CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Newly hired Southeast Missouri State University basketballcoach Dickey Nutt has announced the signing of four players to national letters of intent.

The four recruits include two junior college and two high school players. The junior college players are Leon Powell, 6-7, of Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa and 5-11 Anthony Allison of Missouri State-West Plains Community College. They are joined by two standout high school players from Arkansas including 6-5 LaQuentin Miles of state champion Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, Ark., and 6-2 Marland Smith of state runner-up Hall High School in Little Rock.

Leon Powell

"I'm pleased with the start of our recruiting class," said Nutt who did not take over at Southeast until March 12, 2009. "Despite our late start we were able to zero in on some good athletes including Leon Powell. It is great to have a St. Louis player like Leon become an integral part of our program. We have a lot to sell at Southeast including the outstanding Show Me Center, a beautiful campus, great academics and good fan support. We used those points in getting these young men on the dotted line and we are very pleased. Recruiting never ends and we hope to have more recruits soon."

The recruits are headlined by Powell who is originally from Vashon High School in St. Louis. He averaged 11.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game for the nation's number two junior college team at Indian Hills that finished the season 30-3. He shot 61.8% from the field as a sophomore. Powell played on a state championship team at Vashon where he was a teammate of current Redhawks player Johnny Hill.

"We're extremely excited to have Leon join us," Nutt said. "He was the key player I wanted from the day I took the job at Southeast. We need him to be an integral part of our program. Leon has had great success everywhere he has played. He is a versatile player who can play inside or outside. Leon is a very agile athlete who will be a great addition to our team."

Anthony Allison

Allison averaged 12.8 points, 3.3 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game last season at West Plains. He played high school ball at Lee High School in Marianna, Ark.

"I've watched Anthony since he was in the 9th grade," Nutt said. "He is an outstanding young man who can score in bunches. He has the ability to run the team or move to the shooting guard spot. We are really proud to have Anthony with us. He is an outstanding young man."

LaQuentin Miles

Miles averaged 18.5 points, 5.2 assists, 4.7 steals and 7 rebounds per game for the state championship team from Jacksonville, Ark. He was the teams leading scorer and was all-state as a junior and senior.

"We are very happy to announce that LaQuentin will be joining our basketball team," Nutt said. "He is an outstanding perimeter player that can really get to the basket with ease. LaQuentin is a very good rebounder from the guard position and can play the 1, 2 or 3 position."

Smith averaged 13.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the state runner-up at Hall High School. He shot 42% from 3-point range. Smith also played football and is a member of the track team.

"Marland is an outstanding high school player who is very quick and can flat out shoot the ball," Nutt said. "He had to move to the point this year and did a very good job of it. Let me just say that I really believe our fans will enjoy watching this young man play. Marland is an exceptional person."

Nutt said he plans to add more recruits.