College of the Siskiyous teammates Bauman, Snure take basketball careers to next level

The basketball journeys for Kody Bauman and Jett Snure will each continue at four-year universities, but the high school and junior college teammates are going in different directions.

Bauman, a 6-foot-7 post with an afro that makes him appear much taller, has signed to play at Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls. Snure, who could probably play offensive line at 6-8, 235 pounds, is headed to the San Francisco Bay Area to play at Holy Names in Oakland.

“Both of those guys are legit,” said College of the Siskiyous coach Kyle Heath. “Both of them were winners in high school (at Mount Shasta) and great guys to have stay here locally. 

“The imprint they leave on the program will be felt for a long time.”

Bauman was a two-time All-Golden Valley Conference player who Heath also nominated for all state honors. He led the conference in scoring with 19.8 points per game last season and was second in rebounding with 8.1 per night.

“Kody was insanely good and impressive to watch,” Snure said of his teammate.

Bauman’s path to OIT was a winding one that almost took him to Shasta College before staying close to home and then playing three seasons at COS due to Covid. At Mount Shasta, Bauman was part of the state finals team that included Snure and the Riccomini brothers, Kole and Kaden, though not the main scoring option.

“Coach Heath and I had a lot of talk and he told me of my potential. It gave me a lot of confidence,” Bauman said. “COS was completely different than high school. I knew those guys (Kole and Kaden Riccomini) were the main scorers. 

“I like being the main option on the team. It comes with a lot more responsibility, but when you execute it makes it so much more fun.”

Heath said both Bauman and Snure had potential when they got to COS and it was fun to see each blossom on the floor.

“Both were winners playing for Coach (Cliff) Blakely at Mount Shasta,” he said, adding that seeing players move to the next level is the goal of junior college coaching. “It’s exciting. It’s what you do it for. 

“We’re not sending kids to D-I (programs), but to see them grow up on and off the court (is the payoff). I think a lot of it was them being willing to put in the work and be coached by me and Coach (Adrian) Russell.”

Snure didn’t always light up the stat sheet like Bauman, but his contributions often were those that seasoned basketball minds could appreciate. He averaged 8.2 points per game and 5.8 boards, but was a great help defender and when not blocking shots, Snure certainly altered them.

“He loved to set screens and protect the rim,” Heath said. “He’s a throwback kind of guy for sure.”

The coach said he thinks Snure, who’s a little more outgoing than Bauman, will thrive in the Bay Area. 

“I think the melting pot will be a good experience for him,” Heath said. 

And he sees his game only getting better.

Snure, who didn’t play high school basketball his sophomore and junior seasons at Mount Shasta, said he doesn’t consciously think or regret missing those years, but that it built a foundation for what he wants his basketball career to become.

“I have an attitude of wanting to work on my game now,” he said. “I’m going to be the same player I am now (at Holy Names) … the hustle big who’s solid in the post and on defense.”

The imprint of Bauman and Snure that Coach Heath talked about on the program was evident over the summer during the annual youth camp.

“This was our best camp ever with about 95 kids between two sessions,” Heath said, “and a good chance for my players — about 10 guys — to help coach and be around the kids.”

Aaron Williams is the national editor and volleyball writer at MaxPreps. The former sports editor at the Record Searchlight has been active in the North State sports community for more than 20 years as a writer, and coach at the youth and high school levels. He enjoys spending time golfing or hiking with his partner Michelle and their mastiff, Maui.