FORT SMITH, Ark. - University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Men's Basketball Head Coach Zane Gibson has announced the Lions' 2023 recruiting class, with 10 new players set to join the program this season.

The class features eight transfers and two freshmen. It includes guard Jaden Monday, guard Lian Ramiro, guard Kobe Campbell, guard Roland McCoy, forward Addison Wallace, forward Ryan Maxwell, forward Isaiah Lewis, forward Antwon Jackson, forward Tyler Frederick and guard Kevin Hamilton.

"We are extremely excited about his class," Gibson said. "When we took the job over in late April there was only four scholarship guys still on the roster. Those four are very good players but we certainly knew we would have to go out and sign a large class to build the foundation of our program here at UAFS. I really want to emphasize how great of a job my staff has done in putting this class together. I ask a lot of my staff and Brett, Jared, Jeremy and Caleb have done a great job with everything I have thrown at them. This signing class is no different." 

Jaden Monday

A 6-foot guard, Monday played his first two collegiate seasons at Washburn University, where he started 27 of 29 games as a sophomore. In 22.5 minutes per game, Monday averaged 6.5 points and 1.8 assists and shot 34.0 percent from beyond the arc. He scored a career-high 23 points against Missouri Southern State and was a two-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.

"Jaden is a tough, hardnosed Kansas City guard who has gotten a lot of experience the past two seasons in the MIAA. The MIAA and the Lone Star, in my opinion, are the best two leagues in the country and he had eight double digit scoring performances last year. He does a really good job taking care of the ball and setting up his teammates for them to be successful on the offensive end. But the best thing Jaden does is compete on the defensive end. Jaden wants to pick guys up 94 feet and be aggressive with them." - Gibson

Lian Ramiro

Also a 6-foot guard, Ramiro was a 1,000-point scorer at Colorado State-Pueblo in three seasons with the Thunderwolves. He led CSU Pueblo in scoring each of the last two season, scoring with 13.5 points per game in 2022-23 and 17.8 points per game in 2021-22. The 2021-22 season saw Ramiro score a career-high 37 points against Chadron State and nine 20-point games. A career 34.8 percent shooter from three, he is a two-time All-RMAC honoree.

"Lian is a crafty scoring guard who knows how to put the ball in the basket. Anytime you add someone to your roster that is a two-time all-league selection you have made your roster better. There will be nights where Lian is going to have offensive explosions. He can score in a multitude of ways. On a scouting report he is a guy that I would list as a three-level scorer because he can get to the basket, play in the midrange, and has a great three-point shot. Lian has a great family who were a lot of fun to get to know during the recruiting process." - Gibson

Kobe Campbell

Campbell, a 6-foot-1-inch guard, played last season at Central Missouri after spending a year each at Cowley College and Hutchinson Community College. In his lone season with the Mules, Campbell averaged 9.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game while shooting 46.1 percent from the floor. He scored in double figures 11 times and scored a season-high 19 points versus Missouri Valley.

"Kobe will be a phenomenal asset to this year's team. We are excited about his toughness and his desire to win! We believe he adds a lot of leadership to our roster. You will see Kobe score around the rim a lot next season, as he is an excellent downhill driver. Defensively, though, is where I see Kobe being a staple for our team because he is a very high-level defender. Kobe is another guy with a lot of MIAA experience that we think will translate great into the LSC this season." - Gibson

Roland McCoy

McCoy joins the Lions from Alabama State, where he averaged 6.9 points in 31 games for the Hornets, scoring a season-high 18 points against Alabama A&M. Prior to ASU, the 6-foot-2-inch McCoy averaged 14.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in two seasons at Iowa Western.

"Roland is a big, physical guard coming to us from Division I Alabama State. Roland had an outstanding junior college career averaging better than 16 points per game in his final season at Iowa Western along with earning first team all-region. He brings tremendous experience to our roster, is an elite level shooter and can drive through contact with his size and strength. We are looking for big things out of Roland come this winter." - Gibson

Addison Wallace

Wallace comes to UAFS from LSC foe West Texas A&M, playing two seasons for the Buffaloes. He entered the starting lineup in 2022-23, starting 28 of 32 games and averaging 7.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Wallace also played one season at Texas State, appearing in 17 games.

