Men’s Basketball Roster Set for 2023-24 Season

GREELEY, Colo. – Fans of Northern Colorado men's basketball will see seven new faces, along with eight returners for the upcoming 2023-24 season.

UNC's incoming class is comprised of two junior college transfers, three NCAA DI transfers, and two true freshmen. The class is composed of Mekhi Cameron (Atlanta, Ga. / Cowley College), Dejour Reaves (Syracuse, N.Y. / Trinidad State), Saint Thomas (Omaha, Neb. / Loyola Chicago), Jaron Rillie (Sydney, Australia / Samford), Marcell McCreary (Fort Worth, Texas / Air Force), Egan Shields (Ashland, Ore. / Colorado Prep/Colorado RoughRiders), and Radek Homer (Highlands Ranch, Colo. / Mountain Vista)

The incoming class will be joined by graduate Riley Abercrombie, senior Theo Hughes, juniors Zach Bloch, Connor Creech, Jalen Page, and sophomores Juju Ramirez, Langston Reynolds, and Brock Wisne.

"Now that we've completed this year's recruiting class, I can say that our staff is really excited about how we pieced together our roster to complement our eight returning players," head coach Steve Smiley said. "In a world of constant roster change and instability in college basketball, I'm really excited first and foremost to have eight guys back that will keep our core intact and help us stay strong in the areas that matter most to our staff in building a program. In terms of our seven new recruits, I'm thrilled with how this class came together. My staff did a tremendous job of putting together this class and being very focused on the needs that we needed to address on the court, including shooting, size, age, and experience. I think we did a great job of putting together a team that makes sense on paper to compete for Big Sky championships. Now the real work begins as we begin summer workouts and start to build this team into a winner that our campus and community can really get behind in 2023!"

Mekhi Cameron • Guard • 6-4 • 195 • Atlanta, Ga. • Cowley College

Prior to UNC: Started all 31 games for the Cowley Tigers in 2022-23, averaging 33.8 minutes per game … Averaged 18.3 points per game shooting 44.5 percent from the field, including 38.8 percent from behind the arc … Played all 32 games during his freshman season in 2021-22, starting 27 of those games … Averaged 30.7 minutes per game and averaged 12.7 points per game … Shot 40.7 percent from the field with a 40.3 percentage for three … Totaled 971 points in his two years at Cowley College playing a total of 2,028 minutes over 63 games.

Smiley on Cameron: "Mekhi is a player that we've had on our radar for a couple of years now, and we feel like he is a perfect fit for us both on the court and as a student-athlete that will represent our program off the court as well. Mekhi is a big guard that can really shoot it in both stationary and moving/screening actions, and he's also developed tremendously already as a creator on the ball and will continue to improve as we get him on campus in the future. He also has a great presence on defense, and his size and athleticism will be huge assets for how we want to defend. He's been coached well at one of the top junior colleges in the country for the past two years and he comes from a family with a track record of elite athletic success. I know that all of Bear Country will be really excited to watch Mekhi for the next two seasons!"

Dejour Reaves • Guard • 6-0 • 170 • Syracuse, N.Y. • Trinidad State

Prior to UNC: Played in 51 games, starting 49, for the Trojans in his career … Reaves started all 24 games for Trinidad State during the 2022-23 season, averaging 24 minutes per game, while scoring 23.5 points per game as well … Scored a total of 1,111 points in his two years at Trinidad State … Shot a blistering 52.5 percent in his career, including 38.2 percent from behind the arc … was an 85.1 free-throw percent shooter during his second season with the Trojans … Helped Trinidad State to back-to-back Region IX titles in 2022 and 2023 … Named Second Team All-American and Region IX Player of the Year in 2023 … Named First Team All-Region in 2023 … Was Corcoran High School's all-time leading scorer prior to joining Trinidad State.

