Juco Guard Leon Ayers III Signs With Mercer
5/31/2020 6:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Ayers III averaged 21.7 points per game in 2019-20
MACON, Ga. – Head coach Greg Gary and the Mercer men's basketball staff announced the addition of 6-foot-6 guard Leon Ayers III as the fifth signee for the incoming recruiting class.
"Leon is a dynamic guard with size and skill," said Gary. "He had two great years at Henry Ford College, and we are excited that he has chosen to be a Bear. He will be a tremendous help to our squad next season."
Ayers IIIÂ most recently played at Henry Ford College in Michigan where he was named a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American. The Troy, Mich. native averaged 21.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game and led the Hawks to an 18-12 record. His 21.7 points per game ranked 17th in the NJCAA. He earned national attention when he poured in 48 points in a 93-78 win over Macomb on February 15.Â
He appeared in all 30 games and shot 40.9 percent from the floor while making an impressive 82.9 percent of his attempts from the charity stripe.
Ayers III led the nation in points per 40 minutes (75.7), ranked eighth in free throws made (152) and ninth in free throw percentage (82.9), total points (651) and defensive rebounds (210).
He led Henry Ford College to the NJCAA Great Lakes East District Quarterfinals as a sophomore.
During his first campaign at HFC, Ayers III helped the Hawks to a 23-9 record. The Hawks won the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) championship, 77-73, over Grand Rapids thanks to 22 points from Ayers III. Henry Ford advanced to NJCAA District 10 Championship where they fell to St. Clair County, despite a game-high 28 points on 11-of-23 shooting from the dynamic guard.
Ayers III averaged 17.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists during his first season with the Hawks. He shot 44.5 percent from the floor and ranked second nationally in points per 40 minutes (67.9).
"Our staff at Henry Ford College is incredibly excited that Leon has an opportunity to play at Mercer," said HFC head coach Chris Shepard. "Mercer is a great place for him. Coach Gary and Coach Kummer were thorough on the phone when they recruited him. Leon was a great player and leader for us for two years, and I know that Mercer is getting a winner."
The 6-foot-6 standout guard played high school basketball at Troy High School and averaged an impressive 17.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists during his senior campaign. He originally chose Wisconsin Green Bay before reopening his recruitment and committing to Mercer.
"Coach Gary and his staff went about things in a very respectful, authentic way," said Ayers III. "They were persistent in contacting me and answering all of mine and my family's questions. It was a big deal for me that they did that. Mercer has a family atmosphere. It was important to me to have a relationship with the staff outside of basketball. I connected with the staff easily."
Ayers III joins four other signees – Shannon Grant, Jacksen Greco, Andrew Thomas and Jovan Tucker – for 2020-21.
More information on the Bears' 2020-21 schedule will be announced at a later date. Â
How to Follow the Bears:Â
For complete coverage of Mercer Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerMBB (Twitter), /MercerBasketball (Facebook) and @Mercer_MBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
