Last Updated on September 22, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The 2025–26 Santa Cruz Warriors continued to serve as an extension of Golden State’s development pipeline, featuring a roster built around young prospects, two-way players, and emerging G League contributors. The team relied on ball movement, three-point shooting, and positional versatility, mirroring the style of play used by the parent club. Several players saw expanded opportunities as assignments and roster changes reshaped responsibilities throughout the season, creating a constantly evolving rotation. While individual development remained the primary goal, Santa Cruz also maintained a competitive edge, providing meaningful minutes for prospects looking to earn NBA contracts and larger professional opportunities.
Roster
| NO. | PLAYER NAME | POS | HT | WT | DATE OF BIRTH | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00 | Jack Clark | F | 6’10” | 215 lbs | February 14, 2000 | Virginia Commonwealth |
| 12 | Marques Bolden | C | 6’10” | 249 lbs | April 17, 1998 | Duke |
| 17 | Malevy Leons | PF | 6’9″ | 210 lbs | September 23, 1999 | Bradley |
| 18 | LJ Cryer | PG | 6’0″ | 200 lbs | October 9, 2001 | Houston |
| 19 | Jeenathan Williams | SG | 6’5″ | 205 lbs | February 12, 1999 | Buffalo |
| 22 | Jordan Hall | G | 6’7″ | 215 lbs | January 14, 2002 | Saint Joseph’s |
| 24 | Steven Richardson | SF | 6’7″ | 190 lbs | February 13, 2001 | Montana State-Billings |
| 25 | Trey Galloway | SG | 6’5″ | 205 lbs | November 28, 2001 | Indiana |
| 27 | Franco Miller Jr. | PG | 6’3″ | 201 lbs | February 9, 1999 | Florida Gulf Coast |
| 29 | Riley Grigsby | SF | 6’6″ | 220 lbs | December 29, 1999 | Seattle |
| 40 | Jacksen Moni | C | 6’8″ | 230 lbs | February 20, 2003 | North Dakota State |
| 41 | Desmond Cambridge | G | 6’4″ | 180 lbs | December 30, 1998 | Arizona State |
| 43 | Deivon Smith | PG | 6’0″ | 175 lbs | February 14, 2002 | St. John’s |
| 43 | Nana Appiah | G | 6’4″ | 190 lbs | February 3, 1998 | Adams State |
| 50 | Ja’Vier Francis | F | 6’8″ | 235 lbs | October 20, 2003 | Houston |
| 54 | Charles Bassey | PF | 6’10” | 230 lbs | October 28, 2000 | Western Kentucky |
| 55 | Chance McMillian | G | 6’3″ | 195 lbs | February 6, 2001 | Texas Tech |
| 77 | Taevion Kinsey | GF | 6’4″ | 190 lbs | March 10, 2000 | Marshall |
Tip-Off Tournament Per Game
| PLAYER NAME | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOVPG | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LJ Cryer | — | — | 11 | 11 | 35.2 | 24.5 | 4.2 | 6.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 18.5 | 8.2 | .443 | 12.2 | 5.0 | .410 | 2.3 | 1.9 | .840 |
| Malevy Leons | — | — | 2 | 2 | 37.5 | 19.0 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 4.5 | 12.0 | 7.5 | .625 | 3.5 | 2.0 | .571 | 1.5 | 1.0 | .667 |
| Marques Bolden | — | — | 13 | 13 | 27.8 | 17.1 | 8.8 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 12.8 | 6.2 | .479 | 5.5 | 2.3 | .417 | 1.8 | 1.4 | .750 |
| Taevion Kinsey | — | — | 14 | 14 | 36.6 | 15.9 | 4.6 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 12.5 | 5.8 | .463 | 2.5 | 0.9 | .343 | 2.8 | 2.1 | .744 |
| Trey Galloway | — | — | 8 | 7 | 29.0 | 13.6 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 13.0 | 5.1 | .394 | 6.6 | 2.0 | .302 | 1.0 | 0.8 | .750 |
| Jackson Rowe | — | — | 5 | 5 | 32.0 | 13.4 | 8.4 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 11.4 | 5.2 | .456 | 4.2 | 1.0 | .238 | 1.4 | 1.0 | .714 |
| Desmond Cambridge | — | — | 1 | 0 | 21.0 | 13.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 9.0 | 5.0 | .556 | 5.0 | 3.0 | .600 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jack Clark | — | — | 14 | 10 | 31.5 | 11.1 | 7.1 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 11.4 | 4.3 | .375 | 6.6 | 2.0 | .301 | 0.6 | 0.4 | .625 |
| Michael O’Connell | — | — | 12 | 4 | 28.1 | 10.6 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 9.6 | 4.3 | .443 | 4.0 | 1.0 | .250 | 1.0 | 0.8 | .750 |
