FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (April 19, 2018) – The Northern Arizona men's basketball team has added a third junior college transfer during the late signing period as Jonathan (Bernie) Andre has committed to join the Lumberjacks for the 2018-19 season, NAU head coach
Jack Murphy announced on Thursday.
"Bernie is a multi-facted player," Murphy said. "I think of him as a Swiss Army knife on the court that can play positions one through four. He can really create matchup problems offensively and defensively, he can guard bigger players with his strength, size and skill. We are really excited to add a player of Bernie's caliber and along with the winning culture he has experienced playing with coach Lawton Williams III at Miami Norland, which is an amazing high school program as well as with coach John Meeks at Wallace State."
Andre, a 6'7" forward, played last season at Wallace State (Ala.) and averaged 12.9 points per game, while shooting a 45.9 clip from the field and adding 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He rang up double-digit points in 19 of the 28 games in which he saw action for Wallace State.
Andre was also a factor on the glass, pulling down five or more rebounds in 20 games, including a 10 contests with at least seven boards. He started all 28 games he appeared in during his freshman collegiate season.
The North Miami Beach, Fla., native played one season for the Lions after redshirting during the 2016-17 season at Mercy College (Nev.). Andre will enter the NAU program as a sophomore and have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
During his prep career, Andre competed for Miami Norland, one of the top high school basketball programs in the state of Florida. He helped lead the Vikings to the 2014-15 Florida Class 6A State Championship and a 23-8 overall record. Andre also played at Combine Academy in Lincolnton, N.C., one of the top prep programs in the nation.
"We are pumped to sign Bernie," NAU assistant coach
Wes Pifer said. "Bernie has a unique skill set to almost anyone in our league. He can dribble, pass and shoot. We feel that he can play any of four positions on the floor at any time. He has been well coached at Miami Norland in high school and held accountable at Wallace State, two championship caliber programs. We are excited to add Bernie and have him in Flagstaff for the next three seasons."
Andre joins fellow junior college transfers Davon Bolton (Eastern Arizona College) and Ted McCree (Gillette College, Wy.), along with incoming freshmen Keith Haymon (Cypress, Texas) and Cameron Shelton (La Verne, Calif.) in NAU's 2018-19 signing class.
