How Tulare Union’s best football players also lead the charge on the basketball court

Posted by author February 18, 2025 Football

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Demaje Riley and Brayden Stevenson are NCAA Division I football talents.

Riley is verbally committed to UCLA and Stevenson has pledged to the University of Nevada.

Both are standout receivers for Tulare Union High School’s football team that won nine games and advanced to the Central Section Division I-AA playoffs last season.

The dynamic duo have carried their success onto the basketball court this winter and are a couple of reasons why the Tribe (24-5) captured a share of the West Yosemite League championship this year.

With the explosive guards running Tulare Union’s backcourt, second-ranked Tulare Union won its first playoff game in eight years on Feb. 15, beating No. 15 Fresno 95-74 in the first round of the 2025 Central Section Division III playoffs.

Riley exploded for 40 points in the postseason victory, hitting 7-of-16 3-pointers. Stevenson added 29 points and also distributed eight assists.

“Those two are so good,” longtime Tulare Union head coach Mark Hatton said. “They’re so good and they’re so fast. We don’t sit those guys very much, and they’re beat up. Everyone tries to throw three or four different defenses against them and they just keep playing. And they have to guard the other team’s best players, too. We’re pretty excited with how they’ve been playing.”

Stevenson leads the team in scoring, averaging 21.1 points per game. He has also made an impact as the squad’s starting point guard, averaging four rebounds, 3.4 assists and three steals per game.

When defenses key in on Stevenson, the Tribe counter with Riley, who is second on the team in scoring, averaging 17.4 points per game. He also leads the team in rebounds (5.2 per game) and steals (3.1 per game).

Their ability to help control the tempo of the game is a big reason why Tulare Union has won 20-plus games for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

Does Riley and Stevenson’s football background help the team excel on the court?

“Oh, God, yes,” Hatton said. “It’s their toughness. Our kids are tough. They get a lot of that from football. Our best kids here have always played football.”

Although it’s basketball season, Riley and Stevenson still gravitate toward the gridiron.

On the weekends, the two receivers make opposing defensive backs pay in 7-on-7 passing tournaments.

Riley and Stevenson, along with some of Tulare County’s other top football players, recently competed at the 2025 Battle Las Vegas 7-on-7 Tournament on the weekend of Feb. 8-9.

After standing out in those games, Stevenson received a three-star rating, on a five-star scale, by the recruiting website 247sports.com. He is currently ranked as the 185^th-best prospect in the state of California for the Class of 2026.

Between Riley and Stevenson, the Tulare Union stars have combined for 4,571 yards receiving and 68 total touchdowns. Riley is only a sophomore; Stevenson is a junior.

Quarterback Jordan Crisp, who is also a member of the Tribe’s basketball team, was also recognized as one of the top eight signal-callers at that Las Vegas event.

“As long as they’re with us doing what they’re supposed to do, we want them to live full, free lives,” Hatton said. “I’m excited that Brayden got declared a three-star over the weekend. That happened because he went on his trip. That’s pretty exciting.”