| Jacksen Moni | — | — | 5 | 0 | 17.2 | 8.6 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 6.4 | 2.6 | .406 | 4.4 | 1.4 | .318 | 2.0 | 1.2 | .600 |
| Issac McBride | — | — | 4 | 1 | 25.0 | 8.5 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.8 | 10.5 | 3.3 | .310 | 6.0 | 1.3 | .208 | 1.0 | 0.5 | .500 |
| Ja’Vier Francis | — | — | 14 | 3 | 22.7 | 8.3 | 7.7 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 6.6 | 3.6 | .554 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 1.2 | 0.6 | .471 |
| Chance McMillian | — | — | 1 | 0 | 15.0 | 7.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | .500 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .500 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.000 |
| Alex Toohey | — | — | 2 | 0 | 19.5 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 7.0 | 2.5 | .357 | 2.5 | 1.0 | .400 | 2.5 | 1.0 | .400 |
| Riley Grigsby | — | — | 6 | 0 | 24.5 | 5.8 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 5.3 | 2.3 | .438 | 3.0 | 1.0 | .333 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.000 |
| Ethan Taylor | — | — | 8 | 0 | 18.8 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 4.9 | 0.9 | .179 | 3.5 | 0.6 | .179 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Regular Season Per Game
| PLAYER NAME | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TPG | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taevion Kinsey | 32 | 32 | 34.5 | 16.6 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 12.3 | 6.2 | .503 | 3.0 | 1.0 | .344 | 2.5 | 1.9 | .765 | ||
| Chance McMillian | 30 | 24 | 30.3 | 17.0 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 13.6 | 6.1 | .447 | 7.7 | 2.7 | .357 | 1.6 | 1.4 | .915 | ||
| Marques Bolden | 29 | 28 | 27.0 | 15.8 | 7.7 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 11.1 | 5.8 | .519 | 4.9 | 1.8 | .369 | 1.9 | 1.4 | .778 | ||
| Jack Clark | 35 | 25 | 28.6 | 10.6 | 6.1 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 10.0 | 3.9 | .394 | 6.2 | 1.8 | .289 | 0.6 | 0.5 | .900 | ||
| Charles Bassey | 17 | 16 | 29.1 | 20.4 | 11.7 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 13.6 | 8.3 | .610 | 2.2 | 0.9 | .405 | 2.6 | 1.7 | .659 | ||
| Jacksen Moni | 35 | 15 | 24.5 | 9.3 | 5.4 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 8.6 | 3.0 | .351 | 5.7 | 1.9 | .328 | 1.3 | 0.9 | .727 | ||
| Franco Miller Jr. | 29 | 6 | 21.1 | 9.1 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 8.7 | 3.1 | .356 | 4.9 | 1.4 | .287 | 1.2 | 0.9 | .735 | ||
| Malevy Leons | 19 | 19 | 33.5 | 13.5 | 7.0 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 10.9 | 5.2 | .471 | 3.2 | 0.8 | .262 | 2.3 | 1.6 | .721 | ||
| Ja’Vier Francis | 33 | 1 | 14.2 | 6.6 | 5.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 4.4 | 2.9 | .651 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 1.0 | 0.5 | .545 | ||
| Trey Galloway | 23 | 0 | 20.5 | 7.7 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 7.7 | 3.1 | .401 | 3.8 | 1.2 | .307 | 0.6 | 0.2 | .385 | ||
| Deivon Smith | 9 | 2 | 28.0 | 17.2 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 12.1 | 5.4 | .450 | 3.2 | 1.2 | .379 | 3.9 | 2.9 | .743 | ||
| Desmond Cambridge | 22 | 1 | 18.0 | 6.5 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 6.8 | 2.6 | .389 | 4.0 | 1.0 | .261 | 0.2 | 0.1 | .500 | ||
| LJ Cryer | 7 | 4 | 25.0 | 17.3 | 3.1 | 5.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 10.1 | 5.4 | .535 | 7.3 | 4.0 | .549 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.000 | ||
| Jeenathan Williams | 4 | 3 | 30.8 | 23.0 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 16.3 | 9.5 | .585 | 4.8 | 2.0 | .421 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.000 | ||
| Jordan Hall | 6 | 2 | 32.2 | 11.8 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 4.0 | 14.5 | 4.0 | .276 | 6.5 | 1.8 | .282 | 1.3 | 1.2 | .875 | ||
