Eastern Illinois head coach
Marty Simmons has completed the Panthers roster for this season with the addition of transfer guard Jordan "Tiger" Booker. Booker comes to EIU after playing most recently at Tarleton State helping lead the team to a College Basketball Invitational (CBI) appearance.
Booker played in 29 games with one start last season at Tarleton State averaging 6.6 points per game. He scored in double figures seven times including an 11-point effort against nationally ranked Baylor and a season-high 20 points against Utah Tech. Booker led the team in free throw percentage at 82.5 percent and was second on the team in 3-point field goal percentage at 47.3 percent.
"Tiger provides us with a much needed veteran player at the guard position. His maturity and experience will be something that helps during the upcoming season," said Simmons. "He has worked hard this summer to put himself in a position to join our program and we are excited to welcome him to the EIU basketball family."
A Chicago native, Booker (5'10" / 190) played high school basketball at Bogan for the late legendary coach Arthur "Goodie" Goodwin. As a senior he helped lead Bogan to a runner-up finish in the IHSA 3A State Championship. Booker was named a third team All-State and second team All-City selection. He played AAU basketball for the Mac Irvin Fire during the summer of 2018.
He began his collegiate career playing at LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis alongside his brother Devin "Spark" Booker. Booker started 21 games as a freshman averaging 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists. He closed the season averaging 11.2 points per game in the final 13 games including scoring in double figures seven times.
Booker would play the 2020-21 COVID season at Odessa College helping the program advance to the NJCAA National Tournament. He averaged 10 points, 3.1 assists and 1.9 rebounds. Booker was named to the All-WJCAC first team that year.
He would transfer to play the next season at New Mexico Junior College averaging 16.7 points per game which included a 84.7 percent clip from the free throw line. He started 26 games adding 3.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Booker scored in double figures 25 times with seven 20+ point efforts. He helped the team win 19 games advancing to the semifinals of the NJCAA Region 5 Tournament. Booker was named a first-team All-WJCAC selection and All-Region 5 selection.
