Juco Guard McCloud Signs With ISU Basketball

[April 22, 2014]  NORMAL — Illinois State head men's basketball coach Dan Muller announced the signing of Justin McCloud, a 6-foot-4, 188-pound transfer guard from Bismarck State College in Bismarck, N.D., to a national letter of intent on Thursday. A native of Bottineau, N.D., McCloud has two years of eligibility remaining, after leading Bismarck State in scoring and rebounding as a sophomore.

"Justin is a tremendous shooter with a quick release and great range," Muller said. "As a three-sport athlete in high school, Justin has demonstrated his mental and physical toughness. His intangibles will bring great value to our team."

During his sophomore season at Bismarck State in 2013-14, McCloud averaged a team-best 20.1 points per game, which ranked No. 28 among National Junior College Athletic Association Division I players. He also ranked No. 26 nationally and first on his team with a 45.6 percent 3-point average, 68-for-149, while matching a team-best 6.8 rebounds per contest.

McCloud started 24 out of 25 games, shooting 50 percent from the field with 167-for-334 and 84.7 percent at the free-throw line with 100-for-118. McCloud also averaged 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals, while helping Bismarck State to a 13-12 overall record as a sophomore.

A two-time Mon-Dak Athletic Conference Player of the Week in 2013-14, McCloud netted double figures in 24 out of his 25 games, including 13 contests with 20 or more points and three with 30 or more. He scored a season-high 32 points — with seven 3-pointers — in a win over North Dakota State College of Science on Feb. 6.

During his freshman season, McCloud averaged 16.4 points and 5.4 rebounds, while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 43.3 percent from beyond the arc. He netted a career-best 34 points — with 11 field goals — in a win at Northland Community and Technical College on Jan. 4, 2013.

As a standout three-sport student-athlete at Bottineau High School, McCloud averaged 24.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 3.2 assists per game during his senior campaign in 2011-12. He set the single-season school scoring record with 607 points, and he had a career total of 1,456.

A first-team all-state selection and Mr. Basketball finalist, McCloud was also an all-state football player as quarterback and an all-state baseball player as pitcher and shortstop at Bottineau.

[Text from news release received from Illinois State University]