Smiley on Reaves: "We're thrilled with the addition of Dejour Reaves to our roster for next year. Dejour's individual accomplishments and stats are obviously elite, but what attracted us to Dejour more than anything else was his toughness and his consistent ability to win at a high level throughout his junior college career. Dejour led his Trinidad State team to back-to-back Region IX titles and appearances at the NJCAA National Tournament, and I'm fully confident that he will be able to step in and bring his winning traits to our team immediately. Dejour can really score the ball, but also has a great feel for the game off the ball with his ability to shoot, cut, and rebound. He is extremely competitive on the defensive side of the ball and is going to elevate us on that side of the floor as well. I've always had a lot of respect for coach Mike Folda at Trinidad State, and coach Folda did a tremendous job of putting Dejour into the right positions to be successful. We're excited to keep his development moving forward in Bear country over his final two years!"

Saint Thomas • Forward • 6-7 • 200 • Omaha, Neb. • Loyola Chicago

2022-23 at Loyola Chicago: Appeared in 14 games and started the first five contests of the 2022-23 season … Started his first collegiate game against Fairleigh Dickinson, scoring a season-high 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting, 3-for-8 from distance, while bringing in seven rebounds … Hauled in a season-best eight rebounds against DePaul … Dished out a season-best seven assists in a win against Central Arkansas.

2021-22 at Loyola Chicago: Scored 37 of his 48 points on the year at home … Knocked down his final five attempts from the foul line … Loyola went 8-3 when he scored … Burst onto the scene in impressive fashion, dropping in 13 points and adding three rebounds and four assists in only 18 minutes of play in the season opener versus Coppin State … Those 13 points were the most by a Loyola true freshman in a season opener since 2018-19 … Averaged 7.0 ppg and 2.0 rpg through the first three games on the season.

Prep at Milliard North: Averaged 21.2 points per game, while also contributing 7.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists per outing in 2020-21, in helping lead Millard North High School to a state championship … Named Second Team All-American, First Team All-Super State and MaxPreps Nebraska High School Player of the Year in 2020-21 … During his junior season, recorded 15.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 4.2 apg and 1.8 spg as Millard North finished runner-up in Class A … Named Third Team All-State in 20219-20 … Holds the Milliard North record for most points scored in a single game with 52 … Holds school records for most three-pointers in a season (82), best three-point percentage (45.7) and assists in a season (151).

Smiley on Thomas: "Saint was a big focus on our recruiting board, and we couldn't be happier with his commitment to the Bears! Saint is a match-up nightmare with his size, skill, and ability to shoot. He can play multiple positions on offense, and he can guard multiple positions on the defensive end of the floor, while also helping us rebound on both ends. Saint had a storied high school career at Millard North, including winning a Nebraska State title playing for coach Mike Etzemiller, and was a highly sought-after recruit out of high school before choosing Loyola Chicago. I really believe Saint is going to have a huge final two years of college basketball for the Bears and he's going to address several needs in our current roster. I can't wait for Saint to get to campus so we can begin working with him in the very near future. Go Bears!"

Jaron Rillie • Guard • 6-3 • 165 • Sydney, Australia • Samford

2022-23 at Samford: Made an appearance in 32 games while starting in 13 … averaged 20.8 minutes per contest … averaged 4.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game … amassed 79 assists, good enough for second-most on the team … shot 47 percent from the field, 37 percent from three, and 75 percent from the free throw line.

2021-22 at Samford: Played in all 32 games, earning the starting nod five times … averaged 4.4 points, two rebounds, and 1.75 assists per contest … shot 37 percent from beyond the arc, converting on 31 of 83 three-point attempts … shot 85 percent from the free-throw line.

2020-21 at Samford: Saw action in all 19 games for the Bulldogs, making six starts at point guard ... Proved to be one of the most reliable freshman in the SoCon, averaging 5.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

Prep: Graduated from Dos Pueblos High School 2019, and spent the 2019-20 season at Link Year Prep in Brandon, Mo. … Named team captain, team MVP and first team All-Channel League honors … played point guard at both Dos Pueblos and Link Year Prep . . . his team also won the Ventura Kiwanis Christmas Tournament … starred on the Idaho Select (2015-17) and West Coast Elite (2018-19) teams … his father, John, played collegiately at Gonzaga and later played professionally overseas, and is currently the head coach of Australia's NBL team the Perth Wildcats.