| Riley Grigsby | 6 | 2 | 20.2 | 5.8 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 5.5 | 2.0 | .364 | 3.0 | 0.7 | .222 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.000 | ||
| Steven Richardson | 3 | 0 | 9.3 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 1.3 | .500 | 1.3 | 0.7 | .500 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||
| Nana Appiah | 2 | 0 | 12.5 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 4.5 | 2.0 | .444 | 1.5 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Tip-Off Tournament Totals
| PLAYER | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LJ Cryer | 11 | 11 | 387 | 270 | 46 | 69 | 10 | 0 | 31 | 203 | 90 | .443 | 134 | 55 | .410 | 25 | 21 | .840 | ||
| Marques Bolden | 13 | 13 | 361 | 222 | 115 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 29 | 167 | 80 | .479 | 72 | 30 | .417 | 24 | 18 | .750 | ||
| Taevion Kinsey | 14 | 14 | 513 | 222 | 65 | 46 | 11 | 7 | 26 | 175 | 81 | .463 | 35 | 12 | .343 | 39 | 29 | .744 | ||
| Jack Clark | 14 | 10 | 441 | 156 | 99 | 40 | 20 | 9 | 32 | 160 | 60 | .375 | 93 | 28 | .301 | 8 | 5 | .625 | ||
| Michael O’Connell | 12 | 4 | 337 | 127 | 47 | 43 | 13 | 1 | 20 | 115 | 51 | .443 | 48 | 12 | .250 | 12 | 9 | .750 | ||
| Ja’Vier Francis | 14 | 3 | 318 | 116 | 108 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 29 | 92 | 51 | .554 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 17 | 8 | .471 | ||
| Trey Galloway | 8 | 7 | 232 | 109 | 31 | 32 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 104 | 41 | .394 | 53 | 16 | .302 | 8 | 6 | .750 | ||
| Jackson Rowe | 5 | 5 | 160 | 67 | 42 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 57 | 26 | .456 | 21 | 5 | .238 | 7 | 5 | .714 | ||
| Jacksen Moni | 5 | 0 | 86 | 43 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 32 | 13 | .406 | 22 | 7 | .318 | 10 | 6 | .600 | ||
| Malevy Leons | 2 | 2 | 75 | 38 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 24 | 15 | .625 | 7 | 4 | .571 | 3 | 2 | .667 | ||
| Riley Grigsby | 6 | 0 | 147 | 35 | 25 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 32 | 14 | .438 | 18 | 6 | .333 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | ||
| Issac McBride | 4 | 1 | 100 | 34 | 13 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 42 | 13 | .310 | 24 | 5 | .208 | 4 | 2 | .500 | ||
| Ethan Taylor | 8 | 0 | 150 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 39 | 7 | .179 | 28 | 5 | .179 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Alex Toohey | 2 | 0 | 39 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 5 | .357 | 5 | 2 | .400 | 5 | 2 | .400 | ||
| Desmond Cambridge | 1 | 0 | 21 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | .556 | 5 | 3 | .600 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Chance McMillian | 1 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | .500 | 2 | 1 | .500 | 2 | 2 | 1.000 |
Regular Season Totals
| PLAYER | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taevion Kinsey | — | — | 32 | 32 | 1105 | 531 | 99 | 128 | 27 | 13 | 62 | 394 | 198 | .503 | 96 | 33 | .344 | 81 | 62 | .765 |
| Chance McMillian | — | — | 30 | 24 | 910 | 509 | 130 | 149 | 25 | 3 | 60 | 409 | 183 | .447 | 230 | 82 | .357 | 47 | 43 | .915 |
| Marques Bolden | — | — | 29 | 28 | 783 | 457 | 223 | 35 | 12 | 35 | 35 | 322 | 167 | .519 | 141 | 52 | .369 | 54 | 42 | .778 |
| Jack Clark | — | — | 35 | 25 | 1002 | 371 | 215 | 82 | 36 | 18 | 40 | 350 | 138 | .394 | 218 | 63 | .289 | 20 | 18 | .900 |
| Charles Bassey | — | — | 17 | 16 | 495 | 346 | 199 | 25 | 7 | 35 | 36 | 231 | 141 | .610 | 37 | 15 | .405 | 44 | 29 | .659 |
| Jacksen Moni | — | — | 35 | 15 | 856 | 326 | 189 | 52 | 25 | 23 | 36 | 302 | 106 | .351 | 201 | 66 | .328 | 44 | 32 | .727 |
| Franco Miller Jr. | — | — | 29 | 6 | 612 | 265 | 83 | 91 | 23 | 5 | 49 | 253 | 90 | .356 | 143 | 41 | .287 | 34 | 25 | .735 |
| Malevy Leons | — | — | 19 | 19 | 636 | 257 | 133 | 60 | 27 | 15 | 40 | 208 | 98 | .471 | 61 | 16 | .262 | 43 | 31 | .721 |
