Patton signs 3 guards to help NIU basketball

Ricardo Patton's transformation of Northern Illinois' roster continues to go at a furious pace.

Patton announced the addition of three guards Thursday - a group that includes junior-college transfer Jerwin Callaway, St. Ignatius point guard Keith Smith and Colorado transfer Xavier Silas.

Callaway, a Chicago native who committed months ago, led Mineral Area College with 13.4 points per game.

He also hit 50 3-pointers, which may address Patton's concern about the Huskies' shooting. NIU finished last in the MAC in 3-point shooting at 29.8 percent.

To address NIU's lack of a true point guard - the team was last in the MAC with 18.2 turnovers per game, Patton brought in the 5-fooot-5 Smith.

"Keith Smith is a true point guard," Patton said in a statement. "He has some intangibles that I think are pretty difficult to teach and he is as good a passer in basketball that I have seen in a long time."

But the most intriguing of Patton's seven incoming recruits is the one who won't be eligible until the 2009-10 season.

Xavier Silas, a 6-5 shooting guard, is the son of former San Antonio Spurs sharpshooter James Silas, who averaged 16.1 points per game over 10 seasons split between the NBA and ABA.

Xavier Silas, who was a starter for Patton's final Colorado squad, averaged 12.0 points and 3.7 rebounds as a freshman.

But Silas' sophomore year ended early as Jeff Bzdelik, Patton's successor, booted him from the team on Feb. 22. He averaged 9.7 points.

NIU's current roster for the 2008-09 season shows just one player with more than one year of Div. I experience.

And that player, sophomore backup power forward Bristan Kelley, has joined the football team for spring drills. If he sticks as a tight end, then his scholarship will transfer to football's rolls.