McNeese basketball lands ‘big’ recruit

Published 3:42 pm Sunday, May 14, 2023

Will Wade got his big man.

Antavion Column announced on social media that he signed with McNeese State Sunday. 

The transfer comes over from Cal State Bakersfield and should provide a much needed inside presence to the Cowboys.

“He is a big piece for us,” said Wade. “He is someone that we really need.

“He is a big body, versatile player who can make plays. He is extremely talented.”

Collum is a big get. He averaged 13 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Roadrunners, starting 31 of 33 games. Bakersfield is a Mid-Major program that plays in the Big West Conference. Before Bakersfield, Collum played 30 games for Ole Miss.

Collum shot 44 percent from the field and 77 percent from the foul line last season. He scored 20 or more points in eight games and had a career-high 31 on Feb. 2 against UC-Riverside.

“He has put up big numbers while playing at a high level,” said Wade. “We are excited to get him here on campus.”

Wade, in his first season at McNeese, is also close to signing the final two players for his roster. 

Speedy point guard T’Johnn Brown announced on Twitter that he was committed to McNeese. The 5-11 Brown will be a true freshman from Kimball High School in Dallas this fall. 

The three-star recruit is considered a defensive standout who averaged 18.3 points a game his senior season in high school. 

Wade could not commit on Brown since he has not officially signed. Brown’s paperwork could be finished by as early as Monday.

Also committed and expected to have his paperwork complete in the next day or so is 6-4 Nasir Mann. 

The shooting guard scored 14.4 points a game last year for Santa Fe Community College in Alachua County, Florida.

Mann also averaged 6.5 rebounds a contest while hitting 40.5 percent of his three-point shots on the year while starting 25 of 27 games.

When Mann and Brown sign McNeese will be at its limit of 13 scholarship players. 

While Wade could not comment on Mann either, he did say he was “very pleased and excited” about the roster he has assembled.