Westmont College Athletics

By Tim Heiduk
June 3, 2020
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Ajay Singh, a 6-foot-6 forward from Cupertino, has signed for the Westmont men's basketball team ahead of the 2020-21 season, head coach Landon Boucher announced. Singh joins the Warriors for his senior season after his previous school, Notre Dame de Namur, announced its intentions to cancel all of its athletics programs.
 
"We are excited to have Ajay join the Warrior family," Boucher said. "When we began to recruit him, it quickly became evident that he was the type of player and person we want in our program."
 
In 2019-20, Singh led NCAA Division II Notre Dame de Namur in scoring (14.8 points per game) and rebounding (5.3 rebounds per game), while shooting 50% from the field.
 
"As a member of the Westmont basketball team, I am looking forward to winning a lot of games and getting to know my teammates and coaches throughout the year," Singh said. "I have high expectations for myself and for the team because I know what I can bring to the program and with that, we can win a lot of games."
 
Singh played one season for Notre Dame de Namur after transferring from De Anza C.C., where he became De Anza's second-leading scorer in program history during his two years there. As a freshman, he earned Second Team All-Coast Conference honors after averaging 12.7 ppg and 6.1 rpg.
 
Then as a sophomore, he almost doubled his scoring average to 24.3 ppg, which ranked second among all California community colleges and was the highest single-season mark ever recorded by a De Anza player. Singh also tallied 8.1 rpg, earning him First Team All-Coast Conference and All-State honors.
 
"The winning culture and fast paced offense attracted me the most about Westmont College basketball," Singh said. "Not only that, but the coaches and players all want to win and make each other better, so I know I am going to be working with an unselfish and hard working group of guys."
 
Singh's accomplishments at the collegiate level continue the success he achieved while at Cupertino High School, where he was a two-time team captain and became the third-leading scorer in program history. He twice earned First Team All-Santa Clara Valley-El Camino League honors, including as a senior when he was named league MVP.
 
Singh, who will major in economics and business, said Westmont's education and family-type environment were additional elements that attracted him to the college.
 
"As a student-athlete, I hope to maximize my opportunity at Westmont College, both on the court and off the court," Singh said. "I want to go out my senior year with a bang and win the conference and win a national championship."
 
Singh joins a team that is returning 10 players from last season, when the Warriors captured their first Golden State Athletic Conference regular season title since 2012-13 and finished the year ranked seventh in the NAIA Coaches' Poll. Westmont earned the second seed in the Liston Bracket of the NAIA National Tournament, its highest-ever seeding under the current tournament format, before it was canceled due to COVID-19.
 
"Ajay is a dynamic player who will fit in really well with last year's returners," Boucher said.
 
Westmont will look to win back-to-back GSAC titles for the first time ever next season.