Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

McDevitt signs three to join Blue Raiders
11/16/2018 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Jackson, Lawrence and Millner commit to MT
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Head Men's Basketball Coach Nick McDevitt is off to a strong start in his first complete recruiting cycle at Middle Tennessee as the program signed Tyson Jackson, Eli Lawrence and Jo'Vontae Millner to national letters of intent on Thursday.
Jackson, a product of Fairburn, Georgia's Creekside High School, will join the Blue Raiders after spending the 2018-19 season at Hargrave Military Academy. While at Creekside he was named First Team All-State as a senior and was a two-time First Team All-Region selection.
The 6-foot-9, 220-pound post totaled 1,499 points and 998 rebounds during his final two seasons at Creekside, averaging just shy of 30 points and more than 13 rebounds per game as a senior, and will fill an immediate need for the Blue Raiders with the impending graduation of senior forwards Karl Gamble and James Hawthorne.
Eli Lawrence, a 6-foot-5, 175-pound guard, is competing for Washington Academy in North Carolina this season before joining the Blue Raiders and childhood friend Jackson for the 2019-20 campaign.
The Atlanta native boasted an impressive 21.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per outing as a senior at Tri-Cities High School to earn Class 6A First Team All-State and Georgia Athletics Coaches Association All-State honors and competed on the GACA North All-Star team.
Millner, who joins the Blue Raiders from Cape Fear Community College, began his collegiate career at Presbyterian where he led the Blue Hose in scoring (10.8) and rebounding (5.6) as a freshman while shooting 48.3 percent from the field.
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard's standout prep career at Cummings High School in Burlington, North Carolina saw him amass 1,234 points, 955 rebounds, 153 assists, 138 blocks and 116 steals.
"We are very excited to be adding these three young men to the Blue Raider family," McDevitt said. "We feel that they will be great pieces for our program moving forward and we are excited to see them play in Murphy Center in the near future."
Jackson, a product of Fairburn, Georgia's Creekside High School, will join the Blue Raiders after spending the 2018-19 season at Hargrave Military Academy. While at Creekside he was named First Team All-State as a senior and was a two-time First Team All-Region selection.
The 6-foot-9, 220-pound post totaled 1,499 points and 998 rebounds during his final two seasons at Creekside, averaging just shy of 30 points and more than 13 rebounds per game as a senior, and will fill an immediate need for the Blue Raiders with the impending graduation of senior forwards Karl Gamble and James Hawthorne.
Eli Lawrence, a 6-foot-5, 175-pound guard, is competing for Washington Academy in North Carolina this season before joining the Blue Raiders and childhood friend Jackson for the 2019-20 campaign.
The Atlanta native boasted an impressive 21.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per outing as a senior at Tri-Cities High School to earn Class 6A First Team All-State and Georgia Athletics Coaches Association All-State honors and competed on the GACA North All-Star team.
Millner, who joins the Blue Raiders from Cape Fear Community College, began his collegiate career at Presbyterian where he led the Blue Hose in scoring (10.8) and rebounding (5.6) as a freshman while shooting 48.3 percent from the field.
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard's standout prep career at Cummings High School in Burlington, North Carolina saw him amass 1,234 points, 955 rebounds, 153 assists, 138 blocks and 116 steals.
"We are very excited to be adding these three young men to the Blue Raider family," McDevitt said. "We feel that they will be great pieces for our program moving forward and we are excited to see them play in Murphy Center in the near future."
Players Mentioned
Blue Raider Breakdown Postgame Show - December 21st - Men's Basketball
Monday, December 22
MTSU Men's Basketball Press Conference 12/21/25
Sunday, December 21
MTSU Men's Basketball Press Conference 12/21/25
Sunday, December 21
MTSU Men's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs Kennesaw State 12/17/25
Wednesday, December 17














