MidStateHoops.com :: Coach Forrester on a Role!

I don't know if there's a non-Division I program hotter than Southern Illinois-Edwardsville throughout the nation this year. New head coach Lennox Forrester has scored another recruiting coup and landed a junior college transfer for the 2007-2008 season. Stephen Jones has signed the final scholarship for the Cougars of SIU-E.

Jones, a 6'1" transfer from Northern Iowa, will enter with immediate elgibility. He is a strong and competitive point guard with good quickness, skills, and a nice outside shot. He will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

As a high school senior, Stephen committed to Ball State University before backing out after the coaching change and signing with Northern Iowa. He rated as the #21 player in MidStateHoops.com's final class of 2006 player rankings. He attended Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto, Illinois and competed with Midwest Storm on the AAU circuit.

As a true freshman, Jones appeared in 24 games averaging eight minutes and shooting 45% from the field for the UNI Panthers.

He joins a class with 7'0" Edwardsville H.S. center Terrance Williams, 6'10" 235 lbs Serbia center Nikola Bundalo, 6'6" Bradley University transfer Saihou Jassey, 5'10" Illinois-Chicago transfer T.J. Gray, and 5'10" junior college transfer Leonard Parker, five players who were all Division I caliber in their own right.

In addition, Forrester secured a commitment from 2008 guard Aaron Garriott.