By Kyle Arechiga and Julian Bayan  

There is a new face at Granada Hills Charter (GHC), representing the girls basketball team, Rai Colston. With his prior experience as a Division Two athlete for CSUN, he has a lot to offer the girls on the basketball team. 

Colston’s passion for basketball led him to the path of passing down his knowledge as a basketball coach.

 “I have a deep personal connection to basketball,” Colston said. “Playing college basketball at Cal State Northridge not only honed my skills but also instilled in me a profound understanding of the game’s nuances. My experiences as a player, the camaraderie with teammates, and the guidance from my coaches all inspired me to become a basketball coach. I wanted to pass on the knowledge, passion, and life lessons I gained from the sport to the next generation of players.”

Not only did he play in college, but his expertise runs deeper, dating back to high school. As a previous basketball player and later, coach for El Camino High School, Colston decided that it was time for a change and sought further coaching elsewhere. 

“I saw it as a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a top program and elevate Granada’s respected girls’ basketball team,” Colston said.

This year, he has high aspirations and expectations for the girls’ basketball team. He wants them to succeed and be at the very top of their game. 

“I don’t intend to change the program entirely,” Colston said. “I want to build upon the strong foundation laid by the previous coach and carry on the winning tradition. I’ll focus on maintaining a culture of teamwork, discipline, and dedication to ensure continued success.”

After getting acquainted with the school, Colston has really gotten to know and enjoy the time spent with his new team. Overall, he looks forward to a successful competition season with our very own girls’ varsity basketball team. 

“This season, I believe our biggest competition will be ourselves,” Colston said. “The talent and potential within this team are immense, and our success will depend on how well we overcome challenges, stay focused, and consistently execute our game plan. The sky’s the limit for this group, and we’re determined to meet our own high standards.”
The girls on the basketball team echo his optimistic sentiments.

“Our previous coach was very strict and had a certain way of doing things within our program, so with our new coach is a very new learning experience for all of us,” junior Reagan Cruz said. “So as long as we continue to build and grow as a team, I think we’ll be really successful.”

Colston may be new to coaching for basketball here at GHC, but he is determined to achieve success for his students and does not plan to leave any time soon.