Bearden and Hill Sign with Men's Basketball

The Ball State men's basketball team and head coach Michael Lewis have announced the signings of Jai Anthoni Bearden and Jermahri "Fatt" Hill to their 2024 class.

Bearden and Hill will join a young Cardinals crew that features the majority of the roster having at least one more year of eligibility after the 2023-24 season.

More details about the duo can be found below.

Jermahri "Fatt" Hill
Bessemer, Ala. | South Plains JC (Levelland, Texas)
6'4" Guard
Hill averaged 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and 34 percent on 3-pointers during his freshman season. The second-year guard hails from right outside of Birmingham. Hill and the South Plains Texans are off to a 3-0 start to their year after being voted the No. 2 team in the preseason NJCAA Division I poll.

Coach Lewis on Hill
"I'm super excited about Jermahri joining our program. I think he gives us some good size and length and athleticism on the perimeter as we continue to develop our program into one that can compete for championships at this level. I think he's a dynamic playmaker; he can play with the ball in his hands and he can play off the ball. He plays for a great junior college program at South Plains that is currently ranked No. 2 in the country."

Hayden Sowers (South Plains JC head coach) on Hill
"Jermahri is one of the more dynamic guards that I have coached in my eight years at the junior college level. He was one of the best freshmen in the country last year and has made a seamless transition to playing here at South Plains and has been one of the top JUCO guards this year. He is a true three-level scorer and has really high skill level with a great basketball IQ. He works on his craft daily and I look forward to watching him impacting winning for Coach Lewis and Coach Gudino at Ball State!"

Jai Anthoni Bearden
Phoenix, Ariz. | Sunnyslope HS
6'7" Forward
Bearden put up 14 points and 8 rebounds per game as a junior, leading Sunnyslope to a run to the state championship game. The forward has played for the Compton Magic AAU team and been a highly-touted prospect.

Coach Lewis on Bearden
"Jai Anthoni comes from an outstanding high school program in Phoenix and plays for one of the premier AAU programs in the country. He competed for a state title as a junior, and his high school team should be right back in the mix for a state championship this year. At 6-foot-7, with his athleticism and length, I truly believe he's one of the premier defensive players in the 2024 class. While a good offensive player now, he will continue to get better and blossom on the offensive end as he gains more experience, but the thing that's going to translate to the college game from Day 1 is his ability to defend high level players."

Ray Portela (Sunnyslope HS head coach) on Bearden
"Ball State is getting a steal with Jai Anthoni Bearden. On the court, he might be one of the best defenders in the country. He is long, tenacious, lightning quick, and attacks every possession like it's his last. He is the consummate teammate, driving and motivating his teammates with his words and actions. Off the court, he has been a great representative for our school and basketball program. He is the perfect gentleman, a hard-working student, and is a model for every student on our campus. We are excited about his future working with Coach Lewis and his staff in Muncie."

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