Ramblers Add Three Highly Regarded Guards To 2022-23 Squad
Head coach Drew Valentine adds Jayden Dawson, Trey Lewis and Jalen Quinn to fold next year
 
CHICAGO (November 10, 2021) – Loyola University Chicago announced today the signing of three highly regarded individuals to National Letters of Intent to play for the men's basketball program beginning with the 2022-23 season. Joining the Ramblers family next fall will be guards Jayden Dawson, Trey Lewis and Jalen Quinn, all of whom are three-star recruits according to 247Sports and ranked in the top 50 nationally at their respective positions.
 
"Our staff is really excited about how this recruiting class is shaping up," first-year Loyola head coach Drew Valentine said. "All three of these young men have a chance to be special in our culture and style of play. We have built our program on guys that want to be here for the right reasons and they are all high-character individuals who come from great families. Today is a HUGE day for the future of Loyola Basketball!"
 
Jayden Dawson, 6-4, Guard, Omaha, Neb. (Omaha Central)
Second Omaha native in as many years to commit to Loyola, joining current Ramblers freshman forward Saint Thomas … Three-star recruit according to 247Sports … Possesses a 6-foot-8-inch wingspan … During his junior season, helped Omaha Central High School to a 20-6 overall record by averaging 14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, which was a huge jump from his 6.2 ppg average as a sophomore … Connected on 49 percent of his field goal tries and 44 percent of his three-point attempts in 2020-21 … Combo guard plays for Nebraska Supreme.
 
Valentine on Dawson: "Jay is a very dynamic and talented athlete that has the skill set to match. He is ultra-efficient as a scorer with a smooth stroke and range as a shooter. Jayden is shifty and slippery as a ball handler and also possesses good length, with the potential to be a very good two-way player. We love how much he cares about developing his game and how much he cares about winning. He comes from a basketball family and is a true hoops junkie who will fit right in with our culture!"
 
Dawson on Loyola: "Loyola felt like home the moment I stepped foot on campus. The family environment, culture and amount of love that was shown by the coaching staff and team right from the start made Loyola the perfect place for me."
 
Trey Lewis, 6-6, 200, Guard, Ferndale, Mich. (Ferndale)
High-scoring guard is a four-year varsity starter at Ferndale High School, where he averaged 21 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists per game in 2020-21 … A three-star recruit according to 247Sports, he is the No. 2 rated player in the state of Michigan … First team all-league, first team all-region and second team all-state honoree … Poured in a career-best 50 points last season in a victory against eventual Division 4 state champion Detroit Douglass Academy …. Helped Ferndale to three district championships in his career, reaching the state semifinals last season … Produced 24 ppg as a sophomore … Has a 7-foot wingspan.
 
Valentine on Lewis: "Trey is a versatile scorer with elite length. He can shoot it with deep range off of the catch and dribble and has a pure stroke. Trey comes from one of the best high school programs in the state of Michigan and has been pushed and taught to compete aggressively on the defensive end, which should help him grow into a two-way wing in The Valley. We are excited about his potential and think he has a bright future in our program."
 
Lewis on Loyola: "I chose Loyola because I was able to quickly build a rapport and trust with the coaching staff and from my conversations with Coach Valentine, it became readily apparent that they value academics as much as athletics."
 
Jalen Quinn, 6-3, 185, Guard, Tuscola, Ill. (Tuscola)
One of the top prospects in the state of Illinois, he accounted for 24.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game during his junior campaign in 2020-21 … Three-star recruit according to 247Sports … Earned Herald-Review Area Boys Player of the Year honors as a junior … Helped the Illinois Wolves to an Under Armour Association championship last summer … Tremendous all-around athlete, he also played football and baseball at Tuscola High School.
 
Valentine on Quinn: "Jalen is a WINNER. He possesses so many intangibles that fit exactly what has made our culture and style of play special. He is a big guard with a tight handle and high basketball IQ. Jalen does a great job of seeing the floor and can whip passes with either hand. He competes defensively and has the toughness to be a versatile defender in our system. Jalen has been extremely well coached in high school and AAU and that will only help him as he makes his transition to our program."
 
Quinn on Loyola: "I chose Loyola because of the established culture that is already in place there and the relationship I developed with the coaches was great. Overall, I felt like Loyola was the best fit for me and had the best overall plan for me to be successful."
 
Loyola, which pasted Coppin State, 103-45, last night in its 2021-22 season opener, is coming off a 26-5 season in 2020-21, when it won both the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament championships, reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, and finished the year ranked No. 12 in the final Coaches Top 25 Poll.