| Ja’Vier Francis | — | — | 33 | 1 | 469 | 218 | 180 | 15 | 8 | 36 | 29 | 146 | 95 | .651 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 33 | 18 | .545 |
| Trey Galloway | — | — | 23 | 0 | 471 | 176 | 70 | 66 | 12 | 2 | 30 | 177 | 71 | .401 | 88 | 27 | .307 | 13 | 5 | .385 |
| Deivon Smith | — | — | 9 | 2 | 252 | 155 | 60 | 59 | 7 | 5 | 22 | 109 | 49 | .450 | 29 | 11 | .379 | 35 | 26 | .743 |
| Desmond Cambridge | — | — | 22 | 1 | 395 | 143 | 72 | 42 | 18 | 3 | 28 | 149 | 58 | .389 | 88 | 23 | .261 | 4 | 2 | .500 |
| LJ Cryer | — | — | 7 | 4 | 175 | 121 | 22 | 40 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 71 | 38 | .535 | 51 | 28 | .549 | 12 | 12 | 1.000 |
| Jeenathan Williams | — | — | 4 | 3 | 123 | 92 | 14 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 65 | 38 | .585 | 19 | 8 | .421 | 5 | 5 | 1.000 |
| Jordan Hall | — | — | 6 | 2 | 193 | 71 | 42 | 39 | 6 | 1 | 24 | 87 | 24 | .276 | 39 | 11 | .282 | 8 | 7 | .875 |
| Riley Grigsby | — | — | 6 | 2 | 121 | 35 | 19 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 33 | 12 | .364 | 18 | 4 | .222 | 4 | 4 | 1.000 |
| Steven Richardson | — | — | 3 | 0 | 28 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | .500 | 4 | 2 | .500 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Nana Appiah | — | — | 2 | 0 | 25 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | .444 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | — |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Tip-Off Tournament Team Impact Spotlight
| PLAYER NAME | ROLE TIER | MPG | USAGE TIER | PPG | RPG | APG | STK | IMPACT INDEX | NOTES | AWARDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LJ Cryer | Lead Shot Creator (1.1) | 35.2 | High | 24.5 | 4.2 | 6.3 | 0.9 | 94.78 | As Santa Cruz’s primary perimeter creator, Cryer operated as a high-volume pull-up and pick-and-roll threat, with his deep shooting stretching defenses well beyond the arc. His role was already drawing NBA attention when Golden State added him on a two-way deal; contemporary coverage highlighted his league-leading three-point volume and 41.4% accuracy from deep early in the season. LJ Cryer — Warriors two-way signing and G League impact | NCAA Champion (2021); Big 12 All-First Team (2024-25) |
| Malevy Leons | Two-Way Frontcourt Creator (1.05) | 37.5 | High | 19.0 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 75.60 | Leons functioned as a versatile big who could attack from the perimeter rather than simply occupying the paint. His earlier G League evaluation emphasized his willingness to space the floor and defend multiple frontcourt roles, while his Santa Cruz stint showed him handling a larger offensive and playmaking burden. Malevy Leons — two-way fit and versatile frontcourt role | — |
| Marques Bolden | Stretch Interior Focal Point (1.05) | 27.8 | High | 17.1 | 8.8 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 73.33 | Bolden blended interior size with an unusually credible three-point component for a G League center, making him more than a traditional rim-running big. His season included a 30-point, eight-three-pointer performance, illustrating how Santa Cruz could use him as both a paint presence and perimeter release valve. Marques Bolden — 30-point, eight-three-pointer performance | — |
| Taevion Kinsey | Primary Scoring Wing (1.05) | 36.6 | High | 15.9 | 4.6 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 63.25 | Kinsey’s role centered on creating offense from the wing while also carrying substantial ball-handling responsibility. His late-season 27-point performance in a comeback win, on 10-for-18 shooting with four assists, captured the downhill scoring and secondary creation that defined his Santa Cruz usage. Taevion Kinsey — 27-point comeback performance | — |
