Jamaican forward Shadel French (also reported as Shadel Ffrench) has earned a full athletic scholarship to join the Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball program for the 2025‑26 season, adding a high‑impact recruit to a Titans squad that sits fifth in the Big West Conference. The 6‑foot‑1 athlete hails from St. Catherine parish and will be one of seven newcomers on the roster, according to a release by Nicole Landry for Fullerton.
French graduated from Saint Monica Preparatory High School in 2024 before committing two seasons to the Glendale Community College Vaqueros in the Western State Conference. During her tenure she captured co‑MVP honors, earned All‑Western State Conference First‑Team selection and was named to the 3C2A All‑State First Team. She posted averages of 12.0 points and 14.8 rebounds per game and twice set the school record for most rebounds in a single contest.
Titans head coach Sammy Doucette, who has faced French in competition for two years, praised her “extremely high ceiling” and rapid development. He highlighted her length and rebounding instincts, saying, “I’m looking forward to Shadel running the floor hard and using her length to rebound like crazy and be a menace inside.” The coach believes French’s inside presence will bolster a team that is already ranked fifth in the eight‑team Big West.
Beyond the hardwood, French will pursue a degree in sociology at Cal State Fullerton. She told South Florida Caribbean News, “Attending Cal State Fullerton on a full scholarship is an opportunity I deeply value and do not take for granted. It reflects years of hard work, dedication, resilience, and self‑belief. This journey has shown me that persistence and consistency can open doors to meaningful opportunities.”
Sources differ on French’s exact age—Landry lists her as 20, while an external Caribbean news report cites 21—and on the spelling of her surname. Regardless of these minor inconsistencies, the consensus is clear: French arrives in Fullerton as a proven rebounder with a proven work ethic, poised to make an immediate impact in the Big West and to represent Jamaican basketball talent on a prominent NCAA stage.
