BANNER ELK, N.C. – – Lees-McRae College Head Men's Basketball Coach
Steve Hardin announces the addition of 10 newcomers to his 2022-23 recruiting class on Thursday afternoon. The newest group of Bobcats include Nico Ashley (Elizabethton, Tennessee), Brandon Brown (Bristol, Virginia), Nicholas Cross (Orlando, Florida), Isajah Deburgo (Durham, North Carolina), Aidan Eller (Greensboro, North Carolina), Jeremy Golson (West Palm Beach, Florida), Matthew Knafelz (Charlotte, North Carolina), Thomas McIntosh (Asheboro, North Carolina), Williams Onyeodi (Fayetteville, North Carolina), and LJ Rogers (Mebane, North Carolina).
"In bringing new student-athletes into our program this year we as a staff were very specific in our needs and wants. I feel we got that and more with this signing class," said Hardin. "I want to thank Coach Motley and Coach Burleson for their tireless work in helping me bring in the right young men into our DunkMountain Brotherhood. We are all truly excited about this group!"
Nico Ashley (Elizabethton, Tennessee / Motlow State CC)
Junior | Forward
Ashley comes to Banner Elk from Motlow State Community College as a junior transfer who was a first-team All-Conference performer to go along with earning the league's Defensive Player of the Year honors. In addition to his success at Motlow State, Ashley was a member of the 2020-21 all-academic team and was a three-time All-Conference and All-State honoree at Elizabethton High School in Tennessee.
Brandon Brown (Bristol, Virginia / Teays Valley Christian School)
Freshman | Guard
Brown joins the men's basketball program from Teays Valley Christian School in West Virginia where he scored over 1,000 points in his high school career. Brown was named to the first team All-Conference at Teays Valley and was a member of the National Honor Society and honor roll.
Nicholas Cross (Orlando, Florida / Florida Gateway)
Sophomore | Guard
Cross comes to Lees-McRae from Orlando, Florida where he played at Florida Gateway College and was a member of the first-ever national finalist, Sweet 16. Cross prepped at Lake Nona High School and was voted as the MVP and propelled Lake Nona to a district championship. Off the court, Cross was named to the Vice President's List at Florida Gateway College in 2022.
Isajah Deburgo (Durham, North Carolina / Southern Durham High School)
Freshman | Guard
Deburgo joins Lees-McRae from Southern Durham High School in Durham, North Carolina where he had success on the basketball court as he was named second-team All-District and first-team All-Conference. Deburgo scored 1,100 career points at Southern Durham and garnered recognition on the honor roll and Principal's List.
Aidan Eller (Greensboro, North Carolina / Northwest Guilford High School)
Freshman | Guard
Eller comes to Banner Elk from Greensboro, North Carolina where he was a standout guard for Northwest Guilford High School. Eller also held a solid GPA in high school and will look to contribute to the Bobcats men's basketball team this upcoming season.
Jeremy Golson (West Palm Beach, Florida / Valdosta State)
Redshirt Sophomore | Guard
Golson comes to Banner Elk as a sophomore transfer from NCAA Division II Valdosta State where he played nearly 90 percent of games as a freshman, shooting nearly 50 percent from behind the three-point line and grabbing 20 rebounds. Golson is a native of West Palm Beach, Florida where he attended Cardinal Newman High School and went to DME Sports Academy for one year.
Matthew Knafelz (Charlotte, North Carolina / Metrolina Christian Academy)
Freshman | Forward
Knafelz enters his first year as part of the Lees-McRae men's basketball team by way of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Metrolina Christian Academy. Knafelz played on the varsity basketball squad for four years at Metrolina Christian and was a member of the National Honor Society.
Thomas McIntosh (Asheboro, North Carolina / High Point Christian)
Freshman | Forward
McIntosh comes to Lees-McRae from Asheboro, North Carolina where he primarily played at the small forward position at High Point Christian. In high school, McIntosh was named to the all-conference team and was a member of the Beta Club and honor roll.
Williams Onyeodi (Fayetteville, North Carolina / Coker University)
Sophomore | Forward
Onyeodi joins the Bobcats men's basketball team from regional opponent Coker University in Hartsville, South Carolina. In 2021-22, Onyeodi averaged 12.1 points per game, third-most on squad, and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Cobras. In 2020, Onyeodi was named to the South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll for his excellence in the classroom. A Fayetteville, North Carolina native, Onyeodi played was a three-sport athlete (basketball, soccer, track & field) at Fayetteville Academy where he was selected to All-State, All-Tournament, All-Conference, and 910 Prep second team. He was also a part of the NCISAA 2A state championship and was named to the honor roll at Fayetteville Academy.
LJ Rogers (Mebane, North Carolina / Davidson Davie CC)
Sophomore | Guard
Rogers comes to Banner Elk from Davidson-Davie Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina where he was second on the team in points per game with 12.4 ppg and started in all 36 games. A Mebane, North Carolina native, Rogers was selected to the all-conference and all-region teams at Davidson-Davie and was a member of the final four team.
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