Ball State transfer Jaylin Sellers to join UCF men’s basketball

UCF men’s basketball received a fourth commitment out of the NCAA transfer portal over the weekend.

Ball State guard Jaylin Sellers announced his decision to join the Knights for their inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference becoming the third transfer guard to pledge to Johnny Dawkins this offseason.

He joins Shemarri Allen (UMKC) and Jaykwon Walton (Wichita State) to help fill a position at UCF that saw multiple departures.

CJ Kelly exhausted his eligibility and three more reserve guards — Tyem Freeman, Jayhlon Young and PJ Edwards — entered the transfer portal following the season.

Sellers brings needed experience, too. In two seasons at Ball State, Sellers appeared in 62 games and was a regular starter for the team last season.

After averaging 6.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in his first year of college, he earned a spot on the 2022 MAC All-Freshman Team.

As a sophomore this past season, Sellers’ production on the court doubled. He scored 13.7 points per contest and grabbed 3.7 boards.

The 6-foot-4 sophomore can also shoot from beyond the arc. Sellers finished second on his team with 54 made threes, a number that would have been fourth on UCF’s roster last season.

His 45% success rate from the three-point line would have led the Knights, too.

A combo guard from Columbus, Georgia, Sellers was a two-time all-state honoree in Georgia before going to Carver Montgomery High School in Montgomery, Alabama. Carver is also the same high school that produced Walton.

In addition to Sellers, Allen and Walton, UCF will be joined by Jacksonville forward Omar Payne, who announced his pledge to the Knights on April 26.

UCF has already formally announced the additions of Allen and Payne online.

“He is a versatile player coming off an incredible season, and we believe he can make an impact on both ends of the floor,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said about Allen in a press release. “He’s a great leader and it shows in the way he carries himself on the court and in the classroom.”

Added Dawkins about Payne:  “He’s a great presence down low and has experience in some big-time games. He’s a versatile player that will help our team as we transition into our new conference.

It’s possible the Knights aren’t done in the portal either. UCF saw five players transfer out and so far the program has only added four.

Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.