Missouri Valley Basketball: Ranking incoming 2022 recruiting classes

CHARLESTON, SC - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Dana Ford of the Missouri State Bears signals to his players during a first round Charleston Classic basketball game against the Miami Hurricanes at the TD Arena on November 21, 2019 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

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UNI Panthers guard AJ Green Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 12 – Surprise! Northern Iowa

The Panthers are excited about their incoming freshmen. Trey Campbell is a local product following a long line of former Cedar Falls Tigers to play for the hometown university. Cedar Falls grad and MVC ‘Player of the Year’ Star A.J. Green could have returned but has signed an NBA contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Campbell averaged over 24 points per game and was a four-year varsity performer on a team that went to three Iowa ‘final fours’. He played alongside current Panthers Landon Wolf, Chase Courbat, and Hunter Jacobson. Wolf and Courbat red-shirted last season and Jacobson is a walk-on. Michael Duax is also a red-shirt freshman.

UNI also inked Turkey national team member Ege Peksari. While playing in the Turkish Basketball league he has trained with the national team and participated in the 2019 FIBA U16 team.

Jacobson, coach Ben Jacobson’s son was a three-sport star for the Tigers in football, basketball, and track.

No. 11 – Valparaiso – Small Unheralded Class

Valpo coach Matt Lottich is excited about incoming freshman Maximus Nelson. The Aplleton, Wisconsin native fills a need as a talented forward with size. Nelson is 6’8, 225-pounder who averaged over 20 points per game.

Division 2 transfers Nick Edwards and Quinton Green were very successful at the lower level. Edwards led D2 in assists-per-game. The 6’7 Quinton Green averaged just under 13 points per game.

Jerome Palm is a 6’10 junior college transfer. Palm narrowly missed averaging a double-double last season (9.2 points & 8.5 rebounds) for Hillsborough Community College.

No. 10 – Illinois Chicago – Valley newcomer trying to fit in

UIC is new to the Valley, but head coach Luke Yaklich is not. He coached at Illinois State and knows what it takes to compete in one of the nation’s top mid-major conferences. Two D1 transfers will help in the adjustment. Guard Shaun Williams spent time at Kansas State and Toby Okani averaged a ‘double-quatro’ at Duquesne.

Yaklich landed some outstanding freshmen in Wisconsin’s fifth-best recruit Steven Clay and the number 17 player in Indiana in Jalen Jackson. Christian Jones is a three-star player coming out of East St. Louis, Illinois. Dubuque, Iowa native Cameron Fens is 6’11 and 250 pounds.