High-Scoring Juco Star Darryl Baker Signs With Eastern Kentucky

Apr 25, 20162 min read

RICHMOND, Ky. -- Darryl Baker, a 6-4 guard/forward out of Danville Area Community College in Illinois, has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at Eastern Kentucky University, head coach Dan McHale announced on Monday, April 25.

“Darryl Baker is a huge addition for our program,” McHale said. “He will bring immediate experience and versatility to our explosive backcourt.”

Baker, a native of Jeffersonville, Indiana, led DACC in scoring as a sophomore in 2015-16, averaging 15.3 points-per-game, 4.2 rebounds-per-game and 2.6 assists-per-game. He shot 46 percent (58-of-126) from three-point range, notably connecting on six three-pointers in a 30-point, eight-rebound performance versus Cincinnati State on November 28.

Baker played at Lincoln Trail Community College in Robinson, Illinois as a freshman, where he also led his team in scoring at 16.0 points-per-game. He averaged 5.7 rebounds-per-game and 3.5 assists-per-game during his rookie campaign at LTCC, and he produced a number of highlight-reel performances, including a 25-point, nine-rebound showing against Southeastern Illinois College on January 7 and a 25-point, 11-rebound outburst at Olney Central College on February 11.

“Darryl’s playmaking ability, and his deadly outside shot, make him very tough to guard,” McHale added. “He can change the game in a multitude of ways, and will certainly stuff the stat sheet in a lot of different categories. Darryl is a winner, and we are thrilled that he is a Colonel.”

Baker starred at Jeffersonville High School -- just across the Ohio River from Louisville -- from 2010-13. He poured in 23.4 points-per-game, broke the school’s record for points in a season (655) and was named second team all-state by the Associated Press as a senior.

Baker joins Butler transfer Jackson Davis (Lexington, Kentucky), Louisville transfer Dillon Avare (Lexington, Kentucky), junior college forward Zach Charles (Mesquite, Texas) and incoming freshmen guards Asante Gist (West Orange, New Jersey) and Parker Chitty (Columbus, Indiana) in EKU’s 2016 signing class.

McHale’s up-tempo Colonels (15-16 overall) ranked 18th in the country in scoring offense (80.5 points-per-game) and broke the EKU single-season field goal percentage record (49.1 percent) in 2015-16.