AAC Basketball: UCF, Cincy among teams after grad transfer Jalen Tate

AAC Basketball: UCF and Cincinnati among teams after grad transfer Jalen Tate

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 10: Jalen Tate #11 of the Northern Kentucky Norse drives to the basket against the Illinois-Chicago Flames during the first half during the Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament championship game at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on March 10, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

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UCF in mix for JUCO PG Malik Zachery

Tate is not the only point guard that UCF is interested in. The Knights offered 6-0 lead guard Malik Zachery, who spent the last two seasons at Chipola College, on April 8.

“He’s a really great guy,” Zachery told Knights 247Sports about coach Johnny Dawkins. “We talked for an about hour. We talked about basketball, how he was in the NBA, talked about family, a lot of things. I love when people talk to me about other things besides basketball, it shows me a greater interest.”

Zachery is very quick who kicks it into an extra gear when he goes to the hoop where he is an excellent finisher. Zachery also possesses a solid mid-range game and is an excellent distributor, as well as a superb ball-handler. While he is not a huge threat from beyond the arc, he does have range on his jumper and will knock down an occasional open 3-pointer.

The 6-2 Syracuse native averaged 8.5 points, 5.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds while shooting 45.8% from the field as well as 32.1% from beyond the arc in 2019-20. He produced one double-double, doled out double-digit assists four times and scored in double-figures on 12 occasions.

Zachery is also considering Buffalo, California, and Ole Miss. He is slated to make his college choice on April 15, although the date may be pushed back as a result of the COVID-19.