Owens Basketball Signs Two Key Transfers In Tucker, Jackson

Shondell Jackson and Jaylen Tucker (L to R) will bring an infusion of experience and talent to next year's roster. Photos by Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Shondell Jackson and Jaylen Tucker (L to R) will bring an infusion of experience and talent to next year's roster. Photos by Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Posted: Jun 28, 2016

By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, Ohio---Owens Community College head men's basketball coach Dave Clarke has added two key transfers for the 2016-17 season with the signings of Shondell Jackson (Warren G. Harding/Warren, Ohio) and Jaylen Tucker (Northland/Columbus, Ohio).

Both student-athletes are currently taking summer classes at Owens, along with several other incoming freshmen and returning sophomores. They are expected to be NCAA Division I prospects at the end of next season.

Jaylen Tucker

Tucker is a 6'7" forward who graduated from Northland High School in Columbus, Ohio, which is the same school that has produced players such as Jared Sullinger and Trey Burke. He played at NJCAA Division I Dodge City Community College in 2014-15. Last year, he attended NCAA Division I University of Tennessee - Martin, but he did not play in any games.

"Jaylen is extremely athletic and gives us the defense and rebounding ability of a Division I post player," Clarke said. "We expect great things from him because he's older, played college basketball and went to a Division I school last year."

As a senior at Northland, Tucker was named Second Team All-City League North Division, Special Mention All-Metro by the Columbus Dispatch and Division 1 Honorable Mention All-Central District by the Associated Press. 

Tucker averaged 9.5 points per game as a senior while leading his team to a berth in the regional finals. He produced 10 points and 13 rebounds in the district finals against Westerville Central, along with 15 points and seven rebounds in the regional semifinal against Dublin Coffman.

Shondell Jackson

Jackson is a 6'5" wing who played for and graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, Ohio in 2015. He played at NJCAA Division I Missouri State University - West Plains last year.

"Shondell is a very athletic wing," Clarke said. "With one year of college basketball completed, he is physically and mentally prepared for the next level. He's a kid that we're going to play at multiple positions, and he is definitely a Division I recruit."

As a senior at Harding, Jackson led his team to the district finals. He participated in the Ohio North-South All-Star Game and earned Division I Honorable Mention All-Ohio recognition. As a junior, he averaged 14.7 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 63.4 percent inside the arc. He was named the MVP of the Hoop Classice between Harding and Niles McKinley and earned Honorable Mention Division I All-Ohio recognition.

Notes

The additions of Tucker and Jackson officially brings this year's recruiting class up to six talented members. Earlier signees include Luke Mayer, a 6'8" forward from Hilliard Davidson in Hilliard, Ohio; Marquavious Wilson, a 6'3" guard from Lima Senior High School in Lima, Ohio; Rico Stafford, a 6'5" forward from Lima Senior High School in Lima, Ohio; and Jalen Huff, a 6'5" wing from Dwyer High School in West Palm Beach, Fla., who played at NAIA Indiana Tech University last year.

The Owens men's basketball program has achieved tremendous success on and off the court over the past five years, in addition to having a storied history that includes two NJCAA Division II national championships, eight region/district championships, 12 conference championships and over 950 wins.

Since 2011, which was the year Clarke started at Owens, the program has achieved a 118-44 record, which includes a 51-13 mark in conference play. During that span, Owens has won two conference championships, made four district championship game appearances and advanced to the NJCAA Division II Final Four once.

Furthermore, the program has sent 20 players to four-year schools, including the most recent signee, Xavier Cochran (Huron/Ypsilanti, Mich.), who signed with NCAA Division I University of Albany. 

In addition to that, James Kelly (Pioneer/Ann Arbor, Mich.), who had a storied career at Owens from 2011-13, recently signed a deal to be a member of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets in the Orlando Summer League July 2-8. For more info on that, visit here

Stay tuned to OwensExpress.com for news on additional signings in the near future.