DES MOINES, Iowa – First-year head coach Niko Medved has announced the signing of five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent as part of his first full recruiting class at Drake University.
 
Set to join the Bulldogs on the Knapp Center hardwood in 2018-19 are Messiah Jones (Chicago, Ill.), Montrell Horsey (Edgewood, Md.), Kendle Moore (Danville, Ill.), Adam Thistlewood (Golden, Colo.) and James Moors (Auckland, New Zealand).
  
Jones, a 6-6 small forward, signed with the Bulldogs as a 3-star recruit according to scout.com and is among one of the top-15 prospects in the talent-rich state of Illinois. 247sports.com lauded Jones as the top small forward in the Midwest. Jones attends Chicago's Simeon Career Academy where he led the team to a 27-4 record and an appearance in the Class 4A state title game as a junior.
 
"Messiah is a strong, athletic player who has a big-time nose for the ball," Medved said. "He will be well prepared for this level because of his time at Simeon High School in Chicago."
 
This season, his Simeon team is ranked 14^th in the nation by MaxPreps.com. In his career at Simeon he has averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds per game. On the AAU circuit, he is a member of Caron Butler Elite.
 
"Jones is a workhorse around the basket and a force on the glass," according to Joe Hendrickson of City/Suburban Hoops Report. "He has an uncanny ability to block shots with his length and ability to get off the floor."
 
Joining Jones is fellow Illinoisan, Kendle Moore.  Moore is a 6-1 guard that has averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game for Danville High School while converting on 51 percent of his shots.
 
"Kendle is a player who can really score and is a winner," Medved said. "Kendle may be smaller in stature, but he is a tough competitor and I love how he helped mold his Danville High School team into a championship contender."
 
Moore is considered one of the top 10 players in the state according to Prep Hoops Illinois and helped Danville to the Sweet 16 of the Illinois state tournament with a 19-9 record as a junior. He is also a member of Team Rose during AAU season.
 
"Moore is one of the top 10 prospects in the senior class in Illinois," said Prep Hoops Illinois' Scott Burgess.  "He is a fast and quick guard with a wiry frame. He is a scoring guard that can get to the basket off the bounce and in transition."
 
Adding to the class in the backcourt is Maryland standout, Montrell Horsey. A 6-2 guard, Horsey is rated as a top-30 prospect in the Maryland/Metro DC region after averaging 20 points, five assists and three steals per game for Joppatowne High School. 
 
"Montrell is a talented athlete who can score and has the ability to create shots for others," Medved said. "He is crafty with the ball and has the toughness to be able to guard the perimeter effectively. We're excited about what he will add to our backcourt."
 
Prep Hoops MD has also proclaimed Horsey as the top player in Joppatowne's conference. He is also a member of Team Melo on the EYBL circuit.
 
"Montrell is an extremely talented guard whose skill set and game play will translate to the next level smooth due to his great size, unselfishness, ability to defend and disrupt opposing guards," said ChewHoopz Brandon Howell. "He is a scoring point guard who can score on all three levels of the game, but more importantly his will and passion to complete is second to none."
 
Bolstering the frontcourt will be Adam Thistlewood (Golden, Colo.), a 6-7 forward from Golden, Colo., where he helped Golden High School to a 2017 Colorado 4A State Tournament Final Four appearance.
 
"Adam is the entire package," Medved said. "He is a phenomenal student and a highly skilled and talented player. He has a unique combination of size and perimeter skill that will fit so well into how we want to play."
 
A first-team all-state selection, Thistlewood was also named to the 9News All-Colorado first team. 
 
"Thistlewood is a growing wing with good size who has made a big jump as a prospect over the last year, improving his stock to one of the biggest sleepers nationally in 2018," said scout.com national recruiting analyst Josh Gershon. "He's got a very high skill level; handles the ball, can shoot and score, creates for teammates and rebounds. If he continues to develop at the same rate, Thistlewood is a player who a lot of high major programs could look back and wish they had recruited." 
 
Completing the class in the frontcourt is an imposing 6-10 Kiwi, James Moors. Hailing from Auckland, New Zealand, Moors was a U17 New Zealand National Champion and the tournament MVP for Westlake Boy's High.
 
"James is a big, talented player who is just scratching the surface of his potential," Medved said. "For a 6-10 player, he has the unique ability to play both facing and with his back to the basket. He will be a great fit for our program."
 
Moors was also selected to the New Zealand U18 National Team and was a Nike Asia Games and adidas Nations participant.
 
"James is a highly talented individual with a strong work ethic and drive to succeed," said Westlake Boys High School Coach Zac Fitzgerald. "He was our undisputed MVP for the 2017 season at Westlake Boys High School and a leader among his teammates, on and off the court."
 
The Bulldogs' five signees will aid in replacing Drake's five seniors set to graduate following this season and join a projected eight returnees on the roster for 2018-19.