Emmitsburg, Md. (April 16, 2021)—Mount St. Mary's men's basketball coach Dan Engelstad has announced the additions of Jalen Benjamin (Raleigh, N.C./Meadowcreek (Ga.)/UAB) and Jaylin Gibson (Evanston, Ill./Legacy of Sport Sciences (Texas) to this year's recruiting class.  They join Jediaël "Jedy" Cordilia (Tilburg, Netherlands/West Nottingham Academy (Md.)) and Dola Adebayo (Forward, Ocala, Fla./Canterbury School) who signed with the Mount in November.

"To have sustained success, it is vital to put together multiple good recruiting classes," said Engelstad.  "We are thrilled with the incoming talent in this class to help build upon last year's championship season.  Although not complete yet, this class will provide offensive skill as well as defensive versatility added by length and athleticism.  We are excited to see this class gel with our returnees."
 
Jalen Benjamin, 5-10, 160, Raleigh, N.C./Meadowcreek (Ga.)/UAB
Benjamin transfers to the Mount after playing the past two seasons at UAB.  The 5-10 guard averaged 10.6 points and 1.6 assists while starting 29 of 60 career games at UAB, tallying 637 points over his first two collegiate seasons.  This past year, Benjamin averaged 9.2 points while connecting on 54-of-164 (.329) from three-point range.  He has scored in double figures 32 times in his career and has five games with 20 or more points.  Benjamin made his first collegiate start against Mount St. Mary's on November 20, 2019, and finished with 14 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:45 remaining.

"Jalen is somebody we've had a chance to scout and compete against," said Engelstad.  "When we faced him at UAB, we saw a fearless scorer, a guy who can create offense and push tempo, and make big shots in important moments.  He plays with a smile on his face and can get it going in a hurry.  Jalen should thrive in our ballscreen offense while also having the quickness and toughness to guard at an elite level."
 
Jaylin Gibson, 6-3, 190, Evanston, Ill./Legacy of Sport Sciences (Texas)
Gibson played his senior year at the Legacy of Sport Sciences in Texas after playing his first three years at Evanston High School.  At Evanston, he helped lead the team to a 61-9 combined record in his sophomore and junior seasons.  He averaged 12.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.9 steals as a junior for Evanston, shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 32.0 percent from three-point range.  He tallied 780 career points over his three seasons.

"Jaylin's greatest attribute is his competitiveness," noted Engelstad.  "It is well known that he is a fierce competitor who hates to lose.  He has a body that is ready for Division I basketball on day one. His length and athleticism should provide great versatility on the defensive end with the ability to guard multiple positions.  He has great court vision and loves to create for others in addition to his ability to score."
 
Jediaël "Jedy" Cordilia, 6-9, 210, Tilburg, Netherlands/West Nottingham Academy (Md.)
Cordilia averaged 15 points, 12 rebounds and a pair of blocks for West Nottingham Academy in his junior season.
 
"Jedy is someone we had targeted early in the recruiting process when we saw him at our Elite Camp," said Engelstad.  "The things that stood out to us was his ability to run the floor, his great hands, a soft touch, and an ability to put the ball on the floor and create for himself and others.  He has a nice shot that can stretch the defense in addition to his ability defend and rebound the ball."
 
Dola Adebayo, 6-8, 185, Forward, Ocala, Fla./Canterbury School
Adebayo averaged 14.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks while shooting 55 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range this past season at the Canterbury School.
 
"Dola is just starting to scratch the surface of what he can do on a basketball court," said Engelstad.  "He can protect the rim, get out in transition and shoot the ball from the perimeter.  He has great length and size, and with added strength, we believe he will excel in our program.  He fits in great with our defensive philosophy as he can guard multiple positions in addition to protecting the rim."
 
Mount St. Mary's won the Northeast Conference championship this year, downing Wagner and Bryant on the road to earn the title.  The Mount finished with its first winning season and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017.  The Mountaineers have won six NEC titles, including a league-best three over the past eight seasons.