McKendree University men's basketball coach George Suggs has announced the addition to two NCAA Division II transfers to his team's roster for the 2022-23 season.
Suggs, who is entering his second season as the Bearcats head coach in 2022-23, has added 6-foot-7 forward Hayden Meakes from Adams State University and 6-foot-7 guard/forward Caleb Zurliene from Purdue Northwest.
Both Meakes, who is originally from Adelaide, Australia, and Zurliene, who is originally from Mater Dei High School in Bresse, Ill., will have three years of eligibility remaining at McKendree.
Meakes comes to the Bearcats after playing in 27 games over the last two seasons at Adams State, which is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. In his time with the Grizzlies, Meakes played in 27 games and made three starts, including playing in 11 games and making two starts in 2021-22. This past season, he averaged 9.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game and shot 56 percent from the field and 41 percent from the 3-point line and 84 percent at the free throw line. He scored in double figures in six games, including a career-high 14 points against both Spurgeon and Colorado State-Pueblo. He also had four or more rebounds in a game five times. As a freshman in 2020-21, he played in 16 games and made one start and averaged 3.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 8.0 minutes per game. He shot nearly 49 percent from the field and tallied a season-high 10 points against Regis.
"Hayden is going to be a tremendous addition to our team. He has tremendous skill at his size and will be a great fit in our system," said Suggs about Meakes. "We are excited to welcome him to Lebanon and he will hit the ground running."
Meakes, who prepped at Sacred Heart High School in Adelaide, Australia, is excited to continue his college basketball at McKendree University.
"I am excited and grateful to be able to come to McKendree and continue by college basketball career. I believe that McKendree offers an opportunity of a winning culture and a coaching staff that wants the best out of their players," Meakes said. "I can't wait to meets the boys and get to work with them."
Zurliene, who is a native of Aviston, Ill., comes to the Bearcats after spending the past two seasons playing at Purdue Northwest, which is a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). In his time with the Pride, Zurliene played in 33 games and made 28 starts, including playing in all 28 games and making 25 starts in 2021-22. He scored 282 points in two seasons and averaged 8.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals per game and was named the 2021-22 GLIAC All-Defensive Team. This past season, he tallied 13 double-digit scoring games, including a career-high 18 points against Saginaw Valley and scored 26 points and had nine rebounds in the Pride's first two games of the season against two Great Lakes Valley Conference foes – William Jewell and Rockhurst. He also recorded two double-doubles as he had 10 points and 10 rebounds at Lake Superior State and had 16 points and 13 rebounds against Northern Michigan. Pulled down six or more rebounds in a game 17 times and blocked a GLIAC-high tying 47 shots in 28 games, including five blocks against Ferris State. Shot 56 percent from the field, 41 percent from the 3-point line and 73 percent from the free throw line.
"We are so excited to welcome Caleb home to McKendree. He has all the attributes of a great basketball player, but is also a high-character person," Suggs said about Zurliene. "He values playing the right way and will be an incredible fit here at McKendree."
Zurliene, who was an Illinois Class 2-A All-State selection as a senior at Mater Dei Catholic, is excited to be coming home and playing for the Bearcats.
"McKendree feels like home. Everyone has the same goal in mind and wants to help you become a better player and person," Zurliene said. "Being a local guy, the culture here is well known, and I can't wait to be a part of it."
Suggs indicated that he and his coaching staff is still in the process of recruiting and signing several other players to his roster for next season.
The Bearcats finished the 2021-22 season with a 14-12 overall record and a finished seventh in the GLVC with a 9-11 record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the GLVC Tournament where they fell 68-50 to No. 2 seeded Lewis University at First Community Arena on the campus of SIU-Edwardsville.
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