| Jackson Rowe | Rebounding Stretch Forward (1.05) | 32.0 | Medium | 13.4 | 8.4 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 60.98 | Rowe’s game was built around positional versatility: he could space the floor, rebound at a high level and make the extra pass rather than functioning solely as a scoring forward. His established Santa Cruz role had previously featured heavy starter minutes and all-around production, providing a useful context for his two-way frontcourt profile. Jackson Rowe — Santa Cruz two-way role and all-around profile | — |
| Jack Clark | Stretch Forward Connector (1.05) | 31.5 | Medium | 11.1 | 7.1 | 2.9 | 2.0 | 53.36 | Clark served as a versatile frontcourt connector, capable of spacing beyond the arc while also contributing on the glass and moving the ball. His 2025-26 role remained substantial enough for 10 starts, and his late-season production repeatedly paired scoring with rebounding rather than relying on one-dimensional offense. Jack Clark — 2025-26 Santa Cruz profile and role | — |
| Trey Galloway | Secondary Wing Creator (1.05) | 29.0 | Medium | 13.6 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 52.44 | Galloway was used as a scoring wing who could also initiate offense, rather than being parked as a spot-up specialist. His 38-point outing included seven made threes, while earlier coverage also showed him contributing as a creator and rebounder in reserve lineups. Trey Galloway — 38-point Santa Cruz performance | — |
| Desmond Cambridge | Defensive Playmaking Guard (1.0) | 21.0 | Medium | 13.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 50.60 | Cambridge immediately supplied disruptive perimeter defense and transition creation in his brief Santa Cruz sample. His first appearance produced a career-high 21 points with six assists and 10 rebounds, while his prior college profile showed a long-established two-way guard role. Desmond Cambridge Jr. — Santa Cruz arrival and two-way background | — |
| Michael O’Connell | Table-Setting Point Guard (1.0) | 28.1 | Medium | 10.6 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 42.46 | O’Connell operated primarily as a stabilizing point guard, emphasizing ball movement and defensive activity rather than dominating possessions. His early Santa Cruz stretch included a three-steal performance against Stockton, fitting the disruptive, connective style that had characterized his college career. Michael O’Connell — Santa Cruz game context | — |
| Ja’Vier Francis | Interior Energy Big (1.05) | 22.7 | Low | 8.3 | 7.7 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 39.90 | Francis supplied physical interior play, particularly on the offensive glass and around the rim, while his defensive value came from length and shot-blocking instincts. His Houston coverage described him as part of a veteran frontcourt rotation, and that interior identity carried into Santa Cruz. Ja’Vier Francis — Houston frontcourt role and development | — |
| Issac McBride | Reserve Pick-and-Roll Guard (1.0) | 25.0 | Medium | 8.5 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 0.6 | 37.18 | McBride’s short Santa Cruz run was built around ball security, pick-and-roll organization and secondary scoring rather than pure volume shooting. He averaged 5.0 assists during his four-game stint, giving the reserve unit a genuine table-setting option before his roster spot was subsequently opened for another guard. Issac McBride — Santa Cruz roster move and role | — |
| Alex Toohey | Developmental Two-Way Wing (1.0) | 19.5 | Low | 7.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 27.00 | Toohey was deployed as a developmental wing with defensive activity and spot-up responsibilities rather than as a primary creator. His broader pre-G League profile emphasized his two-way potential and NBL development, including strong defensive-event production before entering the Warriors system. Alex Toohey — NBL development and two-way profile | NBL Next Generation Award (2024-25) |
