Men's Recruiting: Manhattan Adds Some Depth

Here's the latest entry in the series looking at newcomers to conference programs this season.

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MANHATTAN MEN

- PAUL BAYT (6-foot-4 shooting guard, Park Tudor H.S., Carmel, Ind.): No high school stats available. He is a very slender (listed at 170 pounds) long-range shooter. His high school team captured Indiana's Class 2A state championship this past season and Bayt scored 18 points, making 6-of-8 three-pointers in the title contest.

- C.J. JONES (6-2 point guard, St. Thomas More, Ct., Prep School): No high school stats available. Jones originally committed to attend Ball State before opting for Manhattan. Reported to be a pass-first point guard and a terrific on-the-ball defender.

- SHANE RICHARDS (6-6 forward, York Prep of Manhattan): No high school stats available, but Richards reportedly is an outstanding scorer in a variety of ways.

- ADAM LACEY (6-10 center, San Diego H.S.): He averaged 10.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game as a high school senior.

- ASHTON PANKEY (6-10 center/forward, transfer from Maryland); A well-built inside player, Pankey averaged 4.7 points and 4.9 rebounds as a freshmen for the Terps this past season. He has applied for a waiver to play this season at Manhattan, but the NCAA has not yet ruled on that application. When he becomes eligible he will have three remaining seasons at Manhattan. He started 16 games for Maryland in the 2011-12 season.

- MARK JACKSON Jr. (6-3 guard, transfer from Louisville): Yes, he's the son of the former NBA standout and now NBA coach of the Golden State Warriors. A walk-on at Louisville where he played limited minutes last season. He is a red-shirt sophomore, meaning he has to sit out this season but has three remaining seasons of eligibility.

ANALYSIS: Manhattan is going to be one of the top two or three teams in the MAAC this coming season, but if Pankey gets the eligibility waiver and can play this season, then the Jaspers might become the favorite to claim the regular-season crown. Jones should be a nice addition as a back-up point guard. When starter Mike Alvarado went down with an eye injury late last season the Jaspers didn't have a replacement. Bayt and Richards will both come off the bench this year, but both are capable of providing some offensive contributions. Bayt looks like he will be one of the better long-range shooters in the MAAC at some point,.