The roster of the Lincoln men's basketball team grew by five Friday with the announcement of the Blue Tigers' recruiting class.
Lincoln head coach John Moseley announced two transfers and three freshmen will joins the Blue Tigers for the 2015-16 season. O'Shai Clark and Jaylon Smith will both join the Blue Tigers as juniors with two seasons of eligibility, while Chase Morfeld, Darrius Spencer and Deionte Wilson will have four years of eligibility.
"We're excited that these guys have decided to join us as we continue to build the Blue Tiger program," 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 (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) and we'll add a few more pieces this summer to help us as we move forward."
Clark, a native of Topeka, Kan., appeared in 26 games for Mid-America Nazarene in Olathe, Kan., last season. He helped 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 (Kan.) Community College.
During Clark's senior season at Highland Park High School in Topeka, Kan., he led the Scots to an undefeated conference record and helped Highland Park finish as the state runner-up in Class 4A.
"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 in Creston, Iowa, last year. He earned 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 School in Memphis, Tenn.
"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 High School 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 more than 1,000 points in his career and finished as the program's all-time leader in assists.
"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 School in Memphis, Tenn., to 18 wins and a district tournament championship as a senior. Spencer averaged 12 points and six rebounds while appearing 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 School. Wilson helped Park Hill to a 21-6 record as a senior, averaging 13.5 points per game while shooting 36 percent from 3-point range.
"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."