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# Six SMC basketball sophomores to transfer to four-year colleges
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/web-site-new-ballot-helps-ease-voter-concerns-six-smc-basketballers-to-transfer-to-four-year-schools/
- Published: 2008-06-03T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T19:45:25.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Education, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By MICHAEL MIDDLEHURST-SCHWARTZ Special to the Daily Press*

SMC Six sophomores from the Santa Monica College men’s basketball team will announce on Friday their intent to transfer to four-year colleges, according to head coach Jesse Teplitzky.

The players will make their decisions official at a Friday afternoon press conference held at SMC, where they will sign the paper-work for their future schools.

While colleges are still recruiting the players, Teplitzky said he anticipates all of his departing sophomores to play at four year schools.

“We are going to go six for six,” Teplitzky said. “A couple of them are still waiting, but we expect them to sign on Friday.”

Although their decisions are non-binding until they sign their letters of intent, several Corsairs have already verbally committed to schools.

None of the six players are likely to move on to Division I schools but three are expected to sign with Division II schools.

Noah Gottlieb, a Venice High graduate, is expected to sign with Chaminade University in Hawaii. Chaminade, which will lose three guards to graduation next year, reached the NCAA Division II semifinals last year.

Forward Art Braswell has committed to New York Institute of Technology. Derrick Thompson and Dennis Twumasi are set to transfer to Stillman College and Whittier College, respectively.

Guards Chris Blackwood and Keivan Cross are undecided but have offers to play for four-year schools, according to Teplitzky, and will join their teammates in Friday’s ceremony.

Blackwood had committed to Cal-State East Bay but is still considering opportunities to play at other schools.

The six players helped lead the Corsairs to their first winning season in five years. Santa Monica College also made an appearance in the state playoffs for the first time during that span.

The Corsairs lost to Cerritos College in the opening round of the tournament and finished the season with a 17-15 record.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 3, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/060308.pdf?ref=smdp.com)