BSU Men’s Hoops Welcomes Two “Giants” Back Home
April 15, 2020 | Men's Basketball
Transfers Jalen Windham, Reggie Jones sign with home-state Cardinals
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State men's basketball program is bringing two "Giants" back to Indiana with the signing of transfers Jalen Windham from Creighton and Reggie Jones from Tulsa.
Windham was an Indiana All-Star and Class 4A state champion for the Ben Davis Giants in Indianapolis before playing his freshman season at Creighton. Jones led the Marion Giants to the Class 3A state championship as an all-state player in 2016 before heading to Western Michigan and then Tulsa.
"We are thrilled to add Jalen and Reggie to the Ball State family," head coach James Whitford said. "Both are high character people, good students and terrific basketball players."
Windham appeared in 16 games as a true freshman last season for a Creighton squad that finished the year at No. 7 in the Associated Press poll, shared the Big East regular season championship and piled up 24 wins before the postseason was canceled by COVID-19. He scored a season-high 14 points in a late December non-conference win over Midland.
The 6-foot-5, 180-pound Windham helped Ben Davis win the state championship as a sophomore and finish runner-up as a senior. He shot 45 percent from 3-point range during his sophomore campaign and 46 percent as a junior. He connected on 37 percent as a senior while raising his scoring average to a career-best 17.9 points per game. Windham was an AP All-State selection that year and earned a spot on the 2019 Indiana All-Star Team alongside current BSU guard Luke Bumbalough. He will be one of seven Indiana natives, including four from the Indianapolis area, on the Cardinals' roster next year.
"Jalen is a terrific shooter and player who has great pedigree," Whitford said. "He has a winning background at the high school, AAU and college levels. And as good as Jalen is, his family and I believe he is scratching the surface of where he could be one day. He has great length for a perimeter player, is a knockdown shooter, comes from a basketball family and has the competitive drive that all great players need."
Jones played in 26 games and made seven starts as a junior last season for a Tulsa team that won 21 games and shared the American Athletic Conference regular season championship. He spent his first two collegiate seasons at Western Michigan where he proved himself as an all-around player, averaging 9.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals for his career with the Broncos. He was a MAC All-Freshman Team selection on WMU's 2016-17 team that shared the league's West Division championship with Ball State.
The 6-foot-7, 210-pound Jones was rated as the No. 10 recruit in the state of Indiana by ESPN coming out of high school. He was an IBCA/Subway Senior Large School All-State Team selection in 2015-16 and was named the Chronicle-Tribune Boys' Basketball Player of the Year. Jones averaged 16.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.1 steals per game as a senior, going off for 25 points in Marion's state championship victory over Evansville Bosse.
"Reggie is very a talented player with a broad skill set," Whitford said. "During his two seasons at Western Michigan, we saw up close what Reggie is capable of. His sophomore year, he came into Worthen Arena and had 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists against us. Reggie can shoot, dribble and pass well. He makes plays for himself and others, and he has terrific length and the ability to defend. His experience and skill set make him a very valuable addition."
Jones will have one year to play for the Cardinals, while Windham will have three. Ball State is reviewing options for pursuing immediate eligibility for both players.
Ball State is coming off a share of its third MAC West Division championship in five years. The Cardinals went 18-13 (11-7 MAC) and earned the league tournament's No. 3 seed before play was canceled because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Windham was an Indiana All-Star and Class 4A state champion for the Ben Davis Giants in Indianapolis before playing his freshman season at Creighton. Jones led the Marion Giants to the Class 3A state championship as an all-state player in 2016 before heading to Western Michigan and then Tulsa.
"We are thrilled to add Jalen and Reggie to the Ball State family," head coach James Whitford said. "Both are high character people, good students and terrific basketball players."
Windham appeared in 16 games as a true freshman last season for a Creighton squad that finished the year at No. 7 in the Associated Press poll, shared the Big East regular season championship and piled up 24 wins before the postseason was canceled by COVID-19. He scored a season-high 14 points in a late December non-conference win over Midland.
The 6-foot-5, 180-pound Windham helped Ben Davis win the state championship as a sophomore and finish runner-up as a senior. He shot 45 percent from 3-point range during his sophomore campaign and 46 percent as a junior. He connected on 37 percent as a senior while raising his scoring average to a career-best 17.9 points per game. Windham was an AP All-State selection that year and earned a spot on the 2019 Indiana All-Star Team alongside current BSU guard Luke Bumbalough. He will be one of seven Indiana natives, including four from the Indianapolis area, on the Cardinals' roster next year.
"Jalen is a terrific shooter and player who has great pedigree," Whitford said. "He has a winning background at the high school, AAU and college levels. And as good as Jalen is, his family and I believe he is scratching the surface of where he could be one day. He has great length for a perimeter player, is a knockdown shooter, comes from a basketball family and has the competitive drive that all great players need."
"Knocking down the deep ball, I think that's what I love doing the most. Coach emphasized that's what they need in the type of offense they play."@Gohamjdub likes to shoot the 3-ball. He does it well. And here in Muncie, his family can make it to his games. pic.twitter.com/DQPHBPX8Wr
— Ball State Basketball (@BallStateMBB) April 15, 2020
Jones played in 26 games and made seven starts as a junior last season for a Tulsa team that won 21 games and shared the American Athletic Conference regular season championship. He spent his first two collegiate seasons at Western Michigan where he proved himself as an all-around player, averaging 9.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals for his career with the Broncos. He was a MAC All-Freshman Team selection on WMU's 2016-17 team that shared the league's West Division championship with Ball State.
The 6-foot-7, 210-pound Jones was rated as the No. 10 recruit in the state of Indiana by ESPN coming out of high school. He was an IBCA/Subway Senior Large School All-State Team selection in 2015-16 and was named the Chronicle-Tribune Boys' Basketball Player of the Year. Jones averaged 16.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.1 steals per game as a senior, going off for 25 points in Marion's state championship victory over Evansville Bosse.
"Reggie is very a talented player with a broad skill set," Whitford said. "During his two seasons at Western Michigan, we saw up close what Reggie is capable of. His sophomore year, he came into Worthen Arena and had 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists against us. Reggie can shoot, dribble and pass well. He makes plays for himself and others, and he has terrific length and the ability to defend. His experience and skill set make him a very valuable addition."
"I just feel like this is the best fit … I'm really thankful for the opportunity just to be where I'm at."@_ReggieJones23 is happy to be back in central Indiana to play his final year of college basketball in front of family. pic.twitter.com/Yye9dwgQ6r
— Ball State Basketball (@BallStateMBB) April 15, 2020
Jones will have one year to play for the Cardinals, while Windham will have three. Ball State is reviewing options for pursuing immediate eligibility for both players.
Ball State is coming off a share of its third MAC West Division championship in five years. The Cardinals went 18-13 (11-7 MAC) and earned the league tournament's No. 3 seed before play was canceled because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Players Mentioned
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