Junior college transfers prepare to play Big 12 basketball

Lance Jeter and Quincy Hankins-Cole insist coming to Nebraska together was never the plan from the beginning, but at this point they couldn't be happier with how things turned out.

The junior college transfers were teammates at Polk Community College in Florida.

When Jeter went on his official visit to Lincoln during spring break, Hankins-Cole tagged along.

Both had a chance to stay close to home and play at South Florida and had other offers elsewhere, but a chance to play basketball in the Big 12 conference was just too good to pass up.

"Why not play with the best?" Jeter said. "And once I found out Quincy committed, it made things a lot easier."

The rapport they've build over the past two years at Polk could pay big dividends for the Cornhuskers this season.

"It's a pretty good advantage on and off the court," Hankins-Cole said. "Off the court, I have someone I've known for two years. On the court, I'm playing with a point guard I've known for two years.

"We see eye-to-eye on the court, we know where we are," he said. "On the court, he's like my best friend."

Hankins-Cole, a 6-foot-8 power forward, might be just the solution for the height-depleted Huskers and has a strong shot at starting right away this season.

"Right now, I'm not even worried about that," he said. "I'm just going to get into the weight room, get on the court and get better. Only time will tell, but if my game is on point I hopefully shouldn't have any problems starting."

The 6-foot-8 power forward averaged 15.8 points per game last season, but NU will benefit most from his rebounding prowess – Hankins-Cole brought in just over 12 rebounds a game for Polk.

The addition of two true power forwards in Hankins-Cole and 6-foot-9 freshman Brandon Ubel will be a big height upgrade for an NU frontcourt that was severely undersized last season.

Toney McCray, a wingman by nature, was one of several Huskers who saw time at forward due to his 6-foot-6 height. He's looking forward to a chance to return to the position he knows best.

"It was kind of weird at times, but you do what you have to do for the team," McCray said. "That was probably our biggest weakness last year - we couldn't hang with the teams like Texas with all their big guys. We'll have a much taller and more physical team."

Hankins-Cole knows he will face a tall task this season once Big 12 conference play arrives and NU takes on star forwards Craig Brackins of Iowa State and Damion James of Texas.

"Junior college and Division I are two totally different ball games," he said. "But I'll be ready."

The transition to D-I should be an easier one for Jeter. He's already done it once before.

After high school, Jeter attended Cincinnati on a football scholarship. He redshirted his first season as a wide receiver, but when Bearcats coach Mark Dantonio left to take over at Michigan State, Jeter realized he just wasn't into the sport as much as he needed to be.

"I wasn't willing to learn a whole new offense, so I switched sports and it worked out for the best," he said. "To go from Division I football to Big 12 basketball, I know God has really blessed me and I'm just thankful."

Jeter comes in with high expectations for himself. He expects to become the starting point guard right away this season, and he's already trying to establish himself as a team leader.

"I bring leadership, toughness and heart," he said. "That's what you've got to have in the Big 12, it's a tough league. If something's going wrong, I'm going to let that person know and I want them to let me know. I'm a very vocal leader, and I've got to be the leader because it runs through me."

He'll compete primarily with speedy freshman Ray Gallegos for the starting spot. Jeter likes how the two contrast each other, as Gallegos offers speed and Jeter brings power at the position.

Both guards are 6-foot-2 and offer a significant height upgrade from last year's tandem of 5-foot-11 Steve Harley and 5-foot-7 Cookie Miller.

"With the point guards we have in this league, you need a big point guard and somebody that can push the ball and stand his ground," McCray said. "He'll be big for us."

Jeter said he's more of a passing point guard, but he averaged 15.9 points per game as a sophomore.

"I've been working on my shot this summer," Jeter said. "We've got a lot of good players and I'm trying to get them their touches, see where they like it, how they like it and where they don't like it. I'm trying to get that down pat right now."

Jeter is also working to drop 10 pounds off his 230-pound frame. The loss will better prepare him for  Doc Sadler's notoriously tough practices that begin later this month.

"The players always tell me, in a good way, that he's crazy," Jeter said with a laugh. "I need to get ready for that with my conditioning. I'm trying to do extra work for when that time comes."

maxolson@dailynebraskan.com