GREEN BAY, Wis. --- The Green Bay men's basketball program signed four to an NLI for the class of 2020, head coach Linc Darner announced on Wednesday. The Phoenix welcomes incoming freshman Jacob Jones (Jeffersonville, Ind.), and junior college transfers Leon Ayers (Henry Ford College), Paris Taylor (Walters State) and Blayton Williams (Lamar). The four players will join the team for workouts starting in the summer of 2020.
"We are very excited about the four guys we have signed. We believe all four players fit our system very well and our staff feels they have their best basketball ahead of them. We are excited about this class joining our program and teaming up with the returners we have on the roster," said Darner.
All four recruits bring in a skill set that will translate well to the Green Bay style of play. They will look to replace a large graduating class of five seniors, with three of them having played collegiately for two seasons already. Jones will run the point for one of the best high school teams in the state of Indiana.
Ayers, Taylor and Williams will each have two years of eligibility remaining upon arriving on campus, with Jones entering the program as a true freshman. The four will join 10 returning players, including four soon-to-be seniors in 2020-21.
JACOB JONES
Height: 5-10
Position: Guard
Hometown: Jeffersonville, Indiana
High School: Jeffersonville HS
Quotes
Jacob Jones: It was the perfect fit, the speed and the pace they play at, all just fit right in. There wasn't really any reason to keep the recruitment process going, I just saw a good fit and committed. Phoenix fans can expect me to go as hard as possible, and just give it my all.
Linc Darner, GB Head Coach: Jacob will be a fast and electrifying point guard for us and he will be able to push the ball up the floor at the speed we want to play. In our system and our tempo, he is a great fit and is an amazing passer and sees the floor well. He is also a great on the ball defender.
Notes: Jones averaged 11.4 points and 7.5 assists as a junior at Jeffersonville last season. His team is one of the favorite's to win the Indiana State Championship this season, which features multiple D1 recruits. He led his team to the Class 4A Sectional Championship, where he scored a team-high 19 points in a win over New Albany. Jones starred at The Ville during the AAU summer season, where he was an All-Tournament selection.
LEON AYERS
Height: 6-6
Position: Guard
Hometown: Troy, Michigan
Last School: Henry Ford College (MI)
Quotes
Leon Ayers: The coaching staff, I feel like they are a really good group of guys. They have been together for so long. That was really big on me. I wanted to go somewhere that was as close to a family as possible. I just knew Green Bay was the spot.
Linc Darner, GB Head Coach: Leon is one of the best shooters in junior college right now. He is a long distance shooter and can get on a roll at any point in the game. He is very long and athletic, and can play multiple positions for us. We identified him in recruiting as one of the best 3-point shooters, plus he can defend multiple positions on the court.
Notes: Ayers started in 31 of 32 games last season and led his team in scoring with 17 points per game, shooting just over 44 percent. He helped lead his team to a 23-9 record, and shot 79.5 percent from the free throw line. Ayers earned Class A All-State honors as senior in high school. Through 5 games this year at HFC, Ayers is leading his team again by averaging 15.0 PPG.
PARIS TAYLOR
Height: 6-6
Position: Forward
Hometown: Bolivar, Tennessee
Last School: Walters State Community College (TN)
Quotes
Paris Taylor: It seems like there is a lot of stuff to do in Green Bay. The players, they seem pretty cool. I like the coaching staff, too. All of that combined just makes for a good school. I can bring hard work. Energy. I can bring a lot of rebounds, and I can score the ball. I can play defense.
Linc Darner, GB Head Coach: Paris is another long and athletic player for us who can play multiple positions. He plays very hard and is a great rebounder at getting on the boards. Paris plays with a very high motor and has a great face-up game as well.
Notes: So far this season through 6 games, Taylor is averaging 10.0 PPG and has started in all six contests. He averaged 8.3 PPG and 5.8 RPG last year, and had three double-doubles throughout the season.
BLAYTON WILLIAMS
Height: 6-3
Position: Guard
Hometown: Jonesboro, Arkansas
Last School: Lamar Community College (CO)
Quotes
Blayton Williams: I owe my full respect to all the coaches that put their time in recruiting me. I am blessed to be joining Coach Darner and his staff at Green Bay next season. I bet on myself and I felt I have done pretty good with it.
Linc Darner, GB Head Coach: Blayton is a big and strong combo guard that can score the ball in many ways. He has a knack at getting into the paint and finding the open man, and has had many games with eight or more assists. Blayton is a great defensive player and can really get up and guard.
Notes: Helped his Jonesboro High School team in Arkansas win a state championship his senior year, and is averaging 11.0 PPG through 11 games this season at Lamar CC. Williams earned Academic All-American honors last year in freshman season, and averaged 7.5 PPG and 4.5 RPG. In his final 16 games last season, he scored 10 or more points 10 times.
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