"We are very excited to add a player like Addison to our roster. First, he is a great student and wants to be a lawyer once his playing career is over. On the court, Addison is super versatile. He can play a multitude of positions and roles depending on the night for us to win. Addison brings a huge championship pedigree to our roster from being a starter on West Texas A&M's last two LSC championship teams and winning a league championship at Division I Texas State. Addison is an elite driver and plays above the rim when he gets there. He will also be so important for us defensively because he literally can guard 1-5 on any given night which will really help us on that end of the floor!" - Gibson

Ryan Maxwell

The 6-foot-7-inch Maxwell played in 50 games over the last two seasons at Nicholls State, scoring 102 points and grabbing 96 rebounds while shooting 50.6 percent from the floor. Maxwell now returns to his home state, as he is a native of Jacksonville, Arkansas.

"We love it any time we can get Arkansas guys to stay in state with us here at UAFS. Ryan will give us a very unique look during the 2023-2024 season with great size and a high level of skill. I believe Ryan is a guy that we will be able to play on the perimeter but also work him into the post when the defense puts a smaller defender on him. He has a great shooting motion that I don't think he had a chance to show the last couple of seasons, but don't be surprised if he is one of our better shooters over the next two years. Ryan is another member of our signing class that was apart of a conference championship team and NIT participant at the Division I level." - Gibson

Isaiah Lewis

Lewis, a 6-foot-7-inch forward, played last season at Western New Mexico under Coach Gibson, appearing in 28 games and averaging 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds and shot 51.4 percent from the field. He scored a season-high 15 points against West Texas A&M. Prior to WNMU, Lewis played three seasons at Northern Arizona.

"Isaiah is one of the more talented players I've ever been around. He is very athletic and super skilled. Isaiah will really be able to help us in this first year because he has already played for me and will be able to help the other guys really understand the standards and expectations I will have for the players day in and day out - both on and off the court. Isaiah can be as good as he wants to be in my opinion, he just has to keep putting in consistent work and I believe he has the ability to be a great player for the Lions." - Gibson

Antwon Jackson

Jackson, a 6-foot-7-inch forward, will make the trek across the state after playing four seasons at Arkansas State. He totaled 242 points and 228 rebounds in 81 career games and shot 45.6 percent overall. Jackson scored a career-high 11 points against UAPB in 2020-21 and had a career-best eight rebounds against Louisiana-Monroe.

"Antwon is a player we are ready to see back in action. After having to sit out last season due to an injury, we know he is ready to show what he can do in this league. Antwon should be a mismatch for us on the offensive end. I don't think there will be a lot of guys capable of matching up with him on that end of the floor because he is so strong. He has a great feel for the game and is an elite passer for his size. Antwon worked with one of my former coaches in Mike Scutero at A-State who couldn't have said more good things about Antwon." - Gibson

Tyler Frederick

Frederick averaged 14 points, three rebounds and two assists per game at North Little Rock High School. He shot 42 percent from three and 57 percent from the field and was a part of North Little Rock's state championship team during his junior season.

"We are very excited to add Tyler to our program. Tyler is another Arkansas guy who is staying home. He is a player that we believe can add elite shooting to our roster. Tyler embodies everything we are looking for when we sign a high school kid: an outstanding young man, a great student and a really good basketball player. Tyler was a guy that used to come to our basketball camps back when I was an assistant here. He loves wearing the Navy and White and that is really important to have guys who love being where their feet are like Tyler does with being at UAFS." – Gibson

Kevin Hamilton

Hamilton, a 5-foot-8-inch guard, averaged 17 points and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor and 43.4 percent from three his senior season. He helped St. Vincent-St. Mary's win state championships back-to-back years in 2021 and 2022.

"Kevin is another state champion we are thrilled to be adding to our roster. He might be the most vocal freshman I've ever had on my team. He's got tremendous leadership qualities that will be infectious throughout the team. Kevin does a great job of getting his teammates the ball in places they can be successful and is another knock down shooter." – Gibson