Chico State Athletics

Transfer from Las Positas College in Livermore…Pre-Chico Days: Played two seasons with the Hawks, leading the team to a pair of postseason appearances…Two-time All-State and First Team All-Coast Conference North selection…Averaged 21.3 points (sixth best among California JC players) and 11.4 rebounds (second in the state) in 2019–20 to earn California Community College Men’s Basketball Coaches Association co-MVP honors…Topped all state JC players in total rebounds (330)…Averaged 23.7 points and 9.7 rebounds a game as a freshman…A 2018 graduate of West High School in Tracy…Led the Wolfpack in scoring and rebounding three straight seasons, winning team MVP as a sophomore, junior, and senior…First Team All-Tri City Athletic League and Defensive Player of the Year selection in 2018…Personal: Born February 8, 2000, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana…Son of Manuel and Cristina Paz…Has three siblings: Paul, Hannah, and Mikaylah…The person he most admires in the sports world is Russell Westbrook (“He plays like a dog all the time. He wasn’t really a big prospect coming up; he rode the bench at first at UCLA. Now he’s a superstar in the NBA”)…Chose to attend Chico State “because they had my back thru the whole recruiting process. Never once did they stop texting or calling my phone, and sent e-mails constantly. It was long recruitment process and Chico just made me feel really wanted”…His greatest sports moment is “when I become the backboard”…The most interesting thing he’s ever done is taking the tour at Universal Studios (“I learned a lot about the movie world”)…The most impressive thing he’s ever accomplished is become the all-time scorer and rebounder for both West High School and Las Positas College…Has learned by playing basketball that “Patience is a very good weapon to have”…Enjoys bowling, watching movies and TV series, and hiking when he has some free time…Admits to being “in love with seafood”…At the top of his bucket list: “Owning a wide-body Dodge Charger Hellcat”…Best advice ever received: “Evens though life can be hard, there’s always someone going through something even harder”…Majoring in sociology…Plans to continue playing basketball at a high level.