Lights land third signee in 2020 recruiting class

Despite restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s still recruiting season for college basketball, and Montana State University-Northern head coach Shawn Huse has landed his third signee to the 2020 recruiting class.

Huse has announced the signing of Allen Sims of Lakeland Junior College in Kirkland, Ohio. He helped their school, located on the north end of Cleveland, to two remarkable seasons. Sims shot 54 percent from the floor, 42 percent from three, while averaging nine points per game and four rebounds per game.

“With his exceptional athleticism, hustle and shooting ability, he can play multiple spots on offense, and defend every position on the floor,” Huse said. “He is a smart, coachable player that continues to pick things up quick with each year he has played. A gym rat through and through, and with his length and jumping ability, he can play big or small in the half-court or full-court. He is a great-attitude type of guy that provides whatever a team asks of him.”

Lakeland won the 2020 and 2019 District Championship in his two years with the Lakers. They qualified for the NJCAA DII National Tournament that was canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak, and advanced to the NJCAA DII Quarterfinals last season. In the past two years, they won 48 games overall and 22 in conference play.

“Allen is a competitor, a total team player, and was a starter this year on a well-balanced squad that was full of talent,” added Huse. “He is a great guy both on and off the floor. Allen loves what MSU-Northern has to offer and is excited to come out here and help us be successful. And we are excited to land another student-athlete with that mentality. We look forward to watching him further enhance what our group of great guys are all about.”

Sims joins a Lights squad that finished 20-12 in 2019-2020. They won 8 out of their last 11 games and narrowly missed an at-large bid to the NAIA National Tournament. MSU-N advanced to the semi-final round of the Frontier Conference Tournament before falling 68-73 at eventual champion Lewis-Clark State.