UWM Panthers add athleticism and toughness with signings of three new players

It was a banner day Tuesday for the UW-Milwaukee men's basketball program.

The Panthers signed three players -- guards Erik Pratt and Pierce Spencer and wing Learic Davis -- who coach Bart Lundy believes will help build off their 22-12 finish this past season and form the foundation of a potential Horizon League champion and NCAA Tournament team in 2023-24.

UWM also returns a budding star in junior BJ Freeman as well as key contributors in Markeith Browning II, Kentrell Pullian and Elijah Jamison.

"As a group, I really like where we are and what we have moving forward," Lundy said. "We are extremely dynamic offensively. There are still some rebounding concerns and we need some size, so we're still chasing guys down. But what we have in what I think are really important spots is a lot of depth and a lot of dynamic players.

"We're going to be extremely hard to guard."

Here is a closer look at each of the new players joining the Panthers, as well as news of a couple more departures.

G Erik Pratt, 6-5, 185 pounds

To see Pratt wind up at UWM isn't a total surprise considering the Lake Worth, Florida, native originally signed to play for Lundy when Lundy was coaching at Queens University.

But Pratt ended up going to junior college and then to Texas A&M, where he played in nine games last season for coach Buzz Williams and averaged 1.4 points. Pratt's playing time was curtailed by a deep and talented group of guards ahead of him on the depth chart.

"He steps on campus and he already has trust with me even though I haven't been with him over the course of his journey," Lundy said. "He had tons of offers coming out of junior college and a bunch when he went in the portal. He needed to be comfortable with BJ, so they spent a lot of time together and it's been a good fit."

Pratt is a left-hander who knocked down as many as 10 three-pointers in a game during his time in junior college, and that type of shooting ability is something UWM can use moving forward.

"I just think he's got a high-level skill set," Lundy said. "Yeah, he can really shoot it, but he can also put it on the floor and create his own shot and create for others. When I recruited him at Queens I thought he would end up being a point guard and I still think he can play some point.

"He's got really good basketball IQ, understands the game and is an underrated defender. He's played for some good defensive coaches. His game is really smooth."

Pratt will be a senior with two years of eligibility remaining.

G Pierce Spencer, 6-3, 175 pounds

Anyone who watched the Panthers last season saw their need for a prototypical "floor general" type of point guard who can run the show and lead.

Lundy believes Spencer -- the son of a high-school coach-- checks those boxes as he comes onboard after two seasons at Nicholls State.

The Porter, Texas, native averaged 7.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 21 games this year despite playing with a torn labrum in his right (shooting) shoulder that he had surgically repaired after the season.

"I had two different coaches in his league say if they could have one player from their league, it would be Pierce just because of his toughness and grit," Lundy said. "He was on the all-defensive team in that league. He played all year with the torn labrum, so his offensive numbers were down a little bit.

"But he's won a lot of games, and his defensive ability and his toughness -- I thought that's what we needed. Their coaches were saying he was playing with the torn labrum and we can't keep him from diving on the floor all the time in practice."

Lundy said Spencer will be limited a bit during summer workouts as his shoulder continues to heal but should be full-go in time for fall practice.

Spencer will have two years of eligibility remaining.

G/F Learic Davis, 6-7, 185 pounds

Davis, the former Bradley Tech star, announced in March he would be transferring to UWM after spending his freshman year at Tennessee State.

Being able to add not only an athlete with incredible leaping ability (vertical leap of 40-plus inches) but also a Milwaukee City Conference product is a definite win-win for the Panthers.

"His ceiling is so high," Lundy said. "I told our staff this morning he's the one guy I'm so eager to get here and start working with because I don't know how high his ceiling is. Athletically he's really good, plays really hard. But I want to get him in the guts of everything and see where he can go."

Davis practiced all season with Tennessee State but wasn't allowed to play in games due to an academic issue.

"He ended up just short and once he got there they had to sit him out," Lundy said. "His grades were fine, but he was just half a core (course) short. They thought he would be a starter for them as a freshman. His potential is really off the charts.

"And not only is he athletic, but he's got length. He's got an NBA body and NBA athleticism. He's a developing shooter but can really handle the ball so he can go up and get the ball above the rim, push it himself and make a lot of plays."

Davis will have four years of eligibility with the Panthers.

Keon Edwards enters the transfer portal

Keon Edwards arrived at UWM with a Division I pedigree but already well-traveled, having spent time at both DePaul and Nebraska.

His journey will again take him elsewhere as the 6-8 sophomore wing has entered the transfer portal, making him the fifth Panthers player to do so since the end of the season.

Edwards was hampered by a badly sprained ankle for a good portion of the season and played in only 16 games, averaging 3.3 points and 1.5 rebounds.

"We part on good terms," Lundy said. "He just really wants to play. We talked right after the season was over and my comment to him was you're either 10 toes in or 10 toes out -- don't be in-between.

"We went through the spring and I think he saw the recruiting and maybe that his chances to play weren't going to be as much. He just wants to play, and we're trying to help him however we can and wish him the best."

Jordan Ratliffe is moving on

Guard Jordan Ratliffe, a graduate transfer from UNC-Pembroke, is calling it a career.

He transferred in to UWM last offseason but suffered a torn ACL in practice before the season and was forced to redshirt after undergoing surgery. Ratliffe was expected to provide depth at guard.

Ratliffe arrived at UWM having already earned a master's degree.

"Jordan is going to move on with life," Lundy said. "He tore his knee up and has been in school for a long time and is kind of ready to get on with life. But he's still around and helps with the guys."

UWM has two open scholarships remaining

Due to the departures of Edwards and Ratliffe, Lundy has two additional scholarships to fill moving forward.

In addition to Pratt, Spencer and Davis the Panthers have also inked 6-6 wing Makuei Riek and 6-8 post Darius Duffy. Also expected to come onboard is 6-9 Thomas Diew.

The best guess is UWM is on the hunt for at least one and probably two big men to round out the roster. With Ahmad Rand and Moses Bol having completed their eligibility, the tallest returning scholarship player is Freeman at 6-6.

"We're hustling," Lundy said. "We're hustling hard, trying to fill these two (spots)."

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UWM adds Erik Pratt, Pierce Spencer, Bradley Tech alum Learic Davis