GREEN BAY --- The Green Bay men's basketball program landed a prized Division I transfer player this offseason, bringing in Josh Jefferson from Illinois State to bolster its talented roster for the 2020-21 season. Jefferson will have to sit out this upcoming season due to Division I transfer rules, but will have his senior year of eligibility remaining for the following season. 

Jefferson, a native of New Albany, Ind., averaged 8.7 PPG in 21 games played last season for the Redbirds. He missed a portion of his season due to an injury, but prior to that had enjoyed a stretch of scoring in double figures in nine of 11 games. He poured in a career-high 19 points in a win over Akron, and buried at least four 3-pointers in five games this past season.

"Having a year in our program working with the team and staff will be great for both our players and Josh," head coach Linc Darner said. "With us graduating five seniors next year, we can now look forward to having Josh step in next season as a veteran player."

The sharp-shooting guard averaged 22.8 PPG and shot 44.8 percent from beyond the arc during his sophomore season at Lakeland College, a season after averaging 18.7 PPG and scoring in double-figures in 28 games during his freshman season. Jefferson was heavily recruited after enjoying such a successful Junior College career, before ultimately landing in Normal, Ill., to play for Missouri Valley Conference member Illinois State. He scored over 1,100 points in his two seasons at Lakeland, and ranked in the NJCAA his sophomore season with 22.8 PPG.

"The entire Green Bay staff was really interested in me and seemed like they really wanted me there," said Jefferson. "Then when I took my visit, it just felt like the right place. It just felt like I had been there for awhile. I clicked with the team and the coaches."

Jefferson helped lead his team at New Albany High School to the 4A State Title in Indiana, including a 27-1 overall record. He starred alongside Romeo Langford, a five star recruit who just finished his freshman season at Indiana where he earned All Big Ten honors and was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by NCAA.com. 

"Josh has had a great career no matter where he's been, from the high school level through junior college and at Illinois State. His experience and talent will fit right in with our current roster."

Green Bay is coming off one of the most exciting seasons in program history, which saw the team advance to the CIT Championship Game before finishing runner-up to Marshall. The program will return the core of its roster, with the exception one of the program's all-time greats in Sandy Cohen III. With the experience returning next season, GB will be picked near the top of the Horizon League. The Phoenix returns 75 percent of its scoring from a season ago. 

A look at the 2019-20 Green Bay Phoenix roster:

Seniors
ShanQuan Hemphill*
JayQuan McCloud*
Josh McNair*
Kameron Hankerson*
Cody Schwartz*

Juniors
PJ Pipes*
Trevian Bell*
Manny Patterson*
Hunter Crist

Sophomores
Will Chevalier

Freshman
Amari Davis
Japannah Kellogg

Redshirt
Josh Jefferson

* = Played in at least 30 games last season

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---GreenBayPhoenix.com---