Smiley on Rillie: "We're really, really excited to announce that Jaron has signed with the Bears to finish his college career. With two years of eligibility remaining, Jaron has a chance to make a huge impact on our program. Jaron has a lot of special qualities as a basketball player, but what makes him really stand out on the court is his elite vision and ability to make all of the easy and difficult passes, which makes the team a lot better. He's also an elite, proven shooter at the division one level. Most importantly, Jaron is a winner that is focused on the right things on and off the court. Our entire staff can't wait to coach him in the near future!"

Marcell McCreary • Guard • 6-4 • 219 • Fort Worth, Texas • Air Force / O.D. Wyatt

2022-23 (Air Force): Played in 29 games, making five starts. … Averaged 3.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg in 14.7 mpg … Started four games in a row prior to coming off bench in last game, averaging 10.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg in those games … Named Mountain West Freshman of the Week on Jan. 16 after averaging 19.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg with shooting splits of .524/.538/.909 vs. CSU and Fresno State … Erupted for 26 pts in start at CSU, going 5-of 6 from three and free throw line.

Prep: Attended USAFA Prep School in 2021-22 … Two-time Texas 5A All-State, two-time Texas 6-5A MVP, McDonald's All-American Nominee, two-time first-team all-area, Raising Canes Tourney MVP and member of the 1000-point club at O.D. Wyatt … Led O.D. Wyatt to three district titles and 2019 Raising Canes Key City Classic title … Averaged 21.0 ppg on 67.4 percent shooting as a senior and 19.3 ppg on 62.0 percent shooting as a junior … Also earned two letters in baseball playing first, third and outfield … Earned an Associate's Degree in high school and graduated with a 3.98 GPA … Played AAU ball and was team captain in 2020 for the Fort Worth Firm and was coached by Charles Hill, Don Waters and David Waters … Played AAU ball in 2019 for Crab-5 and was coached by Johnathan Walker, Murray Shaw and Michael Crabtree.

Smiley on McCreary: "We're really excited about Marcell's commitment to the Bears as the final piece of our 2023 recruiting class! With our last position, we were looking for a perimeter player with shooting ability, size, maturity, and a proven track record at the D1 level, and we believe Marcell checks all of those boxes. Marcell had a very solid year as a freshman in the Mountain West at the Air Force Academy, earning his way into the regular rotation and showcasing his upside when he was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week in the middle of January after huge games against Colorado State and Fresno State. We can't wait to get Marcell to campus and to start working with him!"

Egan Shields • Center • 6-10 • 215 • Ashland, Ore. • Colorado Prep/Colorado RoughRiders

Prep: Played for Colorado Prep in 2022-23 where he averaged 10 points per game and six rebounds per game … Played with the Colorado Roughriders AAU team in 2022-23, averaging 18 points and 11 rebounds per game … Prior to moving to Colorado, played basketball for Ashland High School … Also played football for Ashland High School.

Smiley on Shields: "I'm really excited with the addition of Egan to our roster. Egan is a versatile, interior presence on both ends of the court, and he is only scratching the surface of the player he will become over the next several years at the collegiate level. Egan's size, strength, athleticism, and physicality will put him in a position to compete for minutes right away and he helps solidify our front court for the short term and the long term. As I watched him more and more in the spring, I was blown away by his mix of long-term potential and readiness to play right away. Bears fans are going to love watching him for many years!"

Radek Homer • Guard • 6-2 • 170 • Highlands Ranch, Colo. • Mountain Vista HS

Prep: Named First Team All-Continental League and 6A All-State Honorable Mention his senior season … During his senior campaign, he shot 53% from the field, averaging 13.3 points per game … He also averaged 6.6 rebounds per game, 5.6 assists per game, and 2.9 steals per game … Helped his team to a 24-3 record and a Class 6A semifinal appearance his senior year.

Smiley on Radek: "We're really excited that Radek has announced his commitment to become a Bear after concluding a stellar high school career at Mountain Vista High School. Radek played for one of the top prep coaches in Colorado, Brian Wood, and we believe his skill level, toughness, and explosive athletic ability will translate well at this next level. Radek is a winner, a great student, and will be a great addition to our current recruiting class. We couldn't be more happy with his decision!"