Missouri Western men’s basketball coach Tom Smith has announced the addition of five student-athletes the 2012-2013 roster. The Griffons welcome junior college transfers Dzenan Mrkaljevic of Fishers, Ind. (Kankakee Community College), Alfreeman Flowers of Milwaukee, Wis. (Ellsworth CC), Cedric Clinkscales of Anderson, S.C. (Roane State CC), Kalvin Balque of Alexandria, La. (Kansas City Kansas CC) and Adarius Fulton of Lithonia, Ga. (St. John’s River CC) to next year’s squad.
Mrkaljevic, a 6-8 forward from Fishers, Ind. transfers to Missouri Western from Kankakee Community College out of Kankakee, Ill. He played his high school basketball at Hamilton Southeastern. He is originally from Bijeljina, Bosina. Last season he played in 32 games shooting the long ball extremely well making 42.2-percent (57-of-135) from beyond the arc. He averaged 7.6 points and three rebounds per game. He made 56.9-percent of his field goals making 86. He plans on majoring in sports management at Western.
Flowers, a 6-5 forward from Milwaukee, Wis. transfers to the Griffons from Ellsworth Community College out of Iowa Falls, Iowa. He played his high school basketball at John Marshall. Last season he played in 31 games scoring 14.5 points per game and snaring 7.9 rebounds per contest. He had 246 rebounds with 118 coming on the offensive end of the floor. He made 36 three point shots and 168 total field goals. For his efforts he was a DII first team All-Region selection. He plans on majoring in social work at Western.
Clinkscales, a 6-7 forward from Anderson, S.C. transfers to Missouri Western from Roane State Community College out of Harriman, Tenn. He played his high school basketball at T.L Hannah. Last season he played in 26 games averaging 13.6 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game. He had 219 rebounds with 74 coming of the offensive end of the floor. He made 57.6-percent (144-250) of his field goals and 41-percent (9-22) of his long range shots. He is also an unselfish player dishing out 2.27 (59) assists per game. He was a first team All-TCCAA (Tennessee Community College Athletic Association) selection this past season. He is undecided on a major at Western.
Balque, a 6-3 wing from Alexandria, La. transfers to the Griffons from Kansas City Kansas CC. Last season he played in 25 games averaging 11.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He had 100 rebounds on the year with 34 coming on the offensive end of the floor. Of his 109 field goals made 25 of them were from beyond the arc.
Fulton, a 6-2 guard from Lithonia, Ga. transfers to Missouri Western from St. John’s River CC in Florida. He played his high school basketball at Miller Grove HS where he led the Wolverines to back-to-back Class AAAA State Championships in 2009 and 2010. He made 57-percent of his long range shots during his senior season. During his career at St. John’s River he scored 721 points making 130 long range shots while dishing out 357 assists and snaring 213 rebounds. For his efforts he was named first team All-Mid Florida Conference in 2011 and 2012. He was also named to the All-Region team in 2012.
“We are extremely pleased with our recruiting efforts during the spring and summer,” commented Head Coach Tom Smith. “We have addressed most of our short comings from last year. We have got more size and strength at the guard position with Balque and Fulton. On the inside we have increased mobility with Flowers and Clinkscales. We have also added an inside out player who can shoot the “3” in Mrkaljevic. There is no doubt we will be much improved in 2012-2013 and I am excited to begin practice with this group” commented Smith.
— MWSU Sports Information —