UIC adds 2 junior college players

Two Murray State players, Jordan Lankster and Carlos Henderson, will leave the Kentucky college to join the UIC Flames, head men’s basketball coach Howard Moore announced Friday.

Lankster, a 6-foot-5 wing, and Henderson, a 6-foot-9 center, will both have two years of eligibility with the Flames beginning next season.

“Jordan and Carlos are two tremendous additions to our team and our program,” said Moore. “They come to UIC with some very valuable experience at Murray State College under head coach Randy Rutherford. I expect both Jordan and Carlos to immediately contribute to our team next season.”

Lankster, a native of Tulsa, Okla., attended Tulsa Central High School before beginning his collegiate career at Murray State. He averaged 12.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a team-high 1.7 steals per game for the Aggies last season, while shooting 43 percent from the field and 81 percent from the free throw line.

“Jordan has great size and athleticism, and possesses the ability to create his own shot,” Moore said. “He plays very physical, has a solid mid-range game, and will really help us on the defensive end. His versatility will allow us to play him at multiple positions.”

Henderson is a native of Grant, Okla., and he attended Hugo High School before moving onto Murray State College. Last season, Henderson averaged 6.3 points and a team-high 6.7 rebounds per game and shot 49 percent from the field. He had 20 blocks in 20 games.

“Carlos is a solid rebounder, and is very active defensively in the lane — he has a great knack for blocking shots,” said Moore. “He’ll help us right away in those areas of the game, and can also be an offensive presence in the post.”