HAYWARD, Calif. -- Cal State East Bay head men's basketball coach Gus Argenal has announced the final two additions to his 2016-17 roster in junior Deiondre Bird and senior Lamine Mbodj.

A native of Portland, Ore., Bird is a 6'6" small forward coming off an impressive junior college career. A prep star at Grant High School, where he averaged 16.7 points and 8.9 rebounds as a senior, Bird attended Central Wyoming College for his freshman season. He started every game for a team the went 19-10 as a rookie, averaging 9.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and shooting 53.8 percent from the field. 

Bird then transferred back to the Pacific Northwest in 2015-16, joining South Puget Sound Community College for his sophomore season. There he shot 54 percent from the floor, 40 percent from three-point range, and 78 percent from the free throw line, while posting averages of 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. Bird led South Puget Sound to a 22-7 overall record and was named Team MVP. He was also selected to the Northwest Athletic Conference All-West Region First Team and the All-West Region Defensive Team.

"We are lucky to have a student-athlete like Deiondre joining our program," Argenal commented. "He led a very good team as a sophomore and had the good fortune of playing for a coach who I respect as much as anyone in Aaron Landon. Deiondre brings versatility on both sides of the floor and had a chance to be a very special player at East Bay. I look forward to seeing his unselfish approach and I know he'll fit in perfectly with our roster."

Mbodj is a 6'8" forward originally from Senegal. He began his collegiate career at Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colo., where he appeared in 59 games in two years. He helped lead Otero to back-to-back winning seasons, averaging 6.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game with 53.7 percent shooting as a sophomore.

Mbodj transferred to the University of New Orleans, a Division I school in the Southland Conference, for the 2015-16 season. He appeared in 17 games as a junior and totaled 21 rebounds, pulling in a season-high six boards in a game against Pensacola Christian. He intends to major in International Studies while he completes his eligibility at Cal State East Bay. 

"Our coaching staff feels really good about our culture and talent level as a program right now, and adding Lamine will not doubt increase both," said Argenal. We are really excited about his work ethic, physicality, and passion for the game of basketball, and we're expecting significant contributions from Lamine on and off the court this year. He's also a very good student who we expect will follow in the excellent tradition of Pioneer student-athletes."

The Pioneers have begun their preseason workouts with the start of the Fall academic quarter looming in two weeks. The 2016-17 season opens Sunday, Nov. 6 with an exhibition game at San Jose State.