RENO, Nev. – University of Nevada head men’s basketball coach Eric Musselman has signed his third recruit to play for the Wolf Pack after being named the head coach at the end of March. Jordan Caroline a transfer from Southern Illinois has signed a scholarship agreement to play for Nevada in 2016-17.
“We are excited that we were able to get a commitment from Jordan as a part of our first Wolf Pack recruiting class,” Musselman said. “Not only is Jordan a great basketball player, but he is a great young man as well. Jordan had an excellent year as a freshman earning all-league honors and we are thrilled to have him as a member of the Wolf Pack. Jordan plays with an extremely high motor on both ends of the floor. His size and skill set is something that our coaching staff is very excited about. He can do a variety of things on the floor and we believe he can be a next level player.”
Caroline is a 6-7, 235-pound forward that will sit out next season under NCAA transfer rules and will have three years to play beginning in 2016-17.
Caroline is the son of Simeon Rice who played 12-years in the National Football League and went to three Pro Bowls. Rice earned a Super Bowl ring playing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This past season the Champaign, Ill. native averaged 9.2 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Salukis. From the field he shot 44.8 percent and 66 percent at the free throw line. He mad 2-of-3 shots from behind the arc.
Caroline was named the Missouri Valley Conference freshman team this past season. He ranked third in the MVC in rebounds (6.2 rpg) and third in offensive rebounds (2.4 orpg) per game.
In the game against Evansville he grabbed nine offensive rebounds which is the most since 2000 by an SIU player and is tied for the fifth best performance in school history. His 303 points is the fifth most by an SIU freshman and his 206 rebounds ranked third. He posted back-to-back double-doubles with 14 points and 11 rebounds versus Loyola and 13 points and 15 rebounds at Evansville.
As a prep athlete he helped Montverde Academy to consecutive national titles in 2013 and 2014. His senior year the team posted a 28-0 record and finished top ranked in the final USA Today Super 25. Caroline averaged 12 points and eight rebounds his senior year and was named to the third-team Independent Class All-State squad by the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches. His junior year he averaged seven points and seven rebounds. Prior to attending Montverde Academy he played two season at Champaign Central High School.
