Bison’s Hale transfers to Jimmies

North Dakota State transfer Dylan Hale highlights five new recruits new Jimmie men’s basketball coach Justin Wieck has signed.

Hale, 6-foot-1 guard, started 23 of NDSU’s 31 games last season, averaging 4.5 points and 2.1 assists per game. Hale, who was born in Fargo and graduated from Washburn High School in St. Paul, Minn., started his collegiate career at Texas State before transferring to NDSU.

In 2009, Hale was listed as one of the top 25 players in Minnesota according to Breakdown Magazine. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Joining Hale are Mateusz Janiewski, Murray Hooper, Jordan Osberg and Omar Boumerzoug.

“We’re excited to add such great quality to our 2012 recruiting class,” Wieck said. “In a short time frame, we are ecstatic about this group of young men.”

Janiewski, a 6-5 transfer from North County Community College, is a native of Mosty, Poland. As a sophomore last season Janiewski averaged 12.7 points and 6.1 rebounds. He also shot 42 percent from three-point territory.

Hooper, a native of Victoria, Australia, played at Rowville Sports Academy. The 6-foot-4 player started every game last season, helping them to runner-up finish in the state tournament. He’ll be a freshman this season.

Osberg, a 6-foot transfer from Riverland Community College in Albert Lea, Minn., averaged 12 points, six rebounds and two assists per game last season. Osberg and Hale were teammates at Washburn High School in St. Paul when the school won the 2009 state championship.

Boumerzoug come to JC from Phoenix, although he was born in Canada. The 6-footer averaged 20 points and six rebounds per game last season and will be a freshman.

“Along with the previous players signed, we’re excited about our upcoming season,” Wieck said. “We look forward to them fitting in with our solid group of returning players and excelling on campus in the classroom.”

The five newest additions join Dyllan Anderson and Nathan Willer of Jamestown, Dan Janu of Frazee, Minn., Scott Lampton of Twin Valley, Minn., Dimarco Mallet of Waterloo, Iowa, Bismarck Century’s Andre Maund, Mark Potter of Fargo Davies High School, Payton Rufsvold of Halstad, Minn., Thomas Smith of Little Falls, Minn., and Breshion Tucker of Division II Wayne State (Neb.) in the JC recruiting class.

Wieck was hired earlier this month to replace Matt Murken, who took the same job at Minot State last month. The Jimmies went 25-7 last season and advance to the NAIA national tournament. They graduated three starters four starters in Travis Burley, B.J. Mertens, Byron Jones and Brandon Robbins.

Tags: sports, jimmies, basketball