Even after a disappointing season-ending loss to rival San Francisco, there is a light. Three Hawks were nominated to the All-Conference First Team, giving the team something to build on going into the playoffs. The Hawks’ top three sophomore impact players — guards Jaden Woodard, Richard Banks, and wing Kodey Weary — were awarded the honor. Ted Bigg-Wither, guard, received an honorable mention and All-Freshman Team honors.
The Hawks’ starters received postseason honors for their outstanding play this season after a 25-3 finish, good for a seventh seed in this year’s postseason tournament. Coaches around the state voted on players who were deserving of representing each conference. It was a showcase of talent throughout the roster.
Woodard, the Hawks’ top scorer and leader of the team, averaged 18 points per game this season. With almost three assists and five rebounds per game, Woodard navigated the team through the season to a seventh seed.
The Hawks also have a do-it-all big man. Weary, the team’s leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, was the second Hawk to receive the honor. Weary was also among the state’s top shot blockers with 1.9 per game, finishing ninth in the state.
The last to receive First-Team All-Conference honors, as well as All-Defensive Team honors, was Banks. Banks averaged 11 points per game this season for the Hawks, but his greatest impact was in the passing lanes, finishing second in the state in steals with 96. Banks was the embodiment of the Hawks’ energy on defense. Head coach James Giacomazzi put him on the court most often — Banks finished third in the state in minutes per game.
Bigg-Wither also received an honorable mention, as well as All-Freshman Team honors. Bigg-Wither is from Canberra, Australia, and played for the Canberra Gunners of the National Basketball League East last season. Bigg-Wither is the Hawks’ second-best rebounder behind Weary, and finished 17th in rebounds per game. He was efficient at scoring in the paint all season, finishing fourth in the state in field goal percentage.
Both of the Hawks’ starting big men, Weary and Bigg-Wither, were top-20 rebounders. They were able to dominate most teams on the glass.
Opposing teams seemed wary of taking shots close to the basket, as the Hawks held the state’s third- and ninth-ranked shot rejecters. Bigg-Wither led the team in blocks with 70, third in the state. Standing next to him in the frontcourt, Weary finished ninth.
Las Positas was regarded as one of the best teams in California all season long, finishing the season as the fifth best team in the state according to the California Community College Men’s Basketball Coaches Association’s final poll. The Hawks ranked among the top in most stat-keeping categories, finishing seventh in points per game, fourth in rebounds, fourth in steals, and first in blocks.
As long as Las Positas has its three sophomore veterans leading the charge, it is a difficult matchup for anyone they meet in the playoffs. Efficient shooting and strong activity in the passing lanes, on the boards, and swatting shots make a nightmare combination for any coach drawing up a game plan to face this team in the postseason.
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TOP PHOTO: The 2025-26 Hawks basketball team finishes with the best record in school history of 25-3 — topping last year’s historic 26-4 final record after playoffs. This high level of play is met with high levels of praise: Sophomore players Jaden Woodard (No. 0), Kodey Weary (No. 21) and Richard Banks (No. 4) are awarded First Team All-Conference. Freshman Ted Bigg-Wither (No. 25) receives an Honorable Mention. Additionally, Banks receives a nod to the conference’s All Defensive Team and Bigg-Wither makes the All Freshman team. (Graphic and Photos by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
Carson Pfotenhauer is a staff writer for The Express.
