Saluki men’s basketball signed a sixth player this offseason on Monday, filling its roster for the upcoming season.

The squad is set at 14 men including three seniors, seven juniors and four freshmen.  

JEREMY POSTELL, FORWARD, JR., NEW MEXICO JUNIOR COLLEGE

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Postell is the fourth JUCO player to transfer to SIU this offseason. He started 11 games and played in 27, helping the Thunderbirds to a 23-9 record.

Postell recorded 6.1 points, 2 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game and shot 35 percent during his two years. 

“Jeremy adds size, athleticism and length to our roster,” coach Barry Hinson said during an interview with Saluki Athletics. “He also offers versatility in that we can play him at several positions on the floor.” 

SEAN LLOYD, GUARD/FORWARD, FRESHMAN, MT. ZION PREP SCHOOL

Lloyd, who signed a scholarship agreement with SIU on July 3, averaged 15 points and 7 rebounds per game in his senior year.

“We were looking for a big wing player, and [Lloyd] certainly fits that description,” Hinson told Saluki Athletics. “He gives us the ability to have a longer and better athlete out on the floor and it was something we desperately needed.”

Lloyd had two uncles, Lewis Lloyd and Daryl Lloyd, who both played for Missouri Valley Conference rival Drake University in the 1980s. Lewis was a two-time MVC player-of-the-year and spent seven years in the National Basketball Association.

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AARON SILER, GUARD, JUNIOR, LINCOLN TRAIL COLLEGE

Siler announced he would transfer to SIU on June 17. While he averaged 14.3 points per game he also shot 44 percent from three-point range and 93 percent from the free throw line last season. He was named first-team All-Conference and second-team All-Region.

Hinson complimented Siler’s shooting and competitiveness during an interview with Saluki Athletics.

Siler has Division I experience as a walk-on at Eastern Illinois in 2014. He averaged 1 point in 11 games.

“I have always been a good shooter and been able to knock down shots,” Siler told Saluki Athletics. “I played the 2-guard at Lincoln Trail, but can also play point guard.” 

LEO VINCENT, GUARD, JUNIOR, HARCUM COLLEGE

Vincent was announced as a transfer on May 19. He was part of a Harcum College team that finished No. 9 in national rankings. He started 31 games and was second in scoring with 15.5 points per game.

“One of our priorities for spring recruiting was to get guards who could fit our system — guys who can pass, dribble and shoot,” Hinson said during an interview with Saluki Athletics. 

Last season, 62 percent of Vincent’s field-goal attempts were from behind the arc. He shot 40 percent for three-pointers and had eight in one game against Burlington College.

Vincent earned National Junior College Athletic Association honorable mention All-America honors last season and will have two years of eligibility at SIU.

MIKE RODRIGUEZ, POINT GUARD, JUNIOR, MARSHALLTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Rodriguez was announced as a transfer on April 15. He ranked eighth in the nation in scoring for the NJCAA, averaging 22.5 points per game.

Last season Rodriguez shot 43.8 percent from the field and 33.9 percent from three-point while averaging 6.1 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game. He shot 230 free throws, which ranked second among all NJCAA Division I players.

“We felt it was imperative that we have a true point guard come in here and help us — one that can do that immediately,” Hinson told Saluki Athletics. “We appreciate not only what he does from the point guard position but what he does as a leader of his program.”

RUDOLFS STRADNIEKS, FORWARD, FRESHMAN, LEE ACADEMY

Stradnieks, who is from Latvia, also signed his letter of intent on April 15. He averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds last season.

“[Stradnieks] is a big man who has many facets to his game,” Hinson said during an interview with Saluki Athletics. “He can face the basket, he has the ability to pass and this is also a young man with experience on the international level.”

Stradnieks played for the Latvian Under-18 national team averaging 4.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

BRAD AUTRY, ASSISTANT COACH

Hinson and the staff added a third assistant coach in Brad Autry on June 8.

Autry previously coached at University of Hawaii and Marquette University.

Last season at Hawaii, the Rainbows finished with 22 wins — their highest total in 12 years — en route to a UC-Irvine defeat in the championship game of the Big West Tournament.

“I’ve known [Autry] for 15 years, and in this profession, you have to hire people you know extremely well and are comfortable with,” Hinson told Saluki Athletics. “He has coached at all levels, all the way up to the high-major level, and is known as a relentless recruiter and a high-energy coach.” 

Brent Meske can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @brentmeskeDE.