| Jacksen Moni | Stretch-Big Reserve (1.0) | 17.2 | Low | 8.6 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 25.20 | Moni was used as a reserve big who could pull opposing centers away from the paint and attack mismatches when given offensive touches. His season included several energetic scoring bursts, including a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double against South Bay, illustrating his value as a second-unit frontcourt scorer and rebounder. Jacksen Moni — reserve frontcourt production | — |
| Riley Grigsby | Perimeter Shooting Reserve (1.0) | 24.5 | Low | 5.8 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 23.60 | Grigsby’s role was primarily that of a perimeter-oriented reserve who could space the floor while filling secondary rebounding and passing duties. His Santa Cruz tenure was interrupted by roster movement, with contemporary coverage noting his limited early-season minutes before he was waived in a transaction. Riley Grigsby — Santa Cruz roster context | — |
| Chance McMillian | Instant-Offense Reserve (1.0) | 15.0 | Low | 7.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 20.00 | McMillian’s larger-season identity was that of an aggressive scoring reserve capable of generating offense quickly when inserted into the lineup. His Santa Cruz campaign included a 27-point, six-rebound, four-assist bench performance, and his subsequent return to the organization was tied to that scoring upside. Chance McMillian — scoring reserve role in Santa Cruz | — |
| Ethan Taylor | Defensive Utility Guard (1.0) | 18.8 | Low | 2.4 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 12.20 | Taylor entered the professional system as a defensive-minded, versatile guard whose value was rooted more in connective play than shot creation. His Air Force career featured 121 starts and a triple-double, giving context to a player accustomed to handling multiple responsibilities even when his Santa Cruz offensive role was modest. Ethan Taylor — draft profile and collegiate role | Air Force Team MVP (2023-24); Air Force Team MVP (2024-25) |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Regular Season Team Impact Spotlight
| PLAYER NAME | ROLE TIER | MPG | USAGE TIER | PPG | RPG | APG | STK | IMPACT INDEX | NOTES | AWARDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Bassey | Rim-Protecting Centerpiece (1.1) | 29.1 | High (1.2) | 20.4 | 11.7 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 95.30 | Bassey gave Santa Cruz a genuine interior hub, combining powerful rim finishing with defensive length and second-chance pressure. His earlier G League work had already shown how disruptive he could be around the basket, including a 2021-22 campaign in which he led the league in blocks, while his 2025-26 arrival brought proven NBA experience to the frontcourt. Bassey G League coverage | — |
| Jeenathan Williams | Offensive Focal Point (1.05) | 30.8 | High (1.2) | 23.0 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 79.13 | Williams worked as a scoring-first wing who could stretch a defense with his jumper and still attack closeouts. Independent Rochester coverage from his earlier career repeatedly showed him carrying a major offensive load, including a high-school performance in which he led University Prep with 18 points and eight rebounds, a useful glimpse of the shot-making role that later followed him into professional basketball. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle coverage | — |
| Deivon Smith | Franchise Floor General (1.05) | 28.0 | Medium (1.1) | 17.2 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 1.4 | 73.69 | Smith immediately gave Santa Cruz a downhill lead-guard presence, mixing rebounding with pick-and-roll creation and transition play. His earlier season as a starter at College Park showed the same organizing role, where he produced 16.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game before moving to Santa Cruz. Golden State of Mind coverage | — |
