Sumlin expected to sign this week

The Kent State men’s basketball program is expected to officially sign point guard Jamal Sumlin this week.  Sumlin played last season at Northwest Florida State Junior College.  He helped lead the Raiders to the NJCAA Division I Quarterfinals.  Sumlin averaged 10.2 points per game, 4.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists.  For his efforts, Sumlin was named the Panhandle Conference Player of the Year. Sumlin is ranked the #75 JUCO recruit in the nation by JucoRecruiting.com.

The 6-2, 185 pound Cleveland native spent a redshirt freshman season at UTEP.  Cleveland native Earl Boykins is on staff at UTEP.  Boykins is a former NBA player, MAC legend at Eastern Michigan and played at Cleveland Central Catholic.  

Coming out of Rhodes High School in Cleveland, Sumlin was a dual sport standout, while helping the Rhodes football program to their first ever OHSAA playoff appearance, while excelling on defense.  On the basketball floor at Rhodes, he was Second Team All-Ohio in Division I after averaging 23.5 points per game, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists as a senior.  

Sumlin spent his junior year at YPSI Prep in Ypsilanti, Michigan, playing a national schedule, after the Cleveland Senate 2020-2021 season was cancelled due to the pandemic.

When Sumlin initially committed to UTEP out of high school he described his game as “going for loose balls, taking charges, doing the little things people don’t want to do,” he said. “I would also say a leader. I try to make everybody look good, so nobody feels left out.”

On the court, Sumlin is a pure point guard who loves to get up and guard.  Defensively, he has the ability to put ball pressure on another team’s lead guard.  He also has the strength to not get muscled in guard back down situations.

Offensively, he hits the open man and gets to the basket to make plays for himself and others.  In transition he can shine, using his speed to get out and run, but he’s also very good at making the advance pass to ignite the break.  He’s another guard however, who struggled from deep.  At just 21.8% from the three point line, teams played off him at times and dared him to shoot it.  He made some big ones to keep teams somewhat honest, but will have to work at KSU to become a threat.      

He is expected to compete for point guard minutes with new signee Cian Medley, the transfer from Saint Louis.  Kent State fans should be excited because Sumlin is tough, competitive, has a defensive skill set and disposition that should allow him to be a difference maker.  He’s in the same mold of a lot of successful Kent State guards of the past.  

A UTEP recruit out of high school, he has the talent to be an impact player in the Mid-American Conference.  

Kent State has rebuilt their backcourt this offseason with the recent signings of Marquis Barnett (Presbyterian), Cian Medley (Saint Louis) along with Morgan Safford (Miami OH) and Jonas Nichols (Archbishop Hoban HS).  The expected addition of Sumlin to go along with returners Mike Bekejla and Brenden Moss give the Flashes a nice blend of size, versatility, defensive muscle and play making ability.