Men's Basketball Adds Three for Upcoming Season
Central Connecticut head men's basketball coach Patrick Sellers has announced the addition of three student-athletes to the program for the 2023-24 season. Allan Jeanne-Rose and Jordan Jones will be joining the Blue Devils as transfer student-athletes, while Darin Smith, Jr. joins the program via the prep ranks.
Central Connecticut head men's basketball coach Patrick Sellers has announced the addition of three student-athletes to the program for the 2023-24 season. Allan Jeanne-Rose and Jordan Jones will be joining the Blue Devils as transfer student-athletes, while Darin Smith, Jr. joins the program via the prep ranks.
Jeanne-Rose played four seasons at Fairfield University, playing in 111 games and making 57 starts. He started all 30 games in 2022-23 and averaged a career-high 10.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 52.2 percent from the field. The athletic forward contributed double-figure scoring in 18 games, including 11 of the last 12 contests, in 2022-23. He scored a career-high 20 points against UMass during the 2021-22 season. A native of Saint Joseph, Martinique, Jeanne-Rose attended Saint John Paul II High School in Florida and led the team to a Class 3A State championship and a 28-5 record. He was named the 2019 All-Big Bend Player of the Year after posting 17.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
"We're excited to add an athlete of Allan's caliber to our program" said Sellers. "He has great athleticism and is a very experienced player with a high basketball IQ. We welcome Allan to Central Connecticut and look forward to the positive impact he will bring to the program."
Jones played three seasons at Coker University in Hartsville, SC. Jones played in 64 career games and made 41 starts, while averaging 10.1 points and 4.2 assists per game. An All-South Atlantic Conference Second Team selection, Jones started 28 games and played 32.4 minutes per game, while scoring 15.0 points along with 6.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. He closed the season scoring a career-high 30 points against ninth-ranked Lincoln Memorial (DII). Jones was a two-time region player of the year at Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School.
"We are couldn't be happier to have Jordan join the Central Connecticut State family," said Sellers. "He plays with a high level of energy and is a tough defender and skilled distributor. Jordan is an experienced player and we look forward to what he can bring to our program."
Smith was a team captain and earned NEPSAC AAA honorable mention honors while attending Vermont Academy where he played for head coach John Zall. A Springfield, MA, native, Smith totaled 500 points and 200 rebounds in two seasons as a starter and helped the team to the NEPSAC AAA Quarterfinals. A talented wing, Smith averaged 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 2022 and then shot better than 42 percent from three-point range as a senior. As a freshman he played at Springfield Central, helping the team go 22-1 and advance to the 2020 MIAA Division 1 State Finals.
"Darin will be another great addition to the Blue Devil family," said Sellers. "He comes from an outstanding program and played against some of the top competition in the country. He is a skilled wing and is able to do a lot of things on the court. We are really excited to see him grow as a player at CCSU."