Cal’s basketball season may have just begun, but the Bears are already preparing for the future. Head coach Mark Fox announced today the addition of two forwards who will be joining the team next season: ND Okafor and Grant Newell.

The Bears will have big shoes to fill next season, with arguably their three best players in Grant Anticevich, Andre Kelly and Jordan Shepherd, all set to graduate. The two recruits will likely play a big part in doing just that.

Okafor, a 6’9” forward from Nigeria who is currently playing in Ireland, joins Cal despite receiving other offers from programs such as Baylor and Arizona and could be an immediate help next season with his already strong abilities.

The addition of Okafor continues the Bears’ strong international pipeline that has been developed under Fox. He will be joined next season by Newell, a 6’8” forward from Chicago. Newell may be less of an immediate contributor than Okafor but nevertheless boasts high potential as a similarly athletic prospect.

While the Bears have had their fair share of struggles as of late, the additions of Okafor and Newell suggest that the future may be brighter in Berkeley.