Freshman guard Darreson Naruse brings a quick, under-the-radar spark to UC Santa Cruz
In the 2025-26 season, Darreson Naruse is a first-year guard for UC Santa Cruz who has appeared in limited action so far, including a 4-point debut against San Francisco and a 5-point outing versus USC.[1][3][8] At 5-foot-10, he looks like a compact, energetic guard with some scoring touch, and the early box scores suggest he can get to the line and finish in traffic.[1][3][8] The fit question is mostly about upside: he’s still proving his role, but his speed and freshman-kid hunger make him a sneaky-development piece for a team that values pace and toughness.[1][6]
