SPRINGFIELD – Head men’s basketball coach Steve Jenkins announced the addition of seven freshman and three transfers for the 2017-18 season.
Among the incoming freshman class, three products basketball fans from southwest Missouri will recognize include Matt McHenry from Rogersville, Mo., Zachary Sutt from Wheatland, Mo., and Isaac Blakeslee from Kickapoo High School.
The Crusaders will also welcome standouts from Arkansas, Virginia, and Florida with Jacob Conerly from Richmond, Va., Shomari King from Tampa, Fla., Edriel Martinborough from Lynchburg, Va., and JM Gregg from Eureka Springs, Ark.
Coach Jenkins will also add three transfers that include Justin Washington who will have four years eligibility after a prep career at Crane High School. Luke Call and Zachary Flippin will join the Crusaders with two years of eligibility remaining as Call comes from Missouri Baptist by way of Mt. Vernon, Mo., and Flippin from North Arkansas Community College after a prep career at West Plains, Mo.
Below are bios on all 2017-18 signings:
· Jacob Conerly- 6’7 Forward- Alexandria, Va.- Life Christian Academy (Richmond, Va.)
o 2016-17- 2nd Team All-State
o 2016-17- 1st Team All-Conference
o MVP- Stewart School Invitational
o Averaged 10.2 Points, 6.5 Rebounds, 1.8 Assists, 0.9 Blocks
o Discipleship Award- Teen Bible Quiz- 2014-2015-2016
o National Memorization Award Winner- Teen Bible Quiz- 2014-2015-2016-2017
o Gold Medal of Achievement- Royal Rangers
· Matthew McHenry- 5’10 Guard- Republic, Mo. (Logan-Rogersville HS)
o Will play basketball and run outdoor track and field at Evangel
o Basketball- 1st Team All-Conference- Small Central Ozark Conference- Unanimous
o Basketball- 1st Team All-District- Class 4 District 9
o Averaged 11 Points, 5 Assists, 3 Rebounds, 2 Steals- Shot 51% from field; 32% from 3pt; 82% Free Throw %
o Track- All- State- Class 3
o Track- 1st Team All-Conference- Central Ozark Conference
o Track- 1st Team All-District- Class 3 District 6
· Shomari King- 6’4 Guard/Forward- Tampa, FL (Seffner Armwood HS)
o Team Most Valuable Player
o All-District Performer- Class 7A- District 7
o Averaged 13 Points, 6 Rebounds, and 3 Assists- Shot 51% from the Field
· Edriel Martinborough- 5’11 Guard- Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas- (Liberty Christian Academy/Lynchburg, Va.)
o Averaged 15.9 Points; 5.6 Rebounds; 3.5 Assists
o First Team All-Area
o Team Offensive Player of the Year
· Zachary Sutt- 5-11 Guard- Wheatland, Mo. (Wheatland HS)
o Averaged 25.6 Points (2054 Points in career- 2nd in Wheatland History)
o Averaged 5.6 Rebounds
o Sophomore Year 2014-15
§ 1st Team All-Conference; 2nd Team All-District
o Junior Year 2015-16
§ 1st Team Class 1 District 6; 1st Team All-Conference PCL
o Senior Year 2016-17
§ 1st Team Class 1 MBCA All-State; 1st Team Class 1 District 7; 1st Team All-Conference PCL
· Isaac Blakeslee- 6’3 Guard- Springfield, Mo. (Kickapoo HS)
o Averaged 7.5 Points; 3.5 Assists; 2 Rebounds for State Final Four Team (Class 5A)
o State Runner-Up in 2016 (Class 5A)
o Honorable Mention All-Conference- Ozark Conference
o First Team All-District
· JM Gregg- 6’2 Guard- Eureka Springs, Ark. (Eureka Springs HS)
o Averaged 19 Points; 7 Rebounds; 2.7 Steals and had 7 Double-Doubles
o Team Captain and MVP
o 3 Year Starter on teams that won 78 games
o 3 Conference Championship teams
o 3 Trips to Regionals
o State Tournament Appearance 2015-16
o All-State, All-Conference and All-District 2016-17
o Northwest Arkansas All- Star Game; North Central Arkansas All-Star Game
o All-Conference and All-District 2015-16
Transfers
· Luke Call- 6’0 Guard – Mt. Vernon, Mo. – Missouri Baptist
o Averaged 9.8 Points
o 44% from the Field
o 42.5% from 3 point- Made 85 Three Pointers last year
· Justin Washington- 6’5 Forward- Springfield, Mo. (Crane HS)
o Class of 2014 (Four years Eligibility)
o 2014 All State and All Conference
o Conference Player of the Year- 2014
o SWCL Player of the Year- 2014
· Zachary Flippin- 5-10 Guard – West Plains, Mo. (North Ark Community College)
o Averaged 2.8 Points, 2.6 Assists as Sophomore at North Arkansas Community College
o Shot 47% from the field and 42% from 3pt land
