Men's Basketball 8/11/2025 2:52:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Men's Basketball Signs Four Junior College Standouts

DETROIT -- Wayne State University head men's basketball coach Bryan Smothers, who begins his fourth season leading the Warriors this fall, has signed four junior college transfers for the upcoming 2025-26 season. Wearing the Green and Gold this fall will be junior guard Devin Belle (Lyndhurst, Ohio / Pepper Pike Orange [Lincoln Trail C.C. / Lakeland C.C.]), sophomore guard Jalen Jenkins (Belleville, Mich. [Macomb C.C.]), junior forward Jotham Nweke (Oak Park, Mich. / Detroit Loyola [Macomb C.C.]), and junior forward Marshall Thorn (Canton, Mich. / Plymouth [Schoolcraft C.C.]).

Devin Belle, G, 6-2, 200, Jr., Lyndhurst, Ohio / Pepper Pike Orange (Lincoln Trail C.C. / Lakeland C.C.)

2024-25:  Started all 27 games played for Lakeland Community College ... selected to the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) First Team ... averaged nearly 34 minutes per contest for the 19-8 Lakers ... ranked second in the OCCAC in scoring at 24.1 points per game ... shot 51 percent (247-of-488) from the floor, including 33 percent (49-of-147) from three-point range ... connected on 75 percent (107-of-143) of his foul shot attempts to rank sixth in the conference ... totaled 161 rebounds (45-116), 49 assists, 31 steals and 13 blocks in 909 minutes of action ... scored in double figures in 26 games, including a career-high 50 points in a 140-77 win at Lorain County Community College (LCCC) on 22-of-31 from the field, including three triples and three free throws ... scored at least 25 points in 12 contests ... twice had double figure rebound totals including a season-best 12 boards (3-9) in victory over Alpena C.C. ... grabbed 10 defensive rebounds in triumph over Hocking College ... dished out a season-high five assists in playoff win at Clark State College ... recorded season-best totals of four steals and three blocks in win at LCCC.

2023-24:  Started 14 of 30 games played for Lincoln Trail (Community) College in Robinson, Ill. ... scored 292 points on 41 percent shooting (111-of-274) from the floor, including 31 percent (32-of-104) from beyond the arc ... made 38-of-49 foul shots (78 percent) ... totaled 76 rebounds (12-64), 48 assists, 11 steals and 10 blocks ... scored in double figures 13 times, including a season-best 19 points on three occasions (January 13 at Wabash Valley College, February 13 at Greenville JV, and March 9 at Kaskaskia College) ... connected on a season-high three triples twice (November 25 at Southeastern Community College and January 27 vs. Lakeland College) ... notched season-best marks of 10 rebounds (1-9) and 10 assists in the 133-58 triumph over Greenville University.

High School:  A 2023 graduate of Orange High School in Pepper Pike, Ohio ... also attended Lutheran East High School for one year (2021-22) ... was a four-year varsity letterwinner between the two prep schools ... averaged nearly 24 points and five rebounds per game as a senior ... tallied 23 points in a 2022 win over top-seeded Norwayne ... totaled 14 points in a district final triumph over Smithville.

Personal:  Full name -- Devin A, Belle ... born on June 24, 2005, in Lyndhurst, Ohio ... son of Mark Belle and Josie George ... father played basketball at Dickinson (N.D.) State, an NAIA school ... has an older brother, Mark, and an older sister, Bri ... plans to major in Sport Management.

Coach Smothers on Devin Belle: "We have really high expectations for what Devin can bring to our program. He was one of the best scorers in all of the NJCAA last season. His work ethic and desire to be great was proven during the recruiting process. I look forward to coaching him and developing his game further."

Jalen Jenkins, G, 6-2, 175, So., Belleville, Mich. / Belleville (Macomb C.C.)
2024-25:  Started 26 of the 34 games played for Macomb Community College, helping the Monarchs to a 30-6 record, and a fifth-place finish at the NJCAA national tournament ... played for coach Christopher Burns ... selected to the All-MCCAA (Michigan Community College Athletic Association) Eastern Conference Honorable Mention Team ... averaged 6.7 points, 4.0 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game ... scored in double figures seven times, including a season-high 17 points vs. Hocking College (12/17) on a season-best 6-of-9 field goals, 2-of-3 3-pointers, and 3-of-4 from the foul line ... dished out at least four assists in a contest 17 times, with a season-best nine helpers vs. Fanshawe (12/29) ... grabbed a season-best eight rebounds twice (11/6 at Glen Oaks, and 1/3 vs. South Suburban) ... posted a 2.49 to 1.0 assist to turnover ratio ... received Academic All-MCCAA recognition.

High School:  A 2024 graduate of Belleville High School ... was a four-year varsity letterwinner for coach Adam Trumpour ... helped lead the Tigers to a 65-27 record during his four seasons on varsity, including nine post-season victories ... averaged 15 points, six assists and five rebounds per contest as a senior ... was a two-year team captain ... selected to the BCAM All-Academic Team his last two seasons ... plays during the summer for the Michigan Warriors and coach Mohammad Baiz.

Personal:  Full name -- Jalen M. Jenkins ... born on May 21, 2006, in Dearborn, Mich. ... son of Stewart Jenkins and Danielle Hurst ... has two older brothers, Michael and Marcus, and one sister, Michelle ... plans to major in Pre-Med.

Coach Smothers on Jalen Jenkins: "Jalen is someone who we had recruited for a few years, so when the opportunity to add him was available, we took advantage. He brings good size to the point guard position and adds a defensive presence that we are thrilled about."

