'It took two minutes': Bradley basketball lands Troy point guard from NCAA transfer portal
PEORIA — The Bradley Braves have landed a sharp-shooting point guard from the Sun Belt in the NCAA transfer portal.
Cody Deen, the Freshman of the Year in the Sun Belt Conference, announced on social media Friday evening that he has committed to play for Bradley men's basketball. A few hours later, he made it official with his signing.
Nicknamed "Duke," by his father, Eric Clark Sr., Deen is a 5-foot-9 point guard from Shreveport, La., who played for Troy University in the Sun Belt last season and averaged 9 points per game, with 3.2 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1 assist. He shot 33.9% from 3 and was at 83% from the free throw line while leading Troy to a nine-win improvement and its best record in 12 years.
"It took two minutes on the phone with (Bradley coach) Brian Wardle and I knew I was coming to Bradley," Deen said. "I did a year of JUCO ball (in 2020-21) and Coach Wardle recruited me then. As soon as I got into the portal this time, he called me.
"I researched Bradley, I had no idea how far back their basketball tradition goes, and it was amazing to see all the guys who've played here. It's something I want to be part of."
Deen has three years of eligibility. He had offers from Corpus Christi, Appalachian State, Longwood University, UIC and Cal State Fullerton in addition to Bradley.
“Cody has a winning DNA," Wardle said, "and has had a successful impact wherever he goes and whatever sport he plays."
Deen started 27 of 30 games for a 20-12 Troy team in 2021-22, finishing 11th in the SBC in assists per game, eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7) and eighth in 3-pointers made per game (1.9). He entered the transfer portal on March 24, according to verbalcommits.com.
“He has a great personality and changes a game with his leadership, confidence and toughness," Wardle said. "Cody also has a high basketball IQ with excellent speed, quickness and ability to shoot with unlimited range.”
Background: Cody ‘Duke’ Deen named Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year
Deen played JUCO ball for Panola College (Carthage, Texas) in 2020-21 and averaged 20 points per game while shooting 44.6% from the field and 41.6% from 3.
"Cody Deen is the ultimate competitor," Troy coach Scott Cross told the Shreveport Times after the team signed him before the 2021-22 season. "We needed a big-time shooter, and we believed that he was the best available 3-point shooter in the country coming out of Panola College last season."
Deen is the third player to sign with the Braves for the 2022-23 season, joining guards Christian Davis and James “Pop” Weathers.
BU lost guard Terry Roberts (Georgia) and wing Jayson Kent (Indiana State) to transfer. The Braves return three starters from a team that finished 17-14 overall record and 11-7 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Bradley basketball in the offseason
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Terry Roberts: Former Bradley star guard commits to play basketball at Georgia
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Bradley basketball: Troy point guard Duke Deen transfers to Valley
