Charlotte 49ers head men’s basketball coach Alan Major has announced the signing of 6-10, 250 lb. center Ilija Ivankovic of Split, Croatia. Ivankovic, a junior college transfer, spent this past season at Sante Fe College in Gainesville, Fla. He played the previous season at San Jacinto College. Ivankovic will have two years of eligibility with the 49ers.
A graduate of United Faith Christian Academy in Charlotte, Ivankovic averaged a 10 point; 10-rebound double-double for the Falcons.
“We are very excited to have Ilija join the Niner Basketball family,” said Major, who will begin his second year with the 49ers. “He will add to our depth in the post by bringing size, toughness, and a winning mentality.”
Ivankovic joins a five-man recruiting class that includes three fall signees and one other spring signee. Major signed 6-4, 185 lb. guard Terrence Williams (Charlotte, N.C./West Mecklenburg), 6-7; 200 lb. forward E. Victor Nickerson (Atlanta, Ga./Norcross) and 6-10, 240 lb. center Mike Thorne (Fayetteville, N.C./Trinity Christian) in the fall. Major also signed Pierria Henry (South Charleston, W. Va.), a 6-3; 185 lb. guard, last month.
With the signing of Ivankovic, the 49ers have bolstered their frontcourt, which returns leading rebounder Chris Braswell, the team’s Most Improved Player Award Winner, Javarris Barnett and athletic KJ Sherrill. Ivankovic joins newcomers Nickerson and Thorne in the frontcourt rotation while Williams and Henry will strengthen a backcourt which returns leading scorers Derrio Green and Jamar “Deuce” Briscoe as well as DeMario Mayfield and Luka Voncina, who sat out last season. The five-man recruiting class joins a unit that returns its top four scorers from a year ago.
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