Bears sign 2 JC guards on opening spring signing day

The University of Central Arkansas Bears added a pair of junior college guards on the first day of the spring signing period Wednesday.

Ryan Daniels of Olney (Ill.) Central Community College and Chris Poellnitz of Iowa Western Community College will join the Bears in the fall.

Daniels is a 6-foot, 175-pound guard originally from Albuquerque, N.M. who averaged 10.7 points and five assists last year at Olney. His team went 20-10 last season. He was at Drake two years ago when the Bulldogs won the Missouri Valley Conference championship and made the NCAA tournament.

As a senior at Lacueva High School in Albuquerque, Daniels averaged 18 points and four assists and led his team to the state quarterfinals. His team finished second in the state his junior season.

"Ryan is a true point guard,' said UCA coach Rand Chappell.

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"He's been in winning programs his entire career and he's been very successful. I think he's going to be a great leader for us. He's quick, strong and runs the team well, and he can also make open shots and create plays for other people.

"He's been a 3.8 student in the classroom this year, so he's just a very solid guy all the way around to bring into our program.'

Poellnitz, rated the No. 25 juco player in the nation by ESPN heading into last season, is a 6-3, 200-pound guard who averaged 15.7 points and shot 54 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3-point range as a freshman at Iowa Western. He was named second-team all-region. He battled injuries as a sophomore and played in only 15 games last season.

Poellnitz attended The Patterson School, a noted prep school in North Carolina, for two years before going to Iowa Western in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

"Chris is a very strong, aggressive wing player who can really score the ball,' Chappell said, "and also passes the ball well and makes people around him better. He's played against some of the best competition in the country. And if not for his injuries this year, he was probably rated to be a Big 12-level player.

"We feel very fortunate to have gotten him.'

The Bears, who will be in their last year of transition to NCAA Division I next season, will be replacing senior centers Brian Marks and Landrell Brewer, and junior guard Brooks Taylor, who is set to transfer.

"I think today is a really big day for UCA basketball,' said Chappell. "I think we got better today. We're bringing in two junior college guards who have played a high level of competition and that have been on winning teams and had success.

"Having been around them both in the recruiting process, I feel like they are hungry to come in here and make an impact on our program and get us where we want to be.'