SALEM, Ore. – The inaugural recruiting class under first-year head coach Wayne Mendezona for the Corban University Men's Basketball varsity squad has been unveiled and welcomes seven newcomers to Warrior Nation, which includes six transfer student-athletes and one true freshman. The new Corban recruits originate from four different states, with three local Oregonians either choosing to stay close to home or returning to their roots after competing for different universities.
"We're really excited about our incoming recruiting class and the depth it adds to our varsity roster," expressed Mendezona. "This group brings a mix of athleticism, versatility, and toughness that fits perfectly with the direction of our program. More importantly, they embody what we call the 'Collective Mindset', which is a team-first attitude built on effort ,accountability, and resilience. Each of these young men are ready to compete, and eager to contribute to our culture and mission at Corban."
To read more about the seven additions to the 2025-26 Corban men's basketball varsity squad, see below for a brief biography assigned to each of the brand-new Warriors.
Tayshawn Colvin | Junior | Guard | 6-0 | 170lbs | Spokane, Wash. | Liberty HS | North Idaho College
The lone Cardinal to start in all 30 contests last season for North Idaho College, Colvin provides the Warriors with yet another reliable option at the point guard position, as he was among the leaders within the NWAC program in assists, steals, and assist/turnover ratio while averaging 20 minutes per contest. In high school, Colvin was a three-time First-Team All-League recipient, two-time All-State, and eventually a WIAA state champion and Player of the Year for Liberty High School.
Colvin will be pursuing a degree in business administration with an emphasis on sports management as he competes in the navy and gold threads.
Anjay Cortez | Redshirt Senior | Guard | 6-8 | 185lbs | Charlotte, N.C. | United Faith Christian Academy | Western Oregon Univ.
The third-leading scorer aboard the NCAA DII Wolves of Western Oregon University has found a home within the Corban men's basketball program, as Cortez will look to bolster the Warriors' lineup with his 9.6 PPG from last season and combine with the success he found as a Second Team All-Conference forward for San Diego City College. In 2020, Cortez was a top 15 forward coming out of the North Carolina recruiting class after averaging 13.7 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 4.0 APG, and 2.4 BPG at United Faith Christian Academy.
While looking for his opportunity to continue playing basketball at the professional level post-collegiate career, Cortez will be finishing up his degree in business administration.
Oreon Courtney | Graduate Student | Forward | 6-3 | 200lbs | Corvallis, Ore. | West Linn HS | Univ. of Southwest
A familiar name to Cascade Collegiate Conference men's basketball enthusiast, Courtney most recently competed within the Pacific Northwest for Lewis-Clark State College, where he earned First Team All-CCC honors his sophomore season and was the CCC Newcomer of the Year during his true freshman campaign. Prior to attending the University of Southwest for a season before returning to his home state to play for Corban in 2025-26, Courtney averaged 8.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and a 57.0 field goal percentage for the Lewiston-based Warrior squad.
The lone master's degree earning student-athlete in the 2025-26 recruiting class for Corban men's basketball, Courtney hopes to earn his degree in business administration in order to one day become an entrepreneur.
Joe Gould | Junior | Guard | 6-3 | 180lbs | Fairfield, Calif. | Rodriguez HS | Contra Costa College
A two-year starter for South Coast Conference's Contra Costa College, Gould averaged over 10 PPG his sophomore campaign with a 53.0 field goal percentage and 2.3 assist/turnover ratio, earning him First Team All-League and First Team All-Defensive honors. Additionally, Gould was a Deans' List student-athlete in both his freshman and sophomore seasons, and eventually earned First Team All-State recognition for his capabilities as a proven dual threat both offensively and defensively.
Gould will be continuing the coursework towards a bachelor's degree in computer science so that he may one day pursue a career in cybersecurity.
Landon Knox | Freshman | Guard | 6-0 | 185lbs | Salem, Ore. | Cascade HS
Yet another Knox sibling has graced the Corban men's basketball program with the athletic prowess, as younger brother to current Warrior student-athlete Carter Knox, Landon, enters the CCC and NAIA scene as a true playmaker from the point guard position. While at Cascade High School, Knox led the Cougars to four-straight 4A-3 Oregon West Conference league titles and was the conference Player of the Year in three of his four seasons played. He scored 1,706 career points with 430 career assists dealt out, earning him three different First Team All-State honors and even led the Cougars to a 4A state championship in March of 2023.
Knox plans on majoring in accounting during his first year as a Warrior.
Christian Watson | Sophomore | Guard | 6-5 | 180lbs | Long Beach, Calif. | Long Beach Polytechnic | Fullerton College
Yet another prior MVP to join the Warrior men's basketball program, Watson brings an athletic proficiency to Corban that runs in his family, with his older brother Peyton currently playing professionally for the Denver Nuggets after being drafted 30th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. Christian is a First Team All-League, Player of the Year, and First Team All-State recipient from his high school playing career at Long Beach Polytechnic, while earning Player of the Year accolades during his lone season of competition at Fullerton College, leading to All-State and national Top 50 recognition for the point guard.
Watson will be studying business administration and one day hopes to join his brother as a professional basketball athlete.
Tj Zimmermann | Redshirt Junior | Center/Forward | 6-5 | 250lbs | Albany, Ore. | West Albany HS | Oregon State Univ.
Zimmermann enters the NAIA scene having earned a plethora of awards across the NWCA and NCAA DI fields for both basketball and football, as he was the starting tight end for the City College of San Francisco his freshman season, transferred back to his hometown and attended Linn-Benton Community College to earn First Team All-League and Freshman of the Year accolades in the NWAC South men's basketball division, then redshirted as a tight end for the Beavers of Oregon State University just last season. From his basketball career at LBCC, Zimmermann earned back-to-back NABC All-American honors thanks to his top five finishes in total points, points per game, and rebounds per game on an annual basis across the NWAC.
A bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis on leadership and management is how Zimmermann will complete his undergraduate studies while competing for the Warrior men's basketball program.
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