Dorion Staples Transfers To Play Basketball at SIUE

A versatile 6-foot-7-inch forward from Fredericksburg, VA, Staples comes to SIUE from Moberly Area Community College in Moberly, Missouri. Moberly won the NJCAA Region XII Tournament this past season, securing a place in the NJCAA Division I national tournament. Staples averaged 7.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and connected on 59.1 percent of his field goal attempts.

As a freshman in 2020-21, Staples played at Alleghany Community College in Maryland, where he averaged 11.4 points, and 8.3 rebounds for the Trojans.

"I'm so excited to come to SIUE," said Staples. "I get to come in and play with a group of great guys and great coaches. Coach Barone gave me the opportunity to play at the next level. I feel blessed. My three goals this year are to be a great leader, great teammate and win an Ohio Valley Conference championship. I'm grateful to say SIUE will be my new home for three years."

"We're happy to be able to add someone like Dorion, both as a player and person to represent our program," Barone said. "Dorion is a versatile forward with a great skillset. He comes from a successful program in Moberly Area Community College. Adding Dorion to our front court will make us extremely dynamic on both the offensive and defensive end. He is skilled on the perimeter and the interior which will fit well into our system."

"I just think it's a great fit with Dorian Staples going to SIUE," said Moberly Area Community College Head Coach Pat Smith. "He is a versatile big man who was so key to

Moberly winning 28 games and playing in the national tournament. His improvement was tremendous and led to him posting double doubles at the end of the season. He is a great person who will be a true asset to the entire college campus."

Staples joins recent signees Damarco Minor and Jalen Hodge in Barone's 2022 recruiting class.