Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

The University of Central Arkansas Bears added six new players to the roster during the recent signing period, including four from the state of Arkansas.

The UCA coaching staff has added the following: Jalen Jackson from West Memphis High School; DeShone McClure from Jacksonville High School and Navarro College; Terrell Brown from Jacksonville High School; David Berete from Little Rock High School; Zach Padgett from Port Allen, La. (The Dunham School), and Alexander Ridley from McKinney (Texas) High School.

Jackson is a 6-foot-5 guard who helped the Blue Devils to the 2010 6A state championship. He was rated the No. 115 player in the nation by Rivals.com and was a three-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com.

“Jalen is a strong and athletic wing player,’ said Williamson. “He has the ability to attack the basket hard. He can also knock down the three-point shot. Jalen is a strong rebounder and defender and has the potential to be one of the top freshmen in our conference this season.’

McClure, a 6-3 guard, led Navarro College to the NJCAA national tournament last season, averaging 11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals per game. He was the Most Valuable Player of the 6A state championship game as a junior at Jacksonville. His team won the 6A state championship in 2009. McClure played with current UCA Bear LaQuinten Miles.

“DeShone is an extremely active defender who has a non-stop motor,’ said Williamson. “A slasher on the offensive end, DeShone is committed to bringing the energy necessary to win ballgames. He will be counted on to bring leadership and toughness to our program.’

Brown, a former teammate of McClure and Miles at Jacksonville High School, is a 6-5 forward who was selected for the Arkansas High School All-Star Game. He averaged 16 points and 7 rebounds and was an All-State selection as a junior and senior.

“Terrell is a strong, big-bodied player that has a knack for scoring around the basket,’ said Williamson. “He is very crafty with his ability to score over taller defenders. He will bring some much-needed toughness in the paint.’

Berete is a 6-4 guard who was the Most Valuable Player of the 2012 7A State Tournament as the Warriors took home the state title. He will also play in this summer’s Arkansas All-Star Game.

“David is a multi-dimensional player that has a natural ability to attack the basket from the perimeter,’ said Williamson. “Defensively, he has a knack for getting rebounds, chasing down loose balls and deflecting passes. His versatility is the reason why he was the MVP of the state tournament.’

Ridley is a 6-11 center who was a second-team All-District selection at McKinney.

“Zan is very long and active on both ends of the floor,’ said Williamson. “He is still raw, but we are excited about his future development. With hard work in the weight room and dedication to skill development, Zan has an opportunity to develop into a good player in our conference."