WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The coaching staff of the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team have added a “blue collar forward” to the 2012-13 squad.  He is 6-foot, 5-inch BJ McLaughlin of Hazelwood Central High School in the greater St. Louis area.

“BJ is the blue collar forward we have been looking for,” Head Coach Yancey Walker said.  “He rebounds and is efficient on the floor.  He shoots a good percentage from both two and three, and he is a good passer at a little over two assists per game.  We feel fortunate to have such a great fit for our program from the St. Louis area.”

As a senior, McLaughlin averaged 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals per game.  He shot 51 percent from two-point range and 38 percent behind the arc.  He was recruited by Southern Illinois University-Ewardsville, University of Tennessee-Martin, Drury University and Northwest Missouri State University.

McLaughlin joins 6-foot, 5-inch guard Desmond Buerge of Carthage, Mo.; 6-foot, 1-inch guard Wesley Staten of Sioux City, Iowa; 6-foot, 5-inch guard Arroyo Edwards of Milwaukee, Wis.; 6-foot, 5-inch guard Jonathan Tshibuy of Montreal, Canada; 6-foot, 3-inch guard Devaugntah Williams of Canton, Ohio; 6-foot, 3-inch guard Delvonte Pierre of Lawton, Okla.; 6-foot, 11-inch forward Aleinocov Azulphar of Norwalk, Conn.; 6-foot, 2-inch Desmond Dorsey from Jeffersontown High School in Louisville, Ky.; 6-foot, 8-inch forward Ed Seay of Merrillville, Ind., for the Grizzlies’ freshman class next season.

For more information about the Grizzly Basketball program, visit the team’s website at http://www.wp.missouristate.edu/grizzly/bb.htm or call the Grizzly Basketball office at 417-255-7993.

Filed Under: Basketball