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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois men's basketball announced the 2014-15 fall signing class of three players that should have a tremendous impact on the future of Panther basketball, the first day of the NCAA's early signing period for athletes to sign national letters of intent.  Set to join coach Jay Spoonhour's team next season are forward Lucas Jones, guard A.J. Riley and guard Casey Teson.
 
"Our staff did an outstanding job.  I am very excited about this group," said Spoonhour.  "All have played for successful programs and been a major factor in their team's success."
 
Jones is a 6-7 forward that currently plays at Shawnee Mission East High School in Kansas.  As a junior, he earned honorable mention All-State honors averaging 14 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game for coach Shawn Hair.  He shot 55 percent from the field, 78 percent from the free throw line and 35 percent from 3-point range.  As a sophomore, Jones moved into the starting line-up for the team and helped lead them to a fourth place finish in the Kansas Class 6A State Tournament.  In his two years in the starting line-up, the program has posted a 36-10 record with Jones earning honorable mention All-League honors as a sophomore and second team accolades as a junior.  He has twice been named the MVP of the SportsCare Shootout.  Jones played AAU basketball for the KC Spurs, coached by Don Weston.
 
"Lucas is a very active, tough, competitive player," said Spoonhour.  "Fundamentally, he has the ball skills to make the right plays, and knows the plays to make.  I am really looking forward to having him here."
 
Riley is a 6-4 guard that currently plays at John A. Logan College for coach Kyle Smithpeters.   As a freshman at John A. Logan he averaged 7.8 points and 1.9 assists per game.   This season through five games Riley has averaged 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field.   He played high school basketball at Peoria Manual where he was rated a 3-Star recruit by Scout.com and ESPN.com after leading his school to a Class 3A Sectional semifinal appearance as a junior.   He played AAU basketball for the Illinois Wolves, coached by Mike Mullins.
 
"AJ can do a variety of things.  He makes 'point guard plays' regardless of where he is playing on the floor," said Spoonhour.   "He can drive it, score in the post and he is a really good rebounder.  The stuff he does wins games."
 
Teson is a 6-2 guard that currently plays at St. Charles High School in Missouri for coach Rick Foster.   A two-time All-State selection, Teson needs just 30 3-pointers this season to become the school record holder for 3-pointers made.  He currently ranks sixth on the all-time school scoring list with 1,219 points.   He has been a first-team, All-League selection three times and the Gateway Athletic North Conference Player of the Year each of the last two seasons.   As a junior, he averaged 17.5 points per game making 48 3-pointers and shooting 42 percent from 3-point range.   He added 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.  During his sophomore season, Teson drained 61 3-pointers at a 43 percent clip averaging 20 points per game.   He added 4.3 rebounds and 2 assists per game.   Teson played AAU basketball for MOKAN Elite coached by Rodney Perry, a member of the 40-team NIKE EYBL.  He set a league record making 11 3-pointers in a game. 
 
"Everybody likes guys that make shots, and Casey can certainly do that," said Spoonhour.  "I wouldn't say he is just a shooter, though.  He scores in a lot of different ways and he handles the ball and passes as well as anyone.  He has produced against the best players in the country."
 
EIU tips off the season this Friday night at Missouri State.