Two pairs of brothers spotlight COD’s basketball team

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) - The 2025 College of the Desert men's basketball team is special with two pairs of brothers: Jayden and Jayse Creavalle, and Stephon and D.K. Souvenir.

"It's really good to be able to play with my brother on a new level because my time away from him, like, helped me," freshman guard Jayse Creavalle said. "It showed how much I've grown as a basketball player."

Jayse and Jayden Creavalle have shared the floor all their life, and with Jayden being one year older than Jayse, the sophomore guard looks to cherish every moment he has with his younger brother.

 "I'm super proud of him," sophomore guard Jayden Creavalle said. "I think it's really just a blessing that me and him could both play on the court in college. This is my last year with him, probably playing together, so I think it's really like a blessing to be with him."

While a sibling rivalry might be common, the Creavalle brothers have turned their competitive spirit into fuel, elevating each other to new heights.

"He was always better than me, so it always gave me someone to look up to and want to be better than," freshman guard Jayse Creavalle said. "Every day, I was just grinding. He was in the gym. I was right there with him because I always knew I wanted to be better."

There's also the souvenir Brothers, Stephon and De'miem, and for De'miem, playing alongside his younger sibling has been a pivotal moment in his basketball career.

"It's probably the best thing about this whole experience is that I'm able to play with my brother," sophomore guard De'miem King Souvenir said. "I'm able to mentor him a little bit and just seeing watching him grow. He's part of the reason why I came back to the game of basketball and play, so it's just definitely fulfilling."

The Souvenirs are more than brothers and teammates, they're best friends, and with the bond they've created, they're always ready to face any challenge that comes their way.

"We actually push each other to go harder every time," freshman center Stephon Souvenir said. "Sometimes when I feel like checking out, he'll be there to check, keep me checked in, and I can hold him accountable as well, so it's pretty cool."

Before COD, both brother duos played at Palm Springs High School under head coach Chris Howard, making this year a full-circle moment.

"Being out here playing with them, I'm able to learn from them, and they keep me young," sophomore guard De'miem King Souvenir said. "They keep me going, and just me being able to help them, it's just beyond great. It's that feeling that I wish I could have had it all in high school, but it's great that I got it now in college."

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage of athletics at College of the Desert.