Nevaeh Asiasi, a standout alumna of the Salesian College Preparatory basketball program in Richmond, was named the 2025-26 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Basketball Player of the Year.
Asiasi, who was a key member of the Salesian team that captured the 2022 CIF Division I state championship, is the first player in Cal State LA history to receive the conference’s top individual honor.
The 5-foot-8 senior guard from Pittsburg cemented her legacy with the Golden Eagles by leading the conference in scoring with 19.5 points per game, according to Cal State LA. She also ranked in the top 10 in rebounds, assists, and steals. Her performance guided Cal State LA to its most successful season to date, featuring 24 total wins, 18 conference victories, and a 15-game winning streak.
Junior guard Sofia Fidelus, who was also a teammate of Asiasi on the 2022 Salesian state championship team, was named to the All-CCAA first team alongside her.
Asiasi grew up in a family of athletes, with her mother Nettie attending Notre Dame de Namur University and competing in basketball, volleyball, track, and softball. Her father Dave played football at the College of San Mateo and Menlo College. Her younger sister Nyana, 20, plays basketball for San Francisco State; brother DJ, 18, plays football at Nevada; and brother Daryion, 15, plays high school football.
Nevaeh was inspired to pick up hoops by her 28-year-old brother Devin, who played both basketball and football in high school before going on to play tight end collegiately for Michigan and UCLA, and then professionally from 2020 to 2022 with the New England Patriots and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Asiasi is scheduled to graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and aspires to play basketball professionally overseas. Cal State LA head coach Torino Johnson described her as steadfast and growth-oriented, noting that she does everything the program asks of her without complaint and elevates everyone around her through her hard work.
The Salesian alumna added to her accolades last week by being named the CCAA tournament’s most valuable player. Under her leadership, the Golden Eagles swept through the playoffs to secure the program’s first-ever CCAA Tournament championship. The team won its three postseason games by an average of 27 points.
Asiasi and the Golden Eagles are now in Ellensburg, WA, for the NCAA Division II West Region tournament. They are scheduled to tip off their first-round matchup against Vanguard tonight, Friday at 7:30 p.m.
