Ball State University men's basketball coach Billy Taylor on Tuesday announced the signing of two recruits nearly one week after National Signing Day began.
Taylor welcomed high school seniors Matt Kamieniecki and Marvin Jordon to the program and said both will be key replacements for the current team's two senior players — guard Brawley Chisholm and forward Terrence Watson.
"I like both young men that we signed to help in different areas," Taylor said. "They will add depth and good talent in a couple positions that we lose key players in."
Matt Kamieniecki
The name Kamieniecki might sound familiar to several sports fans.
Matt, a 6-foot-7-inch, 210-pound forward, is the son of former University of Michigan and New York Yankees pitcher Scott Kamieniecki, who was a hurler in the Major Leagues from 1991-2000.
Matt Kamieniecki, listed as one of the 100 Pre-Summer Class of 2010 Players to Watch by MaxPreps.com, chose Ball State over Mid-American Conference-rival Western Michigan University and also had an offer from fellow state opponent IPFW.
Taylor said he was impressed with Kamieniecki's ability to defend the interior and the perimeter, as well as an improved offensive game that produced 13 points and nine rebounds per game last season.
"[Kamieniecki] is a long, lean, agile player that plays with a great motor on the floor," Taylor said in a statement. "He has improved his skills around the basketball and on the perimeter."
Marvin Jordon
With no true point guards on the current roster, Taylor said he was happy to find Jordon, a senior at Manual High School in Peoria, Ill.
Jordon, who stands 5-foot-11-inches, averaged 11 points, four assists to just two turnovers a game last season for the Rams.
Jordon selected Ball State over Niagara University and also had interest from Western Michigan.
Taylor said Jordon could develop into the ideal MAC point guard.
"[Jordon's] a pure point guard," Taylor said. "He really doesn't mind distributing the ball and doesn't score a whole lot more — he averages double figures in high school, but he's more than content to share the basketball and help create for his team. He has the point guard mentality."
More to come?
Taylor said he wanted to save a remaining scholarship for the 2010 class for the spring signing period.
"We can have good balance to this class — it's certainly a good class for us," he said. "We'll probably look for a combo guard to solidify depth in the back court."
Ball State, which defeated Valparaiso University 88-78 on Saturday in their season opener, return to the court Saturday to host SIU-Edwardsville at Worthen Arena.
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