Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Signs a Pair of Junior College Transfers
4/29/2013 2:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LeKan Ajayi and Darell Combs have signed their NLI's to play for EMU
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team announced the addition of two junior college players who figure to have a significant impact on the program. Post player LeKan Ajayi and combo guard Darell Combs have signed National Letters of Intent and will compete for the Eagles this fall. Both players will have three years of eligibility remaining.
“We're excited about LeKan and Darell attending EMU and joining our basketball program,” Head Coach Rob Murphy said. “Both guys are impact players that will help us continue to move toward winning the MAC championship.”
The 6-feet-10 Ajayi averaged 9.5 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game at Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas. He was named to the All-Region 5 First Team. He played at Quality Education Academy in Winston Salem, N.C. That team won the 2010 Prep School National Championship under Coach Isaac Pitts and played for the prestigious Boo Williams AAU program. Ajayi was also recruited by Michigan State, West Virginia, North Texas, Georgia and the University of Houston.
“The people were cool when I came on the visit,” Ajayi said. “The coaching staff and the players; they are good people. Mostly what mattered to me the most was the people around me because they're going to be my family for three years.”
Ajayi is a relentless rebounder who looks forward to giving the Eagles a commanding presence inside. He ranked 17th in the nation in rebounding while at Collin County Community College and was ranked the No. 11 best overall junior college player by Rivals.com.
“There's no doubt about it, my philosophy is rebounding the ball and playing defense, but don't sleep on me, I'm a double-double machine,” Ajayi said. “I'm a threat in the paint.”
As a freshman at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas, Combs led his team in scoring with 16.8 ppg, and had 3.6 assists per game and 3.3 rpg. Combs shot 44.1 percent from the field and was named to the All-Region XIV Conference Third Team. The 6-feet-1 Combs was also recruited by Miami (Ohio), Kent State, College of Charleston and Bradley University. He was named to Jerry Mullen's list of 10 best junior college players with three years of eligibility left. He was the top scorer for the Mean Streets AAU team under Coach Tai Streets and led his Thornwood High School in South Holland, Ill., team in scoring for three seasons.
“I just felt my relationship with Coach Brown and Coach Murphy was really cool,” Combs said. “They are two coaches that I think can push me to get better and play at the next level. I loved the campus and the environment at EMU and am glad to be a part of it.”
“We're excited about LeKan and Darell attending EMU and joining our basketball program,” Head Coach Rob Murphy said. “Both guys are impact players that will help us continue to move toward winning the MAC championship.”
The 6-feet-10 Ajayi averaged 9.5 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game at Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas. He was named to the All-Region 5 First Team. He played at Quality Education Academy in Winston Salem, N.C. That team won the 2010 Prep School National Championship under Coach Isaac Pitts and played for the prestigious Boo Williams AAU program. Ajayi was also recruited by Michigan State, West Virginia, North Texas, Georgia and the University of Houston.
“The people were cool when I came on the visit,” Ajayi said. “The coaching staff and the players; they are good people. Mostly what mattered to me the most was the people around me because they're going to be my family for three years.”
Ajayi is a relentless rebounder who looks forward to giving the Eagles a commanding presence inside. He ranked 17th in the nation in rebounding while at Collin County Community College and was ranked the No. 11 best overall junior college player by Rivals.com.
“There's no doubt about it, my philosophy is rebounding the ball and playing defense, but don't sleep on me, I'm a double-double machine,” Ajayi said. “I'm a threat in the paint.”
As a freshman at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas, Combs led his team in scoring with 16.8 ppg, and had 3.6 assists per game and 3.3 rpg. Combs shot 44.1 percent from the field and was named to the All-Region XIV Conference Third Team. The 6-feet-1 Combs was also recruited by Miami (Ohio), Kent State, College of Charleston and Bradley University. He was named to Jerry Mullen's list of 10 best junior college players with three years of eligibility left. He was the top scorer for the Mean Streets AAU team under Coach Tai Streets and led his Thornwood High School in South Holland, Ill., team in scoring for three seasons.
“I just felt my relationship with Coach Brown and Coach Murphy was really cool,” Combs said. “They are two coaches that I think can push me to get better and play at the next level. I loved the campus and the environment at EMU and am glad to be a part of it.”
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