KALAMAZOO, Mich. – In his first season as head coach of the Western Michigan men's basketball program Clayton Bates signed a top five recruiting class in the Mid-American Conference according to 247Sports and Rivals.

The 2020-21 Bronco basketball recruiting class features guards Jaylon Holmes, Josiah "JoJo" Freeman, Daylan Hamilton and forward graduate transfer Greg Lee.

The recruiting class assembled by Bates and coaching staff ranks fourth in the MAC according to 247Sports.com. The 247Sports ranking also has the Broncos as the top recruiting class in the MAC West.  According to Rivals.com, WMU also has the fourth best recruiting class in the conference.

Listen below as head coach Clayton Bates and "voice of the Broncos" Robin Hook discuss the Bronco recruiting class and the state of WMU Men's Basketball


An in-depth look at the top five recruiting class in the MAC is below:

Daylan Hamilton • 6-3 • Guard • Klein Forest High School
Averaged 26 points per game during his final prep season and was named Texas Association of Basketball Coaches' Class 6A First Team All-State. Hamilton was also named District 15-6A Most Valuable Player and All-Region.

Coach Bates on Hamilton:
"We are extremely excited to add Daylan to the Bronco Basketball family. Daylan is an athletic scoring guard that comes from a winning high school program at Klein Forest. He has exceptional athleticism and is a fierce competitor. Daylan has a very high ceiling to grow, an exceptional work ethic and will represent our university in a first class manner."


 
Josiah "JoJo" Freeman • 6-4 • Guard • Paul VI Catholic / Manassas Park High School
In nine games with Paul VI Catholic during his senior campaign, Freeman averaged 14.9 points per game and shot 47 percent from the field and 47 percent from behind the three-point line.  Freeman was a 71 percent shooter from the free-throw line as well. Freeman transferred mid-season to Manassas Park High School where he led the
Cougars to the Class 3 Regional semifinals.

Coach Bates on Freeman:
"We are extremely excited to welcome Josiah to the Bronco Basketball family. "JoJo" has great size, can shoot the ball with range, and brings needed versatility to our roster. JoJo loves to compete and has an outstanding work ethic. We are looking forward to welcoming him to Kalamazoo and Western Michigan University this summer!"



Jaylon Holmes • 6-5 • Guard • Lincoln Trail College
Holmes played the last two seasons at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Illinois and played and started in 35 games. In his first season at Lincoln Trail Holmes guided the team to an overall record of 18-12 while averaging 9.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. In 27 games Holmes also shot 46.6 percent from the field and averaged 3.4 assists per contest.

Coach Bates on Holmes:
"We are extremely excited to welcome Jaylon to the Bronco Basketball family. Jaylon's greatest strength is his versatility. He brings great size at 6'6" to our perimeter attack as he can play multiple positions. Jaylon has great court vision and plays with a desire to be his best. He grew tremendously from outstanding coaching at Lincoln Trail College and we are excited about him being a Bronco!"


 
Greg Lee • 6-9 • Forward • CSU Bakersfield
Last season at CSU Bakersfield Lee played in 30 games, making 21 starts and averaged 6.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. The 6-9 forward ranked third on CSU Bakersfield with 11 blocks and ranked fourth with 20 steals. Lee shot 43 percent from the field last season and knocked down 16 three-pointers.

Coach Bates on Lee:
"We are excited to welcome Greg to the Bronco Basketball family. Greg brings experience, toughness and a proven work ethic to our program. Greg can play multiple positions and brings a skill set that is needed and fits extremely well to our system. Greg is driven to be his best and we are eager to welcome him to Kalamazoo and Western Michigan University."