JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri – Head coach John Moseley announced that five players have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Lincoln men's basketball team in 2015-16.
O'Shai Clark (Topeka, Kan./Mid-America Nazarene) and Jaylon Smith (Memphis, Tenn./Southwestern Community College) will both join the Blue Tigers as juniors with two seasons of eligibility. Chase Morfeld (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles), Darrius Spencer (Memphis, Tenn./Cordova) and Deionte Wilson (Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill) will each enter as freshmen with four years of eligibility.
"We're excited that these guys have decided to join us as we continue to build the Blue Tiger program," head coach John Moseley said. "We've focused our recruiting efforts on young men that are committed to getting their college degree, they must love to compete, and they must enjoy being in the gym. This group understands the challenge that we face in the MIAA and we'll add a few more pieces this summer to help us as we move forward."
Clark appeared in 26 games for Mid-America Nazarene last season, helping the Pioneers to a 10-8 conference record and a berth in the Heart of America Athletic Conference tournament. Prior to joining Mid-America Nazarene, Clark earned all-freshman honors at Dodge City Community College and was a two-time high school defensive player of the year at Highland Park High.
During Clark's senior season, he led the Scots to an undefeated conference record and helped Highland Park finish as the state Class 4A runner-up. Clark was a Kansas Honor Scholar and was named to the Basketball Recruiting Class of 2013 Honor Roll.
"O'shai is an outstanding defender and has a toughness about himself that we appreciate in our program," Moseley said. "His maturity level, on and off the court, will be a big plus for us as we add younger players to our roster."
Smith averaged 17.3 points and 4.1 rebounds at Southwestern Community College last year, earning first team all-region honors in the process. Smith started 32 games, leading the Spartans to a 23-10 record and a berth in the Region XI semifinals. Smith previously earned all-conference and all-district honors at Sheffield High.
"Jaylon has proven that he can score the basketball at a high level," Moseley said. "He has the ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter but is also willing to attack the rim. He's shown a willingness to rebound the basketball that often goes unnoticed."
Morfeld averaged 15 points and five assists per game while leading St. Charles to the 2015 Class 4 Missouri State Championship. Morfeld scored 20 points in the title game, capping off a senior season in which he earned first team all-conference, all-district and all-state honors. A three-time all-conference and all-district honoree at St. Charles, Morfeld scored over 1,000 points in his high school career and finished as the program's all-time leader in assists and sixth on the all-time points chart.
"Chase had a terrific senior year, culminating with a state championship," Moseley said. "He's a leader that doesn't get caught up in statistics but does whatever he can to help his team win. He's a pass-first point guard that's capable of scoring the ball. His IQ for the game allows him to see things before they develop."
Spencer led Cordova High to 18 wins and a district tournament championship as a senior. Spencer averaged 12 points and six rebounds, and appeared in every game, helping the team advance to the regional semifinals.
"Darrius is an athletic wing that played in a 'platoon' system in high school," Moseley said. "He's a strong, physical player that's most comfortable attacking the basket, but he's also a threat from the perimeter. His length and athleticism should allow him to be a very good defender."
Wilson earned first team all-conference and all-district honors as a junior and was a second team all-conference selection as a senior at Park Hill High. Wilson led Park Hill to a 21-6 record as a senior, averaging 13.5 points per game while shooting .360 from beyond the arc. Wilson was named to the Basehor Linwood and Blue Springs South All-Tournament teams, earning tourney MVP honors for the latter, and was also selected as a William Jewell Holiday Classic All-Star.
"Deionte was the first one in this class to commit to Lincoln," Moseley said. "He's played with really good players at Park Hill and he's proven that he belongs in that same category. He's an athletic off-guard that can score in bunches."
By Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
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