Two Owls Are Ready for the Next Level
Two Citrus College men's basketball players will continue their collegiate careers at the next level after leaving their mark on the Owl program. Chris Chiles will join the roster at California Baptist University and Anthony Tello is headed to Vanguard University.
Chiles joins the NCAA Division I Lancers after being named the Western State Conference-South Most Outstanding Player of the Year after helping the Owls make back-to-back appearances at the CCCAA State Tournament Elite Eight. He led the conference with a 42.7 shooting percentage from the perimeter and finished the year averaging 11.9 points per game. Chiles scored in double figures 23 times this year, including a tear of 15-straight games, and earned CCCAA All-State and his second consecutive all-conference first-team recognition.
"My time at Citrus was everything to me," said Chiles. "It honestly felt like my home away from home since the first day I moved out here. Being surrounded by great people all the time around me just motivated me to do my hardest. The connections and relationships I've built here will be remembered forever and, honestly, it was something I didn't expect at all while attending a junior college."
The Elk Grove native leaves the Owls ranking in multiple statistical categories, including third with a 3.2 career assists per game average, fifth with 195 career assists, fourth in free throw percentage (76.5), seventh in career three-point shooting percentage (37.3), ninth in career shooting percentage (45.9), and 11th with 630 career points.
Tello was a big impact player for the Owls and looks to do the same with the Lions. This past year, Tello led Citrus with 13.4 points per game (ninth-best in conference) and 61 steals (first in conference and fourth all-time at Citrus). He boasted a 44.7 shooting percentage from the floor and dished out 1.9 assists per game, earning himself All-WSC first-team honors.
"My time at Citrus was fun," said Tello. "I loved every moment and everybody I made connections with from the staff to my team."
The Cypress native also leaves a legacy behind after tying the program record for most steals in a single game with seven against Glendale this year. He also sits ninth all-time with 673 career points and 11.6 career points per game average.