopes with the success that he enjoyed at Oklahoma this past season," South Plains Head Coach Steve Green said. "On top of that, Fresno State has a lot of national recognition, and the school and that league has thrived with junior college players."

"They did an all-around good job of convincing these guys that they could be part of the rebuilding," Green continued. "And they felt like out of the people that they were talking to them, that was the best opportunity for them to play in a big time program and maybe have some post-season success as well."

Woods has an excellent nose for the basketball and is effective around the offensive glass. He can also face up a bit from short distances, but he does not have the ball handling or long distance shooting skills requisite to play the three slot.

Major was impressive at the Region V Tournament in Lubbock this past March, putting on a scoring display in the Texans' easy opening round victory over Collin County C.C.

"What these guys will do is provide some minutes, some points and some rebounds for them, combined with the rest of their team," Green said. "Woods is a skilled four who can step out and shoot it from outside a bit and pass it, but he's more effective if you let him do the total thing, which is rebound as well, but you have to be around the basket to do that."

"Renaldo has really improved his outside shooting to the point that he does that as well as driving," Green continued. "He's a scorer."

Woods and Major are expected to finish up their degree requirements this summer at South Plains before enrolling at Fresno State in the fall.