BOONE, N.C. – App State Men's Basketball coach
Dustin Kerns announced the addition of 11 players to the 2024-25 roster Wednesday.
"We are fired up about this group of signees," Kerns said. "They are all really good players, but most importantly, they are really good people who align with our values at App State. They have all been a part of winning at various levels, and we cannot wait to get them to campus. Additionally, they all come from quality families and parents who are excited about App State. Please help us welcome all of them and their families to the Boone community."
Jason Clarke | 6-0 | G | Silver Spring, Md. | Miller School
Clarke was a state champion in 2024 at Miller School in Virginia, scoring 18 points a game. Clarke rarely turns the ball over, as he posted 139 assists compared to just 32 turnovers last season, good for an astounding 4.34 assist/turnover ratio. A VISAA Division II Player of the Year, Clarke has extensive experience on the AAU circuit playing for coach Boo Williams on the Boo Williams EYBL team, leading that squad to the Peach Jam last season. His accomplishments at the prep level included a first-team All-Central selection, a first-team All-BRAC honor and being named the Charlottesville Athlete of the Week. Academically, Clarke was on the honor roll every year he was at Miller School.
Why Clarke chose App State: "I chose App State because of the great coaching staff. From the moment I stepped on campus, they made me feel like family. Along with great academics, App State feels like the place for me."
Jamil Muttilib | 6-6 | G | Houston, Texas | Cypress Ridge | Kilgore College
A junior college product, Muttilib is a prolific scorer at the guard position, as he averaged 19.2 points a game at Kilgore College last season while shooting 39 percent from behind the 3-point line. Muttilib scored at least 20 points in 16 games last year, including a 42-point outburst against Trinity Valley Community College on Jan. 31. His 6-foot-6 frame not only helps him produce on the offensive end, but also defensively, as he tallied three or more steals in nine games at Kilgore. Muttilib was a first-team all-conference and all-region selection in 2024 while also being named to the all-tournament team for his performance at the Region XIV Tournament. In the classroom, Muttilib was an honor roll student in 2022 and was named to the State All-Academic Team.
Why Muttilib chose App State: "I chose App State because of the winning culture and the amazing support."
Jackson Threadgill | 6-6 | G | Concord, N.C. | Davidson Day | Charlotte
Threadgill, who won a 2A state championship in 2020 at Davidson Day, brings a combination of veteran presence and efficient 3-point shooting to the High Country. He made 73 career starts at Charlotte over the past four years, sinking 91 3-pointers at a 33-percent clip. Threadgill shined on the defensive end of the floor for the 49ers, regularly accepting the task of guarding the opposing team's best scorer — in his first four years, he tallied 52 steals and blocked 19 shots. He was a part of 67 wins with Charlotte. Threadgill also thrives academically, as he is a two-time member of the CSC All-District team and represented Charlotte at the 2023 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in Baltimore.
Why Threadgill chose App State: "I chose App State because of the relationship I had already built with Coach Kerns and his staff and for the community and college-town feel. I'm also thrilled to play with one of my former high school teammates and best friends,
CJ Huntley."
Jalil Beaubrun | 6-9 | F | Miami, Fla. | Montverde | Stephen F. Austin
Another Division I transfer, Beaubrun will provide a big presence both in the paint and on the glass for the Mountaineers. In two years at Stephen F. Austin, Beaubrun played in 50 games and averaged 6.2 points a game. With a 6-foot-9 frame, Beaubrun is athletic and has the ability to stretch the floor at an efficient rate. For his career, he has nailed 42 3-pointers at a 40-percent clip while also shooting over 50 percent from the floor. Last season, Beaubrun took on a larger role with the Lumberjacks and thrived as he recorded 12 double-digit point outings, which included a 14-point night against NCAA Tournament participant Drake. In addition to his offensive prowess, Beaubrun is a tremendous rebounder, as he led the Lumberjacks in both rebounding average (4.8) and offensive rebounds (69) last season.
Why Beaubrun chose App State: "I'm so excited to join the App State family. The community, staff and players felt like a family from the moment I stepped on campus. Coach Kerns has a vision for me and the program that I'm very excited to be a part of."
Alonzo Dodd | 6-1 | G | St. Paul, Minn. | South St. Paul | Texas A&M-Commerce
Dodd comes to App State from Texas A&M-Commerce, where he started 46 games in his first two years and appeared in 66 games. He is a willing passer at the guard position, dishing out a team-leading 99 assists in 2023-24, good for a 3.0 average that was the ninth-best mark in the Southland Conference. Dodd is an efficient scorer, shooting 41 percent from the field in his career, and his ability to get into the lane helps him find open shooters along the perimeter. The St. Paul, Minn., native averaged seven points a game last season. Defensively, Dodd is a pest in the passing lanes, compiling the third-most steals for Texas A&M-Commerce a season ago while also blocking 12 shots. The lefty is South St. Paul's all-time leading scorer, and he helped lead it to a 49-3 record over his final two seasons on the prep circuit.
