Ball State University Athletics
Men?s Hoops Adds Point Guard, Fifth-Year Big Man
April 27, 2015 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's basketball program has bolstered its roster by signing junior college point guard Naiel Smith and fifth-year transfer center Nate Wells to scholarship papers.
The 6-foot-4 Smith will join the Cardinals from San Jacinto College in Texas and have two years of eligibility remaining. The 7-foot-1, 260-pound Wells will come to Muncie after graduating from Bradley and will have one year to play for the Cardinals.
Smith averaged 6.8 points, 4.8 assists and 4.4 rebounds last season for a team that finished the year ranked 12th in the country. The honorable mention all-region selection helped San Jacinto to a 28-6 record and a spot the NJCAA national tournament in Hutchinson, Kan. He spent his freshman season at Texas State, playing in all 31 games before deciding to transfer.
Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., Smith graduated from West Oaks Academy in Orlando, Fla., and then spent a year at Queen City Preparatory Academy in Charlotte, N.C. He averaged 25 points and five assists per game in leading his Queen City team to a No. 14 national ranking.
“Naiel fit the need we were looking to fill in terms of being a pure point guard,” Ball State coach James Whitford said. “He can create shots for himself and for his teammates, and he is a good defender. He is a hard worker and an energy guy who will be a great addition for us on the floor and in the locker room.”
Wells emerged as Bradley's starting center down the stretch last season. He averaged 7.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks over the final nine games, starting eight of them.
The Davenport, Iowa, product redshirted his first season at Bradley in 2011-12 and then played in 58 games over the next three years. A standout in the classroom, he was a Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete honorable mention selection last season. He plans to pursue his master's degree in public relations.
Wells was named third-team all-state as a senior at Davenport West High School. He averaged 12.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks in his final high school season.
“Nate also fills a need for us with his tremendous size,” Whitford said. “He comes from a conference I greatly respect in the Missouri Valley. He played the best basketball of his career late in the season, and we believe he will pick up where he left off. He works hard, and we are excited to add his experience to our program.”
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