Eagles ink Smith, Tillmon

​​​​​​​EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball announced the signing of 6-foot-1 guard Luther Smith, Jr. and 6-foot-2 guard Jordan Tillmon for the 2023-24 season. Smith and Tillmon are the first to sign with USI and Head Coach Stan Gouard this spring.
 
“USI is thrilled to welcome Jordan and Luther to our USI family,” said Gouard. “Both are high character guys that are expected to impact our team immediately.”
 
Smith comes to USI from Sussex Hamilton High School (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) where he earned first-team All-Greater Metro Conference as a junior and senior. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin, native earned the All-Conference honor as a senior after averaging 27.8 points per game, including a 44-point performance versus Brookfield Central High School.
 
“Luther is a terrific shooter and someone that will allow us to have great spacing offensively,” said Gouard. “His ability to stretch the floor makes Luther a perfect fit for our style of play.”
 
Tillmon joins the Eagles after spending the 2022-23 season with Florida A&M University where he posted 10.6 points, 2.4 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in 34.8 minutes per contest. The transfer guard hit for a season-high 22 points and five rebounds versus Alabama A&M University.
 
Prior to last season at Florida A&M, Tillmon was first team All-Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference during his two seasons at Connors State College. The Pine Bluff, Arkansas, native posted a two-year average of 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 56 appearances at Connors. The Cowboys also won a pair of NJCAA Region 2 championships during Tillmon’s tenure.
 
Tillmon posted a Connors two-year high of 16.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game as a sophomore (2021-22). 
 
“Jordan’s experience at the DI level will be very beneficial to Luther’s development in year one, while his toughness and scoring ability adds immediate value to our team”, said Gouard. “He will be called upon to lead our program on and off the court.”
 
The Eagles completed their first NCAA Division I season under Gouard by earning a trip to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament and to the Collegiate Basketball Invitational (CBI). USI was 16-17 overall during the first Division I schedule, placing seventh in the OVC with a 9-9 conference mark.