Why Dodd chose App State: "App State has a real family-oriented community, and I thought it would be a great environment to put myself into. That's why I chose App State."
Dior Conners | 6-3 | G | Pickerington, Ohio | Pickerington North | Triton College
Making the transition from junior college to the Division I level, Conners comes to App State after helping lead Triton College to a 34-3 record last season and an NJCAA national runner-up finish. Conners was vital to the Trojans' success, as he averaged 13.9 points a game while also being an efficient shooter, shooting 39 percent from behind the 3-point line. His sweet stroke helped him nail at least three treys in 14 games last season, including an eight 3-pointer barrage against Harper College en route to a season-best 28 points. For his career, Conners has recorded eight 20-point contests, which included a 24-point outing against Barton Community College in the NJCAA National Championship game to lead the Trojans. Conners has nailed 137 career 3s at a 41-percent rate. He has also shown the ability to wreak havoc on the defensive end, as he tallied at least one steal in all but four games last season, good for an average 1.7 steals a game.
Why Conners chose App State: "I chose App State because it provides me an amazing opportunity to be successful."
Ben Ezeagu | 6-7 | F | Toronto, Canada | Potter's House | Hill College
From Toronto, Canada, Ezeagu joins the Mountaineers from Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas, where he finished second on the team in points last season (321) and second in rebounds (152). Ezeagu was one of the most efficient shooters in the country this past season, finishing the year shooting 63.2 percent from the field, which was the 12th-best in the country in 2023-24. He shot at least 60 percent from the floor in all but six games for the Rebels last year, while going perfect from the floor once. Ezeagu has scored 602 points in his collegiate career and has notched 30 double-digit point outings, including 16 at Hill College last season. He is also a terrific rebounder down low, coming to App State with 311 career rebounds. He tallied four double-doubles for the Rebels last year, which helped him earn all-conference honorable mention.
Why Ezeagu chose App State: "App State felt like home from the moment I first stepped on campus. I think it will be a great fit for me both academically and athletically."
Jonah Long | 6-4 | G | Hickory, N.C. | Saint Stephens
Long comes to App State from Saint Stephens High School, where he was a captain of his team for each of the past three years. He averaged 9.8 points a game his senior year. A multi-sport standout, Long led the Western Foothills Conference in scoring, rebounding and double-doubles as a junior. His sophomore year saw him tally a 51-point game. He was named his team's MVP both his sophomore and junior years while also being named all-conference. Academically, Long was invited to the National Youth Leadership Forum and was selected for membership in the National Society of High School Scholars.
Why Long chose App State: "I chose App State because I was given the opportunity to play the game that I love at a high level while also being able to play in front of my family members in Boone."
Will Coble | 6-4 | G | Charlotte, N.C. | Davidson Day | Randolph-Macon
One of two Davidson Day products in this class, Coble joins the Mountaineers as a graduate transfer from Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va. Coble made 53 starts for the Yellow Jackets across his four years while appearing in 97 games. He has poured in 571 career points at an efficient clip, as he shot 42 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3-point range. His Yellow Jacket career was highlighted by a stellar junior year in which he scored 216 points and drilled a career-high 61 3s. He led the team in 3-point percentage in 2022-23 and was second on the team in 2023-24 to help lead Randolph-Macon to a 25-5 record. Coble was a part of the 2020 Davidson Day team that won the 2A state championship. He was also a two-time all-conference player and an N.C. All-Star.
Why Coble chose App State: "I came from a small college, and I wanted to step out and experience a larger school and environment. Plus, I wanted to be a part of a winning program and a great culture."
Cameron O'Kelley | 6-3 | G | Seneca, S.C. | Seneca
O'Kelley comes to App State after a solid career at Seneca High School, where he played in 89 games. He was a three-time all-region player and a two-time all-state selection in South Carolina. He averaged over 16 points a game in both his junior and senior seasons while also scoring over 1,000 points in his prep career. His last season saw him pour in an impressive 457 points on 40-percent shooting. His length along the perimeter helped make him a plus defender on the prep circuit, as he tallied 121 steals and 26 blocks. O'Kelley is a solid rebounder at the guard position, as he pulled in 295 rebounds for his career, including 119 his senior year. O'Kelley helped lead Seneca to a top-60 ranking last year and a 23-5 overall record.
Why O'Kelley chose App State: "App State has a tremendous culture and a platform for me to build a successful future. I'm excited to get started."
The Mountaineers are excited to welcome these 10 players to the mountain. Fans can support the program and secure their seats for next season by putting
down a deposit on 2024-25 season tickets. If you decide you don't want season tickets your deposit will be used as a credit toward Men's Basketball's single-game tickets this winter.