| LJ Cryer | Lead Shot Creator (1.1) | 25.0 | High (1.2) | 17.3 | 3.1 | 5.7 | 0.4 | 69.96 | Cryer’s role was built around movement shooting and confident pull-up creation, with enough playmaking responsibility to keep him from becoming a one-dimensional gunner. Houston reporting during his final college season noted how he grew into a trusted offensive leader under Kelvin Sampson, with his shot selection and maturity specifically praised as his responsibility increased. Chron coverage of LJ Cryer | — |
| Chance McMillian | Secondary Offensive Creator (1.05) | 30.3 | High (1.2) | 17.0 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 0.9 | 68.54 | McMillian operated as a scoring guard who could shift into a playmaking role when the primary action was taken away. His 2025-26 Santa Cruz stint produced enough two-way attention that Golden State brought him back into its development plans, with reporting highlighting his 17-point, five-assist production and the coaching staff’s interest in his continued growth. Golden State of Mind on McMillian’s return | — |
| Taevion Kinsey | Primary Wing Creator (1.1) | 34.5 | High (1.2) | 16.6 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 65.74 | Kinsey functioned as a high-minute scoring wing who could create off the bounce without monopolizing every possession. His G League career had already established him as a reliable perimeter scorer, and the 2025-26 Santa Cruz role expanded that responsibility into secondary playmaking while keeping his three-point shooting as a key spacing tool. Deseret News coverage of Kinsey | — |
| Marques Bolden | Stretch Interior Presence (1.05) | 27.0 | Medium (1.1) | 15.8 | 7.7 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 60.75 | Bolden was more than a traditional rim-running center because Santa Cruz was comfortable letting him step outside and punish defenses with three-point shooting. His early-season breakout included 24 points and two blocks against Salt Lake City, illustrating how his size could coexist with a perimeter scoring package. Santa Cruz game coverage of Bolden | — |
| Malevy Leons | Two-Way Forward Catalyst (1.05) | 33.5 | Medium (1.1) | 13.5 | 7.0 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 59.83 | Leons brought a modern forward skill set, sliding between defensive assignments while also initiating offense and spacing the floor. His development was notable enough that Golden State converted him to a two-way contract in December after strong play with Oklahoma City, where his combination of shooting, rebounding and defensive activity had already drawn attention. Sports Illustrated coverage of Leons | — |
| Jordan Hall | Point-Forward Initiator (1.0) | 32.2 | Medium (1.1) | 11.8 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 1.2 | 58.30 | Hall’s defining trait was his ability to function as a jumbo initiator rather than a conventional wing scorer. Santa Cruz acquired him after he had been handling meaningful creation duties with Texas, and his career G League profile already reflected a steady diet of rebounds and assists from a 6-foot-7 guard-forward frame. Santa Cruz coverage of Jordan Hall | — |
| Jack Clark | Stretch Forward Connector (1.05) | 28.6 | Medium (1.1) | 10.6 | 6.1 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 47.36 | Clark filled the connective forward role, providing floor spacing while doing enough on the glass and as a passer to keep possessions moving. Earlier ACC coverage described him as a first-off-the-bench forward at NC State, a role that fits the versatile, low-maintenance offensive responsibilities he carried into the G League. News & Observer coverage of Jack Clark | — |
| Jacksen Moni | Stretch-Big Reserve (1.0) | 24.5 | Low (1.0) | 9.3 | 5.4 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 35.20 | Moni operated as a developmental stretch big, giving the second unit a willingness to shoot from outside rather than living exclusively around the rim. His North Dakota State background also pointed to a versatile frontcourt game, and Santa Cruz used him in a reserve role where spacing and rebounding could complement more established creators. Jacksen Moni G League profile | — |
