DAYTON – Wright State men's basketball coach Clint Sargent has announced the signing of four players this afternoon to Athletics Aid Agreements to attend Wright State University and join the Raider program beginning next fall.
 
The newest Raiders are Michael Cooper and PJ Douglas from Jeffersonville, Indiana (Jeffersonville High School), Kellen Pickett from Fort Wayne, Indiana (Blackhawk Christian School) and Brady Conner from Dayton, Ohio (Alter High School).
 
"We could not be more excited about the four young men we have joining our program," Sargent said. "All four come from tremendous families who understand how important relationships are to the development of their sons as young men, students and basketball players. Also, all four come from winning programs who have either won a state title or will be in contention to win a state title this upcoming season. Coach Wilkerson, Coach Roth, and Coach Coulter are all great coaches who run first class programs."
 
Cooper, a 6'3" guard, averaged 16.4 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game and 2.4 assists per game last season while shooting 54 percent overall with a 41 percent rate from three-point range. Douglas, a 6'4" guard, averaged 13.8 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game and 2.3 assists per game last season with a 59 percent overall shooting percentage and a 53 percent mark from three-point range. Both Cooper and Douglas were named 2024 Underclass Large School All-State selections in March by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. The teammates helped lead Jeffersonville to a 20-8 record last season, finishing in the Indiana 4A Semi-State Championships.
 
"Michael is a dynamic guard with size to play the 1, 2, or 3. We feel like Michael has the 'it' factor to play in and win big games with his scoring ability and playmaking ability," Sargent said. "Michael's feel for the game is something that we value and will allow him to adjust early in his career. He has a very high ceiling as a college player, and we can't wait to get him in our system."
 
"PJ's intangibles are off the charts and something that we can never have enough of in our program," Sargent added. "He is a big guard who has a great pace and feel for the game. He is a perfect motion player because he is unselfish and understands making the right play. There is no doubt PJ will be a big reason this program continues to win games in the future."
 
Pickett, a 6'9" forward, averaged 20.5 points per game, 11.9 rebounds per game, 4.5 assists per game and 3.8 blocks per game a season ago, shooting 54 percent overall. He was named to the 2024 Indiana Underclass Supreme 15, the top honor awarded by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Players who make the Supreme 15 are not considered for IBCA all-state honors. Pickett led Blackhawk Christian to a 22-7 record last season, ending in Indiana 2A Semi-State Championships. Pickett and Blackhawk Christian won the 2023 Indiana 2A state championship.
 
"Kellen has all the tools to be the next great big to come through our program," Sargent said. "We love his versatility to play and guard multiple positions on both ends of the floor. He is a 6'9 playmaker who can score inside and out. Defensively he can move his feet on the perimeter but also protect the rim with his length. We can't wait to get started with his development."
 
Conner, a 6'6" guard, averaged 7.1 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game and 3.6 assists per game a season ago at Alter. Conner helped Alter to the 2024 OHSAA Division II state championship, turning in 13 in the title game.
 
"Brady is state a champion who understands and values winning more than anything else," said Sargent. "We feel like he is just scratching the surface of what he will eventually be as a college player. Not only does he come from a basketball family who values winning and playing the right way, he is a local kid who values winning for the Dayton community. Both are very important to me and our program."
 
Wright State returns to action Wednesday night at Toledo before returning to the Nutter Center for a Saturday night contest against Central State. Both games are set for 7 p.m. starts, and fans can follow the action on ESPN+, via live stats or by tuning in to the home for Raider Basketball 101.5 HANK FM and WING 1410 AM.