BuckeyeGrove.com - Bucks officially sign pair of JUCOs

May 7, 2008

Brandon Castel
Staff Writer

COLUMBUS ? Less than two weeks ago BuckeyeGrove.com reported that Ohio State had received verbal commitments from a pair of junior college transfers for 2008. Wednesday OSU officially confirmed that report by announcing the signing of Jeremie Simmons and Nikola Kecman.

Simmons, a 6-2-inch sophomore guard from Mott Community College in Flint, Mich., and Kecman, a 6-9 freshman forward from Eastern Arizona College, each submitted their signed NCAA National Letters of Intent to join the Buckeyes for the upcoming season.

"We are excited with the addition of another frontcourt and backcourt player," OSU coach Thad Matta said. "Nikola gives us size with the ability to step out on the perimeter and shoot the ball. Jeremie gives us another playmaker that also shoots well from behind the 3-point line. In addition, both players come from winning programs."

The addition of both Simmons and Kecman became necessary when the Buckeyes learned they would lose a pair of freshman from the 2007 class in Kosta Koufos, who declared for the NBA Draft, and Eric Wallace, who recently announced his decision to transfer.

Simmons ? who led the Bears to a Division II National Junior College Athletic Association National Championships each of the last two seasons ? will have two years of eligibility in Columbus. Meanwhile Kecman (KETZ-man) ? a native of Belgrade, Serbia ? will have three years of eligibility with the Buckeyes.

As a freshman, Simmons averaged 16.6 points per game and shot over 40-percent from behind the arc while helping his team to a 35-3 record and a 65-61 victory over Monroe Community College in the NJCAA title game.

This past season, he finished No. 11 nationally in scoring among JUCO players with a team-leading 21.2 points per game. He made 268 of his 555 (.483) field goal attempts and 122 of his 289 (.422) three-point attempts, while shooting 89-percent from the free-throw line. He also averaged five assists and nearly three steals per night while leading Mott 35-2 record and a 83-73 win over Columbus State Community College in the title game.

For his efforts, Simmons earned first team NJCAA All-American honors and was named the league's player of the year.

Meanwhile, Kecman was named the Arizona Community College Athletics Association tournament MVP in 2008 with 21 points in a 69-58 win over Arizona Western in the Region I Championship in Yuma, Ariz. He was also given the tournament's Sesher Sportsmanship Award.

During his freshman season, Kecman averaged 13.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in 32 contests with the Gila Monsters. He made 170-of-301 (.565) field goals and 35-of-80 (.438) 3-pointers.

Simmons and Kecman join an incoming class that already includes four high school seniors, two of them McDonald's All-Americans. Seven-foot center B.J. Mullens and guard William Buford headline the class as Rivals.com five-stars. They are joined in the class by four-star shooting guard Walter Offutt and three-star point-guard Anthony Crater.

Brandon Castel is a staff writer for BuckeyeGrove.com. He can be reached at bcastel@rivals.com.

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