The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2024-25 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach State Basketball is sponsored by CSULB Distinguished Alumnus Nelson Farris.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach State men’s basketball for the 2024-25 season is sponsored by Arline & Mike Walter.
It’s hard to imagine the 2024 version of the Long Beach State men’s basketball team being more different than the 2023 version.
Last year, the Beach made national headlines by firing 17-year head coach Dan Monson and then going on a winning streak that ended in the NCAA Tournament.
This year, Chris Acker has built a squad of 12 new players through the transfer portal and is trying to build a program with stingy defense and balanced scoring.
So far there have been enough positives and negatives on the court to support any narrative as LBSU (1-2) has looked both formidable and unorganized on the court. After dominating La Salle in the opener, the Beach dropped a heartbreaker in the last seconds at South Dakota State before getting routed at San Fransisco State.
LBSU returns to Walter Pyramid today for a tough test against Portland. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
“We battled but we made some very crucial mistakes defensively that cost you against really good teams,” Acker said after the loss at South Dakota State. “I know my group though, we will learn from them and be better the next time we take the floor.”
Acker was handpicked by new LBSU Athletic Director Bobby Smitheran after they worked together at San Diego State. Acker’s five seasons as an assistant coach at SDSU included a 134-34 overall record and four straight NCAA tournaments including the 2022-23 NCAA Championship Game.
“It’s bigger than just us,” Acker said of expectations at LBSU. “There’s a lineage and history here. We’re trying to instill that in these guys as well. They’re still trying to figure out how to play together. These guys are capable of scoring the basketball and doing different things. They’re trying to get comfortable and figure out their game and where they stand. I know these guys want to win. I know that they want to play the right way.”
It’s already clear that LBSU will only go as far as point guard Devin Askew (pictured left) can take them as he continues to develop into a leader on both ends of the floor. Askew played for Kentucky, Texas and Cal before transferring to the Beach to play for Acker. He scored a game-high 20 points to go with five rebounds and five assists in the win over La Verne, and knows that he needs to be a specific type of emotional leader.
“I think the best thing for this team is to not be emotionless, but to stay even keel,” Askew said. “No ups, no downs, because there’s a lot of games left. I’m just trying to lead as best I can because we’ve got a great group of guys who love to learn on they’re always out there playing hard for everyone on the team.”
Also in the backcourt with Askew is TJ Wainwright, who won a prep national championship at Monteverde Academy and averaged 10 points as a sophomore at Robert Morris. Wainwright thrived in transition and did a little bit of everything against La Verne with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and a game-high three steals.
“I’m looking for the best play available,” Wainwright said. “Whatever the game requires of me, that’s what I try to bring to the table. Before that timeout we were straying away from our habits. After that timeout we knew we had to pick it up and we made better reads and plays.”
It’s fair to say that this is the first time in a long time that LBSU has looked like a formidable basketball team when they walk off the bus because of front court additions Christian Richardson and Derrick Michael Xzavierro (pictured below). Richardson is LBSU’s first 7’1” rim protector in a long time, and Xzavierro is the first Division I scholarship player from Indonesia.
“Spending time with each other is a part of it, we’re getting more connected,” Xzavierro said of getting more comfortable on the court with his teammates after recording a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds against La Verne. “It has to be like that. I’m trying to settle myself down, but I have to work harder.”
Richardson had a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds (eight offensive rebounds) against CalTech while five Beach players scored in double-figures.
“When we challenged them at halftime (against La Verne)\ and talked about some of the reads they were missing, they took it upon themselves to share a little bit more and move the ball a little bit more, and then we looked better offensively,” Acker said.
Like Richardson, freshman guard Kam Martin made his Division I debut against La Verne and scored 11 points. Martin averaged 10.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists and over one steal per game at Blue Ridge School.
Acker has also put an emphasis on building a program with local talent and localized scheduling.
Compton native Cam Denson is a 6’7” 210-pound defensive guard/forward who transferred from Pacific, and Long Beach native Ramel Lloyd Jr. is the son of LBSU legend Ramel “Rock” Lloyd Sr. and comes from where the 6’6” 210-pound guard sat out last season with a serious knee injury. Lloyd Jr. was a Top 100 recruit out of Sierra Canyon High School where he averaged 11.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game for one of the top programs in California.
“I’m still getting comfortable with this team and what our rotations are,” Acker said. “They make it hard when they play as hard as they have.”
Other notable upcoming games are at Gonzaga (Nov. 20) and at home against Fresno State (Nov. 23).
Meanwhile on the recruiting trail, Acker (left) has signed three players to come in next season and two of them will make an immediately contribute. Dallas Washington (6’8” 200) is an ESPN Top 100 recruit, Gavin Sykes (6’4” 190) is ranked 23rd in California.
“On the court, (Washington’s) versatility, IQ, skill set and size make him a unique talent for our program,” Acker said. “He is going to be a key factor in our future… He comes from a great family and has the character to match that upbringing. Adding quality people to our program is always a major priority.”
Washington is a four-star recruit who attends Santa Margarita Catholic High School and plays Nike EYBL with the Arizona Unity. According to ESPN, he is the 20th best power forward and the 9th best player in California in the 2025 recruiting class.
Sykes is a three-star recruit who led Modesto Christian to a league championship as a junior. He was also named the Co-MVP of the 2024 Elite 8 Fall preview.
“He’s smart, tough and wants to be coached,” Acker said. “He has really good size and plays the game in a hard-nosed, physical way. He’s a hooper, a guy that loves to play and loves to compete.”
Also signing with LBSU this week was Chance Dastrup (5’11” 190) who is joining the team following the conclusion of his mission with the Church of Latter Day Saints. Dastrup averaged 9.2 points and 8.7 assists per game with Orem High School, setting season highs with 16 points and 17 assists in one game. He recorded 10 double-doubles last season.
