MORAGA – Saint Mary’s College’s difficult offseason got even worse on Tuesday night when highly-touted three-star recruit Zion Sensley decommitted from men’s basketball program.
He joins a growing list of high-profile losses the Moraga school has endured since falling in the first round of the NCAA tournament as a No. 5 seed.
Aidan Mahaney, who went to high school down the road at nearby Campolindo High, entered the transfer portal after two seasons in Moraga. Fellow sophomore Joshua Jefferson transferred to Iowa State.
Sensley, a 6-foot-8 shot-making wing who will graduate from San Francisco high school Archbishop Riordan in May, made the announcement on social media platform X.
“After reflecting on the changes within the St. Mary’s Men’s Basketball program, I have decided to request release from my NLI and reopen my recruitment,” Sensley wrote. “I will take this time to decide which school I will attend next year. Thank you.”
Sensley spent his freshman year at Riordan before transferring and playing the next two seasons at Prolific Prep in Napa. He came back to the San Francisco private school for his senior year and excelled.
The all-Bay Area News Group selection averaged 17.5 points and 6.4 rebounds while leading the Crusaders to a Central Coast Section Open Division title and an appearance in the NorCal Open championship game.
Sensley had been committed to Saint Mary’s since last November.
“I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude to St. Mary’s College of California, the coaching staff, and the athletic department for believing in me and for their support throughout the recruiting process,” Sensley wrote. “I am deeply thankful for the hospitality and support that Moraga and the entire Bay Area have shown me, and I will forever consider it my home.”
The Gales were, ironically, held up as an example of a thriving old-school team that was not affected by the transfer portal or Name, Image and Likeness endorsements before the tournament.
Longtime coach Randy Bennett will now need to replace at least three players who were expected to contribute next season.
As of Tuesday night, three-star Prolific Prep guard Mikey Lewis and Australian prospect Joshua Dent are the only high school players committed to Saint Mary’s in the class of 2024.