IRVINE, Calif.— UC Irvine men's water polo team head coach Dan Klatt has announced the addition of eight players to the 2024 roster.

Blake Borders | Junior | Goalkeeper | Lakewood, Calif. | Lakewood HS | Long Beach CC
Blake Borders transfers in from nearby Long Beach Community College for the 2024 season. During his sophomore campaign, Borders was placed on the All-SCC Second Team. The goalkeeper amassed 214 saves, 20 steals, and 14 assists in 2023. During his time at Lakewood High School, Borders was inducted into the Lakewood Youth Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Hoffman Award.
 
Alex Lopez | Sophomore | Attacker | Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. | Alta Loma HS | Mt. SAC CC
Alex Lopez joins the Anteater team from Mt. SAC Community College.  An experienced player, Lopez is the reigning CCCAA Southern California Regional Most Valuable Player and the SCC Most Valuable Player. The attacker led his squad with 148 goals, 84 assists, and 99 steals en route to the SCC Championship in 2023.
 
Vincent Vega | Goalkeeper | San Diego, Calif. | La Jolla HS
Vincent Vega, San Diego's Best Goalie and Third Best Player in 2023, comes to Irvine from La Jolla HS. In 2022, Vega was the CIF San Diego Open Division Runner Up and named to the All-CIF San Diego Second Team. While participating with USA Water Polo, the goalkeeper participated on the ODP Youth Academy team (2023) and the Cadet National Team (2022). Additionally, Vega is a three-time USA Water Polo Academic All-American.
 
Cole Francisco | Attacker | Long Beach, Calif. | Los Alamitos HS
Cole Francisco, a Long Beach product, attended Los Alamitos High School. The attacker played for USA Water Polo, most recently on the Youth National Team (2023) but was also a part of the Worlds Cadet Team (2022), and Cadet National Team (2021). Francisco was named as a U16 First Team All-American in 2022.
 
Ethan Spoon | Utility | Fountain Valley, Calif. | Huntington Beach HS
Ethan Spoon joins the Anteater team from Huntington Beach High School. Concluding his high school career, the utility player was named the CIF Division I Player of the Year. Spoon helped to lead his team to two Sunset League Surf Division Championship titles and a second-place finish in the CIF Open Division in 2021. In 2022, the utility player was named to both the All-Sunset League Surf Division First Team and All-CIF Open Division Second Team. Spoon is a two-time USA Water Polo Junior Olympian where he won the gold medal with the U16 team and silver medal with the 18U squad.
 
Jayson Hubbard | Freshman | Attacker | Danville, Calif. | De La Salle HS
Jayson Hubbard makes the trip to Irvine from Danville where he attended De La Salle High School and is a two-time D1 NCS Champion. The attacker is also a NCS All-League selection and team MVP. Additionally, Hubbard was a U16 Junior Olympic All-American and a member of the EBAL First Team. The incoming freshman will be utilizing a redshirt year for the 2024 season.
 
Maddox McEwen | Freshman | Attacker | Manhattan Beach, Calif. | Mira Costa HS
Maddox McEwen hails from Manhattan Beach, Calif., where he attended Mira Costa High School. The attacker landed on the CIF Division I First Team in 2023. McEwen will be utilizing a redshirt year for the 2024 season.
 
Keegan McGann | Freshman | Attacker | Mission Viejo, Calif. | Santa Margarita Catholic HS
Keegan McGann joins the Anteater team from Santa Margarita Catholic High School. Thrall landed on both the All-CIF Open Division First Team and All-Trinity League First Team while also competing with the ODP Academy team in 2023 and 2024. In 2022, the attacker was a participant on the SoCal Regional Team. The incoming freshman landed a spot on the honor roll all four years, graduated magna cum laude, and was a member of the National Honor Society. McGann will be utilizing a redshirt year for the 2024 season.