Men's basketball announces five spring signees - Jacksonville State University Athletics

JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team announced the signing of five to National Letters of Intent on Friday, rounding out its 2019-20 recruiting class.

Darian Adams, a transfer from Troy University, Demaree King, a transfer from Northern Oklahoma - Tonkawa, Brandon Huffman, a transfer from the University of North Carolina, Jay Pal, a transfer from Clarendon College and Semaj Henderson, an incoming freshman from Downers Grove North High School, are set to suit up for the Gamecocks in 2020-21.

The five join early signees Amanze Ngumezi and Marcellus Brigham Jr. to round of the seven-man recruiting class.

Brandon Huffman | Forward | 6-foot-10 | 225 lbs. | Goldsboro, N.C.
Brandon Huffman spent his first three season at North Carolina playing for head coach Roy Williams… comes to Jacksonville State as a senior… played just 14 games while battling a knee injury in 2019-20… in 70 games as a Tar Heel, the forward scored 96 points, swatted 14 shots and grabbed 78 rebounds… scored his single-season highs in points (47), rebounds (42), field goals (19) and blocks (8) as a freshman in 2017-18… comes from a military family… split his high school career at Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, N.C. and West Anchorage in Anchorage, Alaska… earned first team all-state honors and led WAHS to a 4-A state title, scoring 23 points and 24 rebounds in the championship game.

Harper on Huffman
"Brandon is a big, physical presence and a tremendous athlete who has played at a very high level. He's going to bring experience and toughness to our team. He is a little bit like Christian Cunningham in that he is a rim protector. He has a bright future and is a high-character kid. We're excited about him and what he'll bring to Jacksonville State next year."

Demaree King | Guard | 6-foot-0 | 180 lbs. | Tulsa, Okla.
Demaree King spent his first three seasons at Northern Oklahoma - Tonkawa, redshirting his second season after six games… comes to Jacksonville State as a junior… played 69 games for the Mavericks over his three years in Tonkawa, totaling 881 points, 183 rebounds and 98 steals… in 21.9 minutes per game, the guard averaged 12.8 points per contest and shot 48.6 percent… started 31 games his senior season, averaging a team-best 19.5 points per game… also led the Mavericks in points scored with 606, field goals with 208 and 3-pointers with 120… shot 46.2 from beyond the arc… played his high school at Will Rogers in Tulsa, Okla.

Harper on King
"Demaree is a scoring point guard. He shot almost 47 percent from the 3-point line this year and was a third team JUCO All-American. He's a kid, who I think, plays with a chip on his shoulder and has something to prove. I love him, I think he is tough and he's just going to get better and better."

Darian Adams | Guard | 6-foot-3 | 200 lbs. | Montgomery, Ala.
Darian Adams spent four seasons at Troy, redshirting his freshman season in 2016-17… comes to Jacksonville State as a graduate transfer… in three years on the court with the Trojans, the guard scored 634 points, 259 rebounds and knocked down 209 field goals… tallied 36 games with three-or-more assists in his career, leading the team with 3.3 assists per game in 2018-19… recorded his single-game high with eight assists last season at Chattanooga… twice scored a career-high 20 points in his junior season… in his senior season, he hit a career-best 99 field goals, grabbed a single-season high 111 rebounds and hit 57 treys… prepped at Carver High School in Montgomery, Ala.

Harper on Adams
"Darian is a guy who can really score the basketball. He has good size on the perimeter, has a high basketball IQ and is a good passer. He just does a little bit of everything, but the biggest thing is that he can put the ball in the hole."

Jay Pal | Guard | 6-foot-9 | 190 lbs. | Omaha, Neb.
Jay Pal signed with the Gamecocks out of Clarendon College in Clarendon, Texas… spent his freshman season with the Bulldogs and joins the Gamecocks as a sophomore… was named the No. 62 overall junior college prospect by JUCORecruiting.com after one season… played in 16 games in 2019-20, averaging 20.8 minutes per contest while making nine starts… totaled 164 points, 89 rebounds and 11 assists… also blocked seven shots and swiped six steals… shot 59.0 percent (59-for-100) from the field and 55.3 percent (21-for-38) from beyond the 3-point line… helped Clarendon College crack into the NJCAA Top 10… played his high school career at Omaha Central High School… prepped at The Skills Factory in Atlanta, Ga.

Harper on Pal
"Jay has tremendous upside. The sky is the limit for this guy. He's a tall perimeter guy with a 7-foot-2 wingspan who shoots the ball well. He shot about 55 from the 3-point line, but he can put the ball on the floor. You can put him on ball screens and can play the two or the three. He is long, athletic and has a bright future ahead of him. He's what NBA teams look for today."

Semaj Henderson | Guard | 6-foot-2 | 180 lbs. | Chicago, Ill.
Semaj Henderson signed with the Gamecocks after prepping at Washington Academy in Greenville, N.C. following his high school career… received offer from Jacksonville State following a 21-point, eight-rebound, seven-assist performance against No. 1 nationally ranked Hargrave Military Academy… played his high school ball at Downers Grove North High School outside of Chicago… averaged 18.0 per game as a senior… brought home a regional title and helped DGNHS to an appearance in the ISHA 4A Super Sixteen sectional finals in 2019.

Harper on Henderson
"Semaj is a typical Chicago kid. He's a tough, high-level competitor that can really score the basketball. He's a combo guard that can be played at the one or the two, and he's a high-level shooter. I think he'll bring that from the first day to us."

Early Signees
Amanze Ngumezi (Jan. 21)
Marcellus Brigham Jr. (Dec. 2)

For more information on the JSU men's basketball team, follow the Gamecocks on Twitter (@JSUGamecocksMBB) and Instagram (@JSUGamecocksMBB). For more on all Gamecocks sports teams, follow the official social media accounts of JSU Athletics on Twitter (@JSUGamecocks), Facebook (Facebook.com/JSUGamecocks) and Instagram (@JSUGamecocks).

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