Florida juco player makes commitment

~ Herring averaged about14 points per game at Palm Beach Community College.

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball program has received its second verbal commitment for next season.

Jaycen Herring, a 6-foot-5 junior college wing player, said Wednesday that he recently told Southeast coaches he plans to sign with the Redhawks next month.

The spring signing period begins April 11.

Herring said he would rather not comment further until after he signs, but his coach at Palm Beach (Fla.) Community College said the Redhawks will be getting an athletic player who should mesh with Southeast coach Scott Edgar's up-tempo style.

"I'm very familiar with coach Edgar and his style of ball. Jaycen will fit in very well," PBCC coach Tony Shields said. "He is an athletic player who can get to the basket on people and finish. He can hit the open shot and he's a great offensive rebounder.

"On top of that, he's a great kid, very high character as a person."

Herring averaged about 14 points, six rebounds and three assists per game as a sophomore at Palm Beach, where he was an all-conference selection. He also shot 45 percent from 3-point range.

A native of Memphis, Tenn., Herring began his college career at Tennessee-Chattanooga, where as a freshman in 2005-06 he made four starts and averaged 3.9 points per game.

According to Shields, Herring was also being recruited by Utah State and TCU, among other programs.

Rick Ball, who runs a national junior college recruiting service, also said Herring should fit in well with the Redhawks.

"He's a long, athletic 6-4 or 6-5. A big, smooth perimeter player is the best way I'd describe him," Ball said. "He can play 2-guard or small forward, and could even play some power forward.

"I think he's at least a good mid-major player."

Southeast had previously received a verbal commitment from Bell City High School senior Will Bogan, a 6-10 center.

As things stand now, Herring and Bogan would fill Southeast's remaining two scholarships, unless a current scholarship player leaves the program.

Edgar is prohibited by NCAA regulations from commenting on recruits until they sign.