Eastern Illinois men's basketball coach
Marty Simmons has announced the addition of Nakyel Shelton to the Panthers roster for the 2023-24 season. Shelton comes to EIU after earning NJCAA Division II All-America honors last season at South Suburban Community College.
Shelton was among the nation's best junior college players last season helping lead South Suburban CC to a 26-6 record losing in the District semifinals. He was fifth in the nation in scoring at 23.6 points per game and tenth in the nation in rebounding at 10.7 points per game. He finished the season with 18 double-doubles scoring a season-high 42 points against Terra State and pulling down a season-high 19 rebounds against Illinois Valley.
"Nakyel is a scorer and will fit a role we need on this team for us to be successful," said Simmons. "He has shown his ability to produce offensively at every level he has played at and we can't wait to welcome him to Charleston to be part of our EIU Basketball Family."
Shelton (6'3" / 180) is a Chicago, Ill., product that earned All-City League honors three times playing at Carl Schurz High School. He scored more than 1,500 points in his prep career. He began his collegiate career at NAIA member Montana State Northern but their season was canceled due to COVID-19. Shelton transferred and played closer to home at NAIA member Cardinal Stritch leading the team in scoring at 16.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in 2021-22 earning honorable mention All-Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference honors.
This past season he played at South Suburban CC with 27 double figure scoring games including four games with 30 or more points.
Shelton is the second player to join the Panthers roster for the 2023-24 season. The Panthers added guard Corey Sawyer Jr., (Cloud County CC) earlier this week.
