Brad Huse took a big step toward rebuilding Montana State’s frontline on Wednesday, adding two high school standouts and a multi-dimensional junior college forward to the Bobcat program, but MSU’s head coach is more excited about what the three bring to the program aside from their basketball skills.
Navarro (Tex.) College transfer Jourdain Allou joined prep prospects Tre Johnson from Reno, Nev., and Jordan Salley from Glendora, Calif., as new Bobcats on Wednesday, the first day of the spring recruiting period that student-athletes are allowed to officially sign with NCAA institutions. The three join fall signees Blake Brumwell (6-7 center), Chris McCall (6-3 guard), Shawn Reid (6-4 forward), and Casey Trujeque (5-9 guard). Huse said each of the spring signees could contribute next season, but lauded each as individuals.
“First off, all three are outstanding people and leaders among their peers,” Huse said. “Each kid possesses a high level of character and happens to be an outstanding basketball player. The foundation of this program continues to be about character, social and academic responsibility, and playing ability, and all seven of our recruits are first-rate in those areas.”
A native of Africa’s Ivory Coast, Allou averaged 6.6 points and 5.5 rebounds at Navarro last season. The 6-7, 200 lb forward/post also registered 26 steals, 19 blocked shots, and shot 56% from the field. Allou’s coach at Navarro was Johnny Estelle, a junior college teammate of former Bobcat great Quadre Lollis. Allou’s two Navarro squads advanced to the NJCAA National Championship Tournament.
“The first thing that strikes you about Jourdain on the court is the energy and aggressiveness that he plays with,” Huse said. “He is extremely versatile and is a tough and athletic player who brings a component that was really lacking from this year’s team in terms of an athletic interior presence. He also has solid defensive perimeter skills and can guard virtually every position on the floor.
“Jourdain is a winner,” Huse continued, “and will be a player that our fans will be attracted to because of his tenacity on the floor and his friendly disposition off of it. We’ve followed Jourdain closely this year and I can tell you there won’t be a day I have to tell him to play harder. He has a tremendous motor on the floor.”
Estelle said Allou’s wide skill base made him an important part of Navarro’s success. “Jourdain was very consistent on the boards for us, a very solid defender who blocked shots and played hard,” Estelle said. “His versatility really helped us, and his athleticism. I consider him a very important player for us the last two years. He knows how to work and play with energy, and he’s going to be a good player for the Bobcats.”
Johnson earned First Team All-North Nevada and All-State honors as a senior at Hug High in Reno, where he averaged 19.9 points and 11 rebounds a game. The 6-7, 200 combo forward who plays inside and on the perimeter also blocked four shots per outing, and exemplary of his game is the fact that he was recruited not only by several Ivy League schools, according to Huse, but was also a sought-after football recruit.
“Tre will immediately be one of the top athletes in our program,” Huse said. “He can really run and jump and he plays with a ton of energy and toughness. His best basketball is ahead, as he has yet to totally focus on basketball since he is an accomplished football and track athlete.
“From a basketball standpoint,” Huse said, “Tre can play on the interior as well as the perimeter and he has very good shooting touch and finishes above the rim. Ultimately, his versatility will be a big weapon for the Bobcats. I like that Tre is a leader and a tremendous student on top of all his athletic abilities.”
Hug High coach Charles Walker cited Johnson’s speed and athleticism as distinguishing characteristics. “He really gets up and down the court,” Walker said. “He gets from rim to rim pretty fast. He blocks shots and really runs the floor. He has a 10-to-15 foot game off the dribble but he plays with his back to the basket, also. He is pretty good in the post, but once he gets stronger he’ll be even better. He’s a good defensive player. He patrols (the lane), gets his hands on a lot of balls.”
Salley did not play during his senior season due to a knee injury suffered last summer, but he has resumed playing this spring. The 6-7, 240 lb forward averaged 17 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots a game as a junior, and shot 62% from the floor for LaVerne Lutheran. Huse said Salley was recognized as a Top 20 recruit from California after his junior season who drew interest from several Mountain West, WAC and West Coast Conference schools. Salley earned All-Conference and All-State honors as a junior.
“Jordan brings an athletic, physical and explosive presence to the interior,” Huse said. “He obviously has good size but plays even bigger because he is extremely athletic. Jordan is a quick jumper and he also has a nice feel in the post and can finish with toughness or with a soft hook shot. He’s worked diligently to rehab his knee and that has gone very well. In fact, it is our understanding that he is ahead of schedule. He should be cleared to go 100% again in the next few weeks. I expect that we will rely on Jordan for important minutes early in his freshman year.”
LaVerne Lutheran coach Eric Cooper characterized the 6-7, 240 lb post as a “high-energy player. He is a very athletic kid. He dives after loose balls, blocks shots, makes all the hustle plays you’d ever want. He dives over (courtside) chairs, whatever. He’s a guy who can lead without saying a word, he’s a real leader. (Offensively) he’s an inside-out player.”
Huse said the three student-athletes signed Wednesday invigorate the Bobcat program athletically. “From a basketball standpoint, the common traits of these three are athleticism, toughness and versatility. None of these kids is going to back down from a challenge and each has the ability to contribute early in their careers. In addition to our returners and the fall signees, these three give us a mix of experience and youth. But, the young players we’ve been able to sign are guys that have the talent and skill to make an immediate impact, which will be necessary as this team comes together over the course of the summer and fall.”
Huse said he and his staff continue to search for talent to join MSU’s seven new scholarship student-athletes. “This is a large and young recruiting class and we’re not quite done yet. We had a program-oriented team this past season and the fact that we’ve signed six quality freshman says that people are recognizing that they can have a quality career as a player while receiving a first-rate education here. On paper it’s exciting to see the opportunity we have to be successful in the present and in the future with this roster.”
Jourdain Allou, F – 6-7, 200, Jr, Ivory Coast, Africa (Navarro, Tex., College)
Tre Johnson, F – 6-7, 200, Fr, Reno, NV (Hug)
Jordan Salley, P – 6-7, 240, Fr, Glendora, CA (LaVerne Lutheran)