Mastodon Men’s Basketball Adds Jalen Jackson and Rasheed Bello
4/12/2023 11:55:00 AM | Men's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne men's basketball program has announced the additions of Jalen Jackson (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop High School/UIC) and Rasheed Bello (Chicago, Ill./DePaul Prep/UW-Parkside) for the 2023-24 campaign.
"I am thrilled about the additions of two transfer guards early in the spring recruiting cycle," Purdue Fort Wayne head coach Jon Coffman said. "Our program has been built on players that love to play, live in the gym and are obsessed with their player development. Both Jalen and Rasheed fit this mold and are tremendous creators that will thrive in our pace and space style of play."
Jackson (6-2, 200, guard) comes to Purdue Fort Wayne after playing his freshman campaign at UIC in 2022-23. Jackson averaged 7.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists for the Flames. He had back-to-back 20-point games with 21 at Belmont and 23 against Indiana State in February. The Northrop High School Graduate was an Indiana All-Star in 2022. His mother Katie played volleyball and basketball for the 'Dons from 1997-99. She is the girls basketball coach at Northrop High School. Jackson comes to the Mastodons with three seasons of eligibility.
"Jalen is tied to our program in so many ways," Coffman said. "He is a Fort Wayne native who loves his hometown and is ecstatic to represent both our university and city on a national stage! His mother played at IPFW, grandfather taught at the University and Jalen played high school right down the road from campus. And further Jalen, like two of our fall signees—Khoi Thurman and Jermaine Coleman, played for the Indy Heat EYBL program based out of Fort Wayne. Jalen is another gym rat in this recruiting class who is obsessed with his player development. He is a versatile, physical guard that lives in the paint, can really pass it and finds ways to score it in a variety of ways. We are excited to watch him grow on his successful freshman campaign at UIC."
Bello (6-0, 170, guard) arrives in Fort Wayne after two decorated seasons at NCAA Division II member UW-Parkside. The Chicago native was named the 2022-23 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year after averaging 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game. He helped the Rangers to a 21-9 record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. He had 13 games of 20 or more points including 36 in a win over Grand Valley State on Jan. 5. Bello was also named to the GLIAC's All-Defensive Team. He was selected as the GLIAC Freshman of the Year in 2021-22 after averaging 9.1 points per game. In high school, Bello was an All-Catholic League and All-State Honorable Mention selection as a senior. Bello comes to Purdue Fort Wayne with two seasons of eligibility.
"Rasheed is another college-proven guard that filled up his resume with accolades, including GLIAC Player of the Year and an NCAA Tournament, stacked a college stat sheet and won a ton of games," Coffman said. "He is a proven winner and leader at the collegiate level. He has excelled with every new challenge and grown each year. We look forward to him continuing this trend. Rasheed is an elite-lead guard that can play with the ball in his hands or without the ball. He can score it, is super-efficient, can really shoot it and like Jalen finds a way to live in the paint and create for his teammates."
Jackson and Bello join previously announced prep signees Khoi Thurman, CJ Hadnot and Jermaine Coleman as additions in 2023-24. (link)
"Both Jalen and Rasheed can really pass the basketball and make the players around them better," Coffman continued. "I am also excited about both of their abilities to defend the ball at a high level. With the losses of a special, special 2023 senior class, it is exciting to watch the next generation of Mastodons step in and step up to build on the program's success."
Only Wright State and Northern Kentucky have more overall victories than Purdue Fort Wayne (181) in the Horizon League over the last 10 seasons. These newcomers will look to add to that win total in November.
"I am thrilled about the additions of two transfer guards early in the spring recruiting cycle," Purdue Fort Wayne head coach Jon Coffman said. "Our program has been built on players that love to play, live in the gym and are obsessed with their player development. Both Jalen and Rasheed fit this mold and are tremendous creators that will thrive in our pace and space style of play."
Jackson (6-2, 200, guard) comes to Purdue Fort Wayne after playing his freshman campaign at UIC in 2022-23. Jackson averaged 7.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists for the Flames. He had back-to-back 20-point games with 21 at Belmont and 23 against Indiana State in February. The Northrop High School Graduate was an Indiana All-Star in 2022. His mother Katie played volleyball and basketball for the 'Dons from 1997-99. She is the girls basketball coach at Northrop High School. Jackson comes to the Mastodons with three seasons of eligibility.
"Jalen is tied to our program in so many ways," Coffman said. "He is a Fort Wayne native who loves his hometown and is ecstatic to represent both our university and city on a national stage! His mother played at IPFW, grandfather taught at the University and Jalen played high school right down the road from campus. And further Jalen, like two of our fall signees—Khoi Thurman and Jermaine Coleman, played for the Indy Heat EYBL program based out of Fort Wayne. Jalen is another gym rat in this recruiting class who is obsessed with his player development. He is a versatile, physical guard that lives in the paint, can really pass it and finds ways to score it in a variety of ways. We are excited to watch him grow on his successful freshman campaign at UIC."
Bello (6-0, 170, guard) arrives in Fort Wayne after two decorated seasons at NCAA Division II member UW-Parkside. The Chicago native was named the 2022-23 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year after averaging 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game. He helped the Rangers to a 21-9 record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. He had 13 games of 20 or more points including 36 in a win over Grand Valley State on Jan. 5. Bello was also named to the GLIAC's All-Defensive Team. He was selected as the GLIAC Freshman of the Year in 2021-22 after averaging 9.1 points per game. In high school, Bello was an All-Catholic League and All-State Honorable Mention selection as a senior. Bello comes to Purdue Fort Wayne with two seasons of eligibility.
"Rasheed is another college-proven guard that filled up his resume with accolades, including GLIAC Player of the Year and an NCAA Tournament, stacked a college stat sheet and won a ton of games," Coffman said. "He is a proven winner and leader at the collegiate level. He has excelled with every new challenge and grown each year. We look forward to him continuing this trend. Rasheed is an elite-lead guard that can play with the ball in his hands or without the ball. He can score it, is super-efficient, can really shoot it and like Jalen finds a way to live in the paint and create for his teammates."
Jackson and Bello join previously announced prep signees Khoi Thurman, CJ Hadnot and Jermaine Coleman as additions in 2023-24. (link)
"Both Jalen and Rasheed can really pass the basketball and make the players around them better," Coffman continued. "I am also excited about both of their abilities to defend the ball at a high level. With the losses of a special, special 2023 senior class, it is exciting to watch the next generation of Mastodons step in and step up to build on the program's success."
Only Wright State and Northern Kentucky have more overall victories than Purdue Fort Wayne (181) in the Horizon League over the last 10 seasons. These newcomers will look to add to that win total in November.
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