Men's Basketball Announces 2020 Signees
The Kirkwood Men's Basketball team that won a share of the ICCAC Regular Season title in 2020 with a 24-6 overall record, will feature a lot of new faces in the 2020-21 season. The Eagles have added 15 student-athletes to a roster that returns two from this past season. The class will feature a lot of Iowa native talent as well as several talented players from the states of Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri.
"My staff and I are excited about these fifteen players that make up the 2020 class. We feel as if we addressed our needs with this group as they bring size, athleticism, scoring ability, and toughness that we lost with our outgoing sophomores. These players fit perfectly into the Kirkwood culture, both on and off the court." – Tim Sandquist, Head Men's Basketball Coach
IOWA NATIVES
Jaleque Dunson (Sioux City, IA)
Jaleque is a 6'3" talented scoring guard who comes to Kirkwood after a very successful high school career at Sioux City East HS. Highlighted by a great senior campaign where he averaged 20.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 1.7 apg while shooting a solid 37.3% from beyond the arc. All while earning 2nd Team All-State honors.
Caleb Delzell (Camanche, IA)
Caleb comes to Kirkwood from Camanche HS. He is a 6'8" versatile forward who helped lead his team to a 3rd Place finish in the 2A State Tournament, averaging 14.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg and 2.7 apg during his senior year. Like Dunson, Delzell also received All-State recognition for the second year in a row (2nd team as a junior) as a 2A First Team member and was voted All-Eastern Iowa Player of the Year.
Da'Quavion Walker (Waterloo, IA)
Da'Quavion is a 6'1" guard who was the leading scorer (13.5 ppg) of a talented Waterloo West HS team that had one of the strongest years in school history. Walker thrives on the defensive end where he uses his length and athleticism to be a tenacious on-ball defender and gives opposing ball handlers fits (2.4 spg).
Zach Huff (Gilbertville, IA)
Zach is a 6'3" guard who has a great ability to put the ball in the basket, especially from deep. He averaged 22.3 ppg for Don Bosco HS, hitting 79 3FG at a 39.5% clip. He also averaged 6.0 rpg (lead the team), 2.9 apg and 1.7 spg. Zach led the Dons to an 18-6 record during his senior season.
Raejzuan Shockley (Cedar Rapids, IA)
The Eagles didn't have to go far from home to find "Rae", a 6'4" swingman, who played his high school basketball at Jefferson HS here in Cedar Rapids. Shockley, a tremendous athlete, battled a nagging ankle injury and never regained full strength this past season. In his junior and senior year combined Shockley averaged 9.6 ppg on 56.5% shooting from the floor and 5.4 rpg.
Blake Brinkmeyer (West Des Moines, IA)
Blake is one of three transfers that will be joining the Kirkwood family this year. He comes from DI Indiana State University in Terra Haute, IN. Blake is a 6'9" forward that brings great size and athleticism to the roster. He played his high school basketball at West Des Moines Valley HS, where his senior season he averaged 7.5 ppg shooting 60% from the field and 6.8 rpg
Corvon Seales (Eldridge, IA)
Corvon comes to Kirkwood from Minnesota State and will be a RS-Sophomore. The 6'3" combo guard started 29 of 32 games for MSU averaging 10.2 ppg and 3.3 apg while playing 34.3 min/game. Prior to MSU, Corvon played at North Scott HS, where during his senior campaign averaged 15.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 3.1 apg. Corvon is the brother of returning Eagle Cortaviaus Seales.
Dante Eldridge (North Liberty, IA)
Dante is a 5'9" point guard who is transferring to Kirkwood from William Penn University. He played his high school ball at perennial power Iowa City West, wherein his final season he averaged 10.8 ppg while shooting a scorching 47.2% from beyond the arc.
Nick Pepin (Iowa City, IA)
Nick is a 5'11" guard who, like Eldridge, comes to Kirkwood from the very successful Iowa City West program. In his two seasons on varsity, the Trojans posted a 38-8 combined record with both seasons ending with a trip to the 4A State Tournament. In those two seasons combined Nick shot 38.5% from behind the arc and averaged 8.8 ppg and 3 apg.
Jaden Keller (Waterloo, IA)
Jaden is a 6'4" combo forward that played alongside another incoming Eagle, Da'Quavion Walker, at Waterloo West HS. He was what you would call a "do it all guy" for West this year. He affected games in many different areas, leading the team in rebounding (6.8 rpg) and assists (3.7 apg), was 2nd on the team in total steals on the year (34), while also averaging 7.3 ppg.
OUT OF STATE
Joich Gong (Mankato, MN)
Joich comes to Kirkwood after playing his high school ball at Mankato East HS. He is a 6'3" combo guard who brings length and athleticism to the guard spot. In his high school career, Joich was a 2-time All-Conference and All-City performer as well as getting nominated to the All-State team once. In his senior year he averaged 15 ppg, 3.5 apg, 3.8 rpg and 2 spg.
Blessin Kimble (Charleston, MO)
Blessin is a 6'6" high energy forward who brings strength and athleticism on the inside. He played his high school basketball at Charleston HS where he helped lead his team to two consecutive state tournament appearances where they placed 3rd his junior year and 2nd his senior year. Both years Blessin was voted part of the Class 3 All-State team. During his senior season, he averaged 14.7 ppg and 8.7 rpg.
Noah King (Caledonia, MN)
Noah makes his way to Kirkwood from Caledonia HS where he was an All-State athlete in both basketball and football. Noah is a 6'2" hard-nosed point guard who had his team ranked #1 in the state while averaging 22.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.3 apg and 1.9 spg. Noah finished his HS career ranked in the top 15 for total points scored (2,575 points) over the last decade in Minnesota. He was a 2020 Minnesota Mr. Basketball Finalist
Sha'den Clanton (Rockford, IL)
Sha'den is a 6'6" skilled forward who comes to Kirkwood after playing a year of post-grad basketball at Hillcrest Prep. Prior to his one year at Hillcrest, Sha'den was teammates with returning Eagle, Chris Burnell, at Rockford East HS. He helped lead the E-Rabs to a 4th place finish at state and a 34-4 record. Sha'den averaged 13.6 ppg and 6.8 rpg his senior year.
Tim Howard Jr. (Chicago, IL)
Tim comes to Kirkwood from Leo High School. He is a 6'6" forward, who brings great size and physicality to the front line. In his senior season, Tim averaged 12.3 ppg and 7.4 rpg for the Lions, while earning a spot on the All-Tournament 1st Team in the Quincy Holiday Tournament. Leo HS experienced a lot of success while Tim was in the program with a highlight being they placed 2nd in the state tournament in his junior year.