| Franco Miller Jr. | Bench Ball-Handling Guard (1.0) | 21.1 | Low (1.0) | 9.1 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 32.20 | Miller Jr. served as a developmental guard capable of handling the ball and creating a second-side option without needing the offense built around him. His arrival in Santa Cruz followed professional experience in Spain and a long college career, giving the reserve group a guard with more seasoning than his draft position might suggest. Santa Cruz coverage of Franco Miller Jr. | — |
| Trey Galloway | Defensive Wing Facilitator (1.0) | 20.5 | Low (1.0) | 7.7 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 28.40 | Galloway’s value came from connective wing play rather than sheer scoring volume, with his passing and defensive activity allowing him to influence possessions without dominating the ball. Santa Cruz’s early tournament coverage showed that versatility clearly when he flirted with a triple-double through rebounds and assists while scoring efficiently enough to keep defenses honest. Santa Cruz coverage of Galloway | — |
| Ja’Vier Francis | Offensive-Rebounding Big (1.0) | 14.2 | Low (1.0) | 6.6 | 5.5 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 27.80 | Francis was used as a physical interior finisher whose best possessions often began with screens, rolls and second efforts on the offensive glass. His Houston background had already established him as a defense-first frontcourt piece with notable shot-blocking instincts, and that interior identity remained central to his professional role. Houston basketball coverage of Francis | — |
| Desmond Cambridge | Defensive Playmaking Guard (1.0) | 18.0 | Low (1.0) | 6.5 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 25.20 | Cambridge’s clearest calling card was disruption on the perimeter, where his length allowed him to generate deflections and turn defense into transition opportunities. His move to Santa Cruz followed a five-year college career in which he accumulated 145 starts, giving the rookie guard a substantial base of experience despite his limited professional sample. Santa Cruz coverage of Desmond Cambridge Jr. | — |
| Riley Grigsby | Perimeter Shooting Reserve (1.0) | 20.2 | Low (1.0) | 5.8 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 21.80 | Grigsby supplied a spacing-oriented reserve skill set, with his offensive job centered on occupying the perimeter and taking available shots rather than creating a high volume of offense. His six-game Santa Cruz stint ended with a roster move, limiting the amount of season-specific independent reporting available on his role. Santa Cruz roster coverage involving Grigsby | — |
| Nana Appiah | Energy Guard Reserve (1.0) | 12.5 | Low (1.0) | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 13.00 | Appiah was used as a short-minute reserve guard, bringing experience from several international stops into a late-season G League opportunity. Coverage around his arrival noted previous time in both the Chinese Basketball Association and Basketball Africa League, so his professional role was shaped as much by adaptability as by a narrowly defined offensive specialty. Santa Cruz coverage of Nana Appiah | — |
| Steven Richardson | Situational Shooting Guard (1.0) | 9.3 | Low (1.0) | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 10.00 | Richardson had a very limited rotation role, with his minutes largely coming as a situational perimeter option rather than a regular offensive initiator. Limited contemporary independent coverage was available for his brief Santa Cruz stint, so the clearest season-specific description is that of a depth guard used in short stretches. | — |