INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI Athletics Department and head basketball coach
Matt Crenshaw announced the signings of three student-athletes for the upcoming 2021-2022 campaign on Thursday (May 27). Fishers-native Zach Gunn will join the Jaguars after spending the past four seasons at Ball State and B.J. Maxwell will also attend IUPUI via graduate transfer, having played last season at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. In addition, Texas-native KJ Pruitt recently signed his National Letter of Intent to join the IUPUI program as a true freshman this fall.
Zach Gunn I Fishers, Ind. I 6-foot-6 I Forward
-Three-year letterwinner at Ball State, averaging 4.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game over 69 career contests
-Shot 35.1 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the free throw line
-Averaged a career-high 5.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game as a sophomore in 2018-19
-Scored a career-high 17 points against Tiffin on Nov. 27, 2018
-Attended nearby Hamilton Southeastern High School where he finished as the program's all-time leader in points (1,660) and rebounds (791)
-Averaged 21.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game his senior season and was later selected to the Indiana All-Star Team
-Was a 3-star recruit by most major recruiting services and rated among the top-10 Indiana prospects in his graduating class
-Will wear No. 15 for the Jaguars
Crenshaw on Gunn
"Indiana guy. He's a guy that can really space the floor and can shoot it. We're gonna try and get him back to his high school days where he posted up and showed multiple facets of his game. I'm really excited to work with Zach and have Zach here in the program. Leadership as well from him."
B.J. Maxwell I Austin, Texas I 6-foot-5 I Guard/Forward
-Has played in 94 collegiate games, making 43 starts and totaled 758 points in his collegiate career
-Averaged 18.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor last season at Division II St. Edward's University en route to being named NABC All-District Second Team, Lone Star Conference (LSC) Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-LSC
-Had a 47-point, eight rebound game at Midwestern State on Jan. 3, 2021, finishing one point shy of tying SEU's single-game scoring record
-Spent the 2019-2020 season at Detroit Mercy, starting two games before missing the remainder of the season to injury
-Played three seasons at Abilene Christian, including averaging 9.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game during the 2018-2019 campaign while shooting 49.1 percent from the floor and 40.5 percent from three-point range
-Has 17 double-digit scoring games at the Division I level
-Was named the Home School National Player of the Year as a senior while playing for the Oklahoma Storm, averaging 18.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game
-Will wear No. 00 for the Jaguars
Crenshaw on Maxwell
"He's a guy that's been battle tested. He's been in the (Horizon) league. He's hungry - has a chip on his shoulder. I view him as a guy that's going to bring some leadership to the team. He's gonna kinda help mold the younger guys a little bit and add a scoring punch for us."
KJ Pruitt I Lewisville, Texas I 6-foot-4 I Guard
-Considered a 3-star recruit and among the top 100 prospects from the state of Texas by multiple publications
-Originally a member of the 2020 class before attending Sunrise Christian Academy and reclassifying to the 2021 class
-Averaged 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game as a senior at Lewisville (Texas) High School before suffering an injury in the season's final game
-Participated in the prestigious Pangos All-American Camp
-Was Lewisville's Team MVP and Defensive MVP as a junior, while also earning First Team All-District honors
-Was an A/B honor roll student
-Will wear No. 1 for the Jaguars
Crenshaw on Pruitt
"He's one of those cornerstones that we feel like can be a big part of the program moving forward, as well as being a big part of the success this year. I'm really excited about him. He has a bright, bright, bright future ahead of him. I really look for him to be on a great trajectory compared to some of the guys who have had success as a freshman, all the way through their career (at IUPUI)."
