Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Men's Basketball signs guard James Dent Jr.
7/9/2025 1:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee men's basketball program has signed James Dent Jr. to its 2025-26 roster, head coach Nick McDevitt announced Wednesday. The 6-5 guard will join the team as a graduate student-athlete and comes to the Blue Raiders most recently from Northern Illinois, with additional stops at Western Illinois, John A. Logan College and Moberly Area Community College.
As a Husky during his senior year, Dent Jr. started all 31 games for the team while averaging 14.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. The Springfield, Ill., native shot 38.9 percent from the field, 34.6 percent from beyond the arc and 74.6 percent from the free throw line. In the season finale at Central Michigan, Dent Jr. tallied a career-best 36 points in 50 minutes of game action, including six made threes, nine rebounds and three assists. He boasted a 3.1 assist-to-turnover ratio, blocking 18 shots and grabbing 26 steals as well. Dent Jr. tallied his first DI-level double-double against Ball State with an 18-point, 10-rebound performance. He scored in double figures in 24 contests, with six games of 20+ points.
Dent Jr played his junior season at Western Illinois, registering seven starts while appearing in all 33 contests. He was second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.7 points per game. The 50 made threes were the second-most of any Leatherneck and his 26 steals ranked third on the team. Dent Jr. tallied 16 double-digit scoring games, including a stretch of eight to open the season, with three contests in 20+ range. He scored a season-best 24 points and pulled in eight boards against Southern U, coming just short of a double-double.
He began his collegiate basketball career in junior college, first at Moberly Area Community College in 2021-22. His freshman year, he averaged 7.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest while making 18 starts with 35 appearances. Dent Jr. then transferred to John A. Logan College for his sophomore campaign, where he joined fellow Blue Raider Sean Smith in 2022-23. Dent Jr. played in 34 contests in Illinois, averaging 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game with the team. His 46.4 percent clip from the floor and 41 percent shooting from deep helped lead the program to become the 2023 NJCAA Division I National Champions.
As a Husky during his senior year, Dent Jr. started all 31 games for the team while averaging 14.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. The Springfield, Ill., native shot 38.9 percent from the field, 34.6 percent from beyond the arc and 74.6 percent from the free throw line. In the season finale at Central Michigan, Dent Jr. tallied a career-best 36 points in 50 minutes of game action, including six made threes, nine rebounds and three assists. He boasted a 3.1 assist-to-turnover ratio, blocking 18 shots and grabbing 26 steals as well. Dent Jr. tallied his first DI-level double-double against Ball State with an 18-point, 10-rebound performance. He scored in double figures in 24 contests, with six games of 20+ points.
Dent Jr played his junior season at Western Illinois, registering seven starts while appearing in all 33 contests. He was second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.7 points per game. The 50 made threes were the second-most of any Leatherneck and his 26 steals ranked third on the team. Dent Jr. tallied 16 double-digit scoring games, including a stretch of eight to open the season, with three contests in 20+ range. He scored a season-best 24 points and pulled in eight boards against Southern U, coming just short of a double-double.
He began his collegiate basketball career in junior college, first at Moberly Area Community College in 2021-22. His freshman year, he averaged 7.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest while making 18 starts with 35 appearances. Dent Jr. then transferred to John A. Logan College for his sophomore campaign, where he joined fellow Blue Raider Sean Smith in 2022-23. Dent Jr. played in 34 contests in Illinois, averaging 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game with the team. His 46.4 percent clip from the floor and 41 percent shooting from deep helped lead the program to become the 2023 NJCAA Division I National Champions.
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