PORTLAND, Ore. – University of Portland men's basketball has signed New Mexico Junior College center Ray Barreno (Ascension, Chihuahua, Mexico) to a financial aid agreement, head coach Eric Reveno announced on Wednesday. Barreno, who played one season at Tulane before transferring to NMJC, will have two years of eligibility with the Pilots.
"As the final piece to the 2015 recruiting class, Ray will give us a much-needed veteran, physical presence in the paint at both ends of the floor," Reveno said. "On the offensive end – in addition to scoring well around the basket – he has a knack for creating offense with his tremendously unselfish screening and passing. On the defensive end of the floor he has the proven ability to anchor a defense with size, active feet and consistent communication."
During a four-year prep career at Faith Christian Academy in El Paso, Texas, Barreno led the Lions to a consecutive TCAL 3A State Championships. He averaged a double-double with 16 points per game and 12 rebounds per game and earned all-state honors as a senior. Barreno was named first team all-league, all-district and all-state as a sophomore, junior and senior.
He played one season at Tulane before transferring to NMJC, which is considered one of the top junior college programs in the nation. Barreno averaged 6.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per game on a Thunderbirds team that is expecting five players to sign with Division I programs this spring.
"Ray is a strong and physical post player who has the potential to have a very good two year career at Portland," NMJC head coach James Miller said. "He is as good as they come as a young man, and is the epitome of a quality student-athlete. We are very excited and proud of Ray as he has earned this opportunity with hard work and dedication on and off the court."
Barreno joins guard Rashad Jackson (Bakersfield, Calif./ Garces Memorial HS/IMPACT Academy), and forward Jarrel Marshall (Mount Vernon, N.Y./Mount Vernon HS/Palm Beach College) as spring signees with the Pilots. The trio joins three previously signed incoming freshmen for a total of six players in the 2015 recruiting class.
2015 University of Portland Recruiting Class| Player | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. | Hometown (Previous Schools) |
| Ray Barreno | C | 6-11 | 260 | Jr. | Ascension, Chihuahua, Mexico/Faith Christian/Tulane/NMJC |
| Rashad Jackson | G | 6-4 | 180 | Fr. | Bakersfield, Calif. (Garces Memorial HS/IMPACT Academy) |
| Jazz Johnson | G | 6-0 | 175 | Fr. | Lake Oswego, Ore. (Lake Oswego HS) |
| Chiir Maker | G/F | 6-7 | 190 | Fr. | Sydney, Australia (Newington College) |
| Jarrel Marshall | F | 6-6 | 190 | Jr. | Mount Vernon, N.Y. (Mount Vernon HS/Palm Beach College) |
| Colin Russell | F/C | 6-8 | 220 | Fr. | Folsom, Calif. (Folsom HS) |
