LAKE CHARLES – McNeese men’s basketball head coach Bill Armstrong has added his second player from the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Armstrong announced on Wednesday that the program had added 6-foot-10, 235-pound SMU forward Jerrell Colbert. He played in 33 games for the Mustangs last season, averaging 2.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and just under a blocked shot a game.
Before SMU, the Houston native played two seasons at Kansas State, including redshirting his first year.
“Adding Jerrell to our roster ensures we can play the game the way we envision,” Armstrong said in a statement. “He embodies everything we value in a post player—a rare combination of athleticism, length, and speed that will have an immediate impact on both ends of the floor. As a true rim protector, he’ll elevate our defense and enhance our pressure schemes. Offensively, his speed is a major asset, enabling us to consistently attack in transition and keep pressure on the rim.”
Colbert was rated as a consensus Top 150 prospect out of Houston High School in Germantown, Tenn., where he played his senior season in 2020-21. He was also ranked as a four-star recruit by Rivals.
Colbert becomes the second Power 4 Conference signee by Armstrong, who is taking over from Will Wade, as the new coach has already added Oklahoma transfer Jacolb Fredson-Cole.
The 6-foot-7 forward played the last two seasons for the Sooners and is coming off a season in which he appeared in 15 games. He was a four-star prospect by ESPN and Rivals and a three-star by 247Sports coming out of Link Academy in Missouri, where he played for Armstrong. He helped his team to the GEICO National Championship.
“My previous experience with Jacolb and knowing his character made him a priority,” Armstrong said in a statement. “He’s a high-character athlete. He not only excels in every aspect of the game but also inspires those around him to be better. He’s exactly the type of young man we want representing our fine university.”
Fredson-Cole attended Bellaire High School in Texas prior to his senior season and earned 2021-22 6A Region 3 District MVP and 6A All-Region honors after his junior campaign. He averaged 22.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game in 28 games as a junior at Bellaire (2021-22) and led his team to a 21-9 finish and appeared in the 6A regionals.
The duo joins Cowboy returners Javohn Garcia, DJ Richards Jr., T’Johnn Brown and Howard Gaskins from this past season’s Southland Conference championship team and NCAA Tournament team.