Good news for those who can’t wait for college basketball to begin. Westmont, which finished as the NAIA National Runner-up last season, will open the 2015-16 campaign tomorrow night with an exhibition game against Soles de Mexicali.
Based in Mexicali, Mexico, Club Soles is a professional basketball team playing in the Northern Division of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional of Mexico. Wearing number 15 for Club Soles is Westmont alumnus (’07) Santiago Aguirre who played for the Warriors from 2003-2007 and has been playing professional ball ever since.
Aguirre earned NAIA All-American honors in his senior year at Westmont and was twice named to the All-GSAC team. He currently ranks 16th on Westmont’s career scoring list with 1,358 points during his four years on the Warriors’ squad. Aguirre ranks ninth in career rebounds, having pulled down 699 boards.
Before coming to Westmont, Aguirre was a standout player at Santa Barbara High School. A first team All-CIF selection and Channel League MVP, Aguirre averaged 16.5 points and 7.1 rebounds his senior season and guided his team to the CIF semifinals under head coach Jeff Lavender, also a Westmont alumnus (’83) and former Warrior player (1979-83).
Tip-off for Tuesday’s game is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. The public will be admitted free of charge.
