3 Guards, 1 Center Comprise Mens Basketball Class
11/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Central Michigan men's basketball coach Keno Davis announced the signing of four players on Wednesday.
The class comprises guards Matt Smith of Elgin, Ill., Kevin McKay of Warren, and Ellis Jefferson of San Antonio, Texas, along with 6-foot-11 center Innocent Nwoko.
All four players fall in line with what Davis puts at the top of the priority list: character.
"The thing that's remained the same since we've gotten here is the value that we put in the character of the individual," said Davis, whose team, coming off the Mid-American Conference regular-season championship, opens Friday at home against Jacksonville State.
"Even now when we've been more successful on the court and recruit somebody who's maybe more highly thought of, we haven't gone away from what has been successful for us," Davis added. "I think you're going to see a young group come in next year that's going to be very talented, and with a really high ceiling."
Nwoko is one of the top players in suburban Detroit's Macomb County, having led New Haven High School to a 25-1 record and league, district and regional championships last season.
The addition of Nwoko further boosts a Chippewa frontcourt that includes 6-11 Luke Meyer and 6-9 DaRohn Scott, both sophomores.
"I think when you recruit size at any level you're looking at and projecting how good they can be down the road," Davis said. "And anything they can give you in year one is a bonus.
"We were really fortunate to have Luke Meyer and DaRohn Scott both as freshmen be able to step in to roles. We don't want to put too much pressure on anybody coming in on what they're going to do on day one, but we do think highly of the entire class that each one of those can be really great players here at CMU."
McKay, a solid 6-4 and 218 pounds, is a three-time team captain at De La Salle High School in Warren, just outside Detroit. The Pilots play in the highly competitive Catholic League, and McKay has been a member of the varsity since his freshman year.
Jefferson, 6-1, plays at Brandeis High School, where he is a three-year starter, four-time letterwinner, and two-time captain.
Smith is a three-year letterwinner and the all-time leading scorer at South Elgin High School.
 | Ellis Jefferson • Guard • 6-1, 160 • San Antonio, Texas/Brandeis HS Four-year varsity letterwinner at Brandeis HS ... three-year starter ... two-time team captain ... totaled 1,061 points, 344 rebounds, 127 assists and 111 steals for his career ... as a junior, averaged 19.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.0 apg and 1.7 spg .... earned 6A First Team All-District (unanimous) and Class 6A All-Area Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) honors ... named to San Antonio News Express All-Area Super Team ... at the 2014 NISD-NEISD Boys Basketball Tournament, averaged 22 ppg en route to receiving MVP honors ... honored on 2014 SAISD Boys Basketball Tournament All-Tournament Team ... as a sophomore, averaged 15.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.7 apg and 1.7 spg ... received Class 5A First Team All-District (unanimous), All-Region TABC and San Antonio News Express All-Area Team recognition ... named offensive MVP at Brandeis ... two-time Helotes Echo Player of the Week ... played with DI Ambassadors Adidas 17U team. | |
 | Kevin McKay • Guard • 6-4, 218 • Warren, Mich./Warren De La Salle HS Three-year letterwinnner ... three-time team captain ... broke the 1,000-point mark for his career as a junior ... received All-Catholic, All-Macomb County First Team and Detroit Free Press All-East honors for 2014-15 season ... named All-Catholic and All-Macomb County Second Team as a sophomore ... earned all-league and All-Macomb County Honorable Mention recognition as a freshman ... played with Detroit Showtime. | |
 | Innocent Nwoko • Center • 6-11, 220 • New Haven, Mich./New Haven HS Two-year letterwinner ... named a team captain as a junior ... led New Haven to a school-record 25 wins (25-1) and a Macomb Area Conference (MAC) Gold, district and region championship in 2015 ... named First Team MAC Gold All-Conference and a Macomb County All-Star ... received Bank Hoops, Detroit News, Detroit Free Press and Inside Prep Hoops All-State honors ... also earned two varsity letters in soccer ... played with Spiece Indy Heat. | |
 | Matt Smith • Guard • 6-0, 175 • Elgin, Ill./South Elgin HS Three-year varsity letterwinner ... South Elgin high school's all-time leading scorer (1,103 points) ... named first team all-area and all-conference as a sophomore and a junior ... received team MVP honors for 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons ... played with the Illinois Wolves. |
