Wichita State head coach Isaac Brown made an early splash in spring recruiting, announcing the addition of transfers Quincy Ballard (Florida State), Xavier Bell (Drexel) and James Rojas (Alabama) to the 2022-23 men's basketball roster.


 
A former JUCO All-American at nearby Hutchinson Community College, the 6-foot-8 Rojas returns to the Sunflower State for his final season of eligibility after three years at Alabama.
 
"James is an experienced forward who has played in back-to-back NCAA tournaments," Brown said. "I love his toughness. He's a hard-nosed kid who can rebound, defend and score it in a lot of different ways."
 
Rojas' time in Tuscaloosa was marked by both highs (an SEC title and a Sweet 16 trip) and lows (two serious knee injuries). The latter cost him the first half of the 2021-22 season, but Rojas returned in mid-January to help lead the Tide back to the Dance, averaging 5.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 13.5 minutes over the final 17 games.


 
Bell – a 6-3 guard from Wichita – returns to play for his hometown team after two seasons at Drexel. He was the team's second-leading scorer in 2021-22 (11.0 points and 49 percent shooting) building on a breakout performance in the 2021 postseason when he helped spark the Dragons to the CAA tournament title and an NCAA berth.
 
"Xavier adds another experienced and accomplished guard to our rotation," Brown said. "He's a good offensive player who shoots it at a high percentage, and he's a tough defender, as well. We're excited to have him on the team, and I know he's excited to be back home."
 
Prior to Drexel, Bell starred on both the hardwood and gridiron for Andover Central High School, earning all-state honors and leading the Jaguars to state title games in both sports. He's also a legacy Shocker (father, Wayne, played football at WSU from 1984-86).


 
Ballard – a 7-foot center from Syracuse, N.Y. – has three seasons of eligibility remaining. He spent the past two at Florida State where he appeared in 36 games and helped the Seminoles to a Sweet 16 in 2021.
 
"With so many offenses built around dribble penetration, it's more important than ever to have a good defensive presence in the paint. Quincy gives us that rim protector."
 
The raw, yet talented Ballard played limited minutes in a Seminole front court that included three other 7-footers, but he made the most of his opportunities, shooting 70.8% from the field while blocking an average of 4.6 shots-per-40-minutes.
 
"I love the way he runs the floor and finishes around the rim. We're looking forward to working with him over the next three years and continuing to expand his game."