Jotham Nweke, F, 6-7, 208, Jr., Oak Park, Mich. /Detroit Loyola (Macomb C.C.)
2024-25:  Started 34 of 35 games played for Macomb Community College ... earned Second Team All-MCCAA honors ... named to the MCCAA All-Defensive Team ... averaged 13.2 points per contest ... totaled 250 rebounds (7.1 per outing) ... shot 41 percent (43-of-106) from three-point range and 46 percent (175-of-383) from the floor ... connected on 69-of-95 free throws (73 percent) ... averaged over 28 minutes per contest ... scored in double figures 25 times, including a season-best 26 points vs. Howard Community College on March 21 (on a season-high 10 field goals made) ... tallied at least 20 points in seven contests ... finished the year with 65 assists, 37 blocks and 27 steals ... connected on a season-best five triples vs. Mott C.C. on Feb. 13 ... grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds at Jackson College on Feb. 1 ... dished out a season-best seven assists vs. Owens C.C. at Dec. 18 ... notched four steals at Kalamazoo Valley C.C. on March 1 ... blocked a season-best four shots vs. Montgomery College on Nov. 23 ... earned Academic All-MCCAA recognition ... helped the Monarchs to a 61-10 record over his two seasons, and a fifth-place finish at the 2025 NJCAA Tournament.

2023-24:  Played in 36 games for the Macomb Community College Monarchs, starting 11 contests ... selected to both the All-MCCAA Eastern Conference Honorable Mention team and the Eastern Conference All-Freshman Team ... averaged 8.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest ... totaled 31 assists, 31 blocks and 20 steals ... shot 55 percent (118-of-215) from the field ... scored in double figures 13 times, with a season-high 18 points on Dec. 2 vs. Jamestown C.C. ... also had season-best totals of seven blocks and three steals against JCC ... grabbed a season-high seven rebounds twice (Jan. 27 vs. Oakland C.C. and Feb. 10 vs. Henry Ford C.C.) ... dished out a season-best four assists on Feb. 10 against HFCC.

High School:  A 2023 graduate of Detroit Loyola High School ... was a two-year letterwinner for coach Dennis Morey ... earned All-Catholic League honors ... named Honorable Mention All-State as a senior by both the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press ... received Detroit Free Press All-Area accolades in both 2022 and 2023 ... attended Loyola for three years and Berkley for one year.

Personal:  Full name -- Jotham Nweke ... born on June 17, 2025, in Oak Park, Mich. ... son of Josiah and Monica Nweke ... has a younger brother, Royal, and two sisters, Charis and Blessing ... name is pronounced JOE-thum NO-weck-ee ... plans to major in Finance.

Coach Smothers on Jotham Nweke: "Jo is an extremely athletic player who has the size and talent we wanted to add to our perimeter. He is a two-way player that will make an immediate impact in our program. He and Jalen both had great coaching at Macomb C.C."

Marshall Thorn, F, 6-7, 210, Jr., Canton, Mich. / Plymouth (Schoolcraft C.C.)
2024-25:  Played in 27 games for Schoolcraft (Community) College, starting 26 times for the Ocelots and head coach E.J. Haralson, a former WSU assistant coach and interim head coach ... named to the Region XII Division II All-Region Team, after receiving All-MCCAA (Michigan Community College Athletic Association) accolades, including First Team All-Eastern Conference ... selected MCCAA Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year ... shot 54 percent (125-of-232) from the floor and 43 percent (50-of-116) from the charity stripe in scoring 300 points ... grabbed 255 rebounds (94 offensive, 161 defensive), while blocking 33 shots ... dished out 29 assists and had 17 steals ... scored in double figures 16 times, including a season-high 22 points in a 78-60 victory at Oakland Community College (Feb. 15) ... made a season-best 10 field goals (in 12 attempts) in that game against OCC ... connected on a season-high seven foul shots (in 11 attempts) in a triumph at Jackson College (Feb. 22) ... had a double-digit rebound total in 14 contests, including a season-best 18 boards in the aforementioned game at JC.

2023-24:  Appeared in 29 games for SC, making 23 starts ... shot 53 percent (85-of-160) from the field and 49 percent (31-of-63) at the free throw line in scoring 201 points ... totaled 155 rebounds (73 offensive, 82 defensive), while blocking 11 shots ... credited with 10 assists and 13 steals ... scored in double figures eight times, including a season-high 20 points in a 76-57 win at OCC (Jan. 24) ... was 7-of-9 field goals and 6-of-9 at the charity stripe against OCC ... made a season-best eight field goals in a 70-63 victory at Grand Rapids C.C. (Dec. 2) ... recorded four games with double-digit rebounding totals, including twice grabbing 12 boards (Dec. 15 at Muskegon CC and Jan. 20 vs. Wayne County CC).

High School:  A 2023 graduate of Plymouth High School ... was a two-year letterwinner for coach Andrew Meeuwsen ... scored 50 points and grabbed 69 rebounds as a senior for the Wildcats, while contributing 14 blocked shots, 11 assists and six steals.

Personal:  Full name -- Marshall C. Thorn ... born on June 23, 2005, in Detroit ... son of Charles and Kelli Thorn ... has an older brother, Charles, and a younger sister, Saniah ... plans to major in Exercise Science.

Coach Smothers on Marshall Thorn: "We are really excited to add Marshall to our program. He is still fairly new to playing basketball so he's just scratching the surface for how good he can be. He provides athleticism and rim protection that we haven't had thus far. He's improved so much over two seasons at Schoolcraft C.C. with coach EJ Haralson."

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#24 Devin Belle: G; 6' 4"; Junior

#3 Jotham Nweke: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#22 Marshall Thorn: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#5 Jalen Jenkins: G; 6' 3"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#24 Devin Belle
: 6' 4"; Junior
: G

#3 Jotham Nweke
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#22 Marshall Thorn
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#5 Jalen Jenkins
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: G