Leath, who is assured of playing at least three years at Sacramento State, is currently petitioning for a medical redshirt after playing just two games this past season as a freshman before suffering an Achilles injury. Should he receive the medical redshirt, he would begin his career at Sacramento State as a freshman.

A 6-2, 180-pound native of Oakland, Calif., Leath was averaging 31.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 3.5 assists per game through two games at Los Angeles Valley Junior College prior to the injury. A shooting guard who can also play the point guard position, Leath spent his junior and senior prep seasons at Grover Cleveland High School in Reseda, Calif. Prior to Grover Cleveland, Leath played his sophomore year at Birmingham High School (Van Nuys, Calif.) and his freshman year at Oakland’s Bishop O’Dowd High School.

A four-time all-league selection in high school, Leath was named first team all-West Valley Conference, all-area, all-city and team co-MVP as a senior after averaging 15.5 points and 6.0 rebounds. He led Grover Cleveland to league titles in both 2003 and 2004, and the team combined for a 44-9 record during those two seasons. As a junior, he averaged 14.0 points and 5.0 rebounds while being named first team all-league and all-area.

“Loren is a guy that can play both the point and shooting guard positions, and can really shoot, score and distribute the ball,” Jenkins said. “He is a well-rounded basketball player that will bring a lot to our open-floor offensive attack.

“He fits the model of this team well, and will play right away. I think with the addition of Loren and Clark Woods (who was inked during the early signing period in November), we will get back to shooting the way we would like from beyond the three-point line.”

In 2001, Leath played AAU basketball with the Oakland Soldiers. Other players to suit up for the Soldiers that year include current Sacramento State point guard DaShawn Freeman as well as NBA star LeBron James.

Leath fills one of two remaining scholarships Sacramento State has to offer for next season. The Hornets inked guard Clark Woods (Lansing Community College) during the early signing period. Sacramento State is coming off a 2004-05 season in which the team finished with a 12-16 overall record and a program-best 8-6 Big Sky Conference mark.

2005-2006 Sacramento State Signings

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown/Previous School

Loren Leath G 6-2 180 So. Oakland, Calif./Los Angeles Valley Junior College

Clark Woods G 6-4 180 Jr. Lansing, Mich./Lansing Community College