Cline, a 6-foot-7 forward from Rogers, Ark., was a redshirt at Missouri State University this past season, and Jackson, a 6-foot guard from Milwaukee, Wis., was a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay this past season.

Cline averaged 18 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.8 steals per game during his senior season at Shiloh Christian High School and led the Saints to a 27-5 record and the 3A-1 Conference championship. He also earned All-Conference and All-State honors, was named to the All-Region Tournament Team and the All-State Tournament Team and was selected to play in the AHSCA All-Star Game.

He was a McDonald’s All-American nominee and was a member of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Area Team and the Morning News of Northwest Arkansas All-Area Team. He also was the KURM Player of the Year.

“It’s not every day that you can recruit a player of David Cline’s ability. He’s 6-7, 225,” Newman said. “He redshirted at Missouri State, so he’s had some time to get stronger. I think he’ll come in here and have an immediate impact.”

Jackson averaged 18.1 points, 3.3 assists and 2.4 steals per game as a senior at Milwaukee’s Pius XI High School. He was a Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and Associated Press second team All-State selection and was named first team All-Area by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

He was the Classic 8 Conference Player of the Year.

Jackson originally signed with Creighton University but transferred to UW-Green Bay last fall. Jackson, who only played in nine games after becoming eligible on Dec. 22, averaged three points, one rebound and one assist per game for the Phoenix.

“D.J. is going to give us quickness. There won’t be many nights where there’s anybody on the court quicker than him,” Newman said. “He’s going to allow us to continue our up-tempo style of play. He should be able to come in and play right away with all the guys we have in our program.”

Along with Cline and Jackson, UA Fort Smith has signed Ryan Keese, a 6-3 guard from Muskogee, Okla.; Chris Johnson, a 6-8 forward from San Antonio, Texas; Mark Rutledge, a 6-4 guard from Tulsa, Okla., Paul Kohlheim, a 6-5 forward from Tupelo, Miss.; and Nick Murry, a 5-11 guard from Fort Smith.

The Lions also have added Chase White, a 6-foot guard from Fort Smith who received an academic scholarship to UA Fort Smith, and Tyrone Hanson, a 6-7 sophomore guard from Brooklyn, N.Y., who transferred to UA Fort Smith at semester from the University of Nevada.

“I don’t know if we’re setting any records, but if you were to ask any junior college coach in the country if they were done (recruiting) at this point, they would all tell you no. I’m really glad (we’re done),” Newman said. “I’m very fortunate. I think (assistant coaches) Justin Stuckey and Nate Mast have done a phenomenal job recruiting and have put us in position to be done at this point.”

Echols, a 6-foot-6 forward from Blytheville, Ark., signed with Georgia State University in Atlanta. Johnson, a 5-10 point guard from Kansas City, Mo., signed with North Texas University in Denton. Hardiman, a 6-4 guard from Milwaukee, Wis., signed with Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant.

They are three of five Lions who have signed with Division I schools. Last fall, sophomore forward Aramie Brooks of Earle, Ark., signed with Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., and sophomore center Lester Ferguson of Baton Rouge, La., signed with the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.

The sophomore class helped lead the Lions to a 28-4 finish this past season and a No. 12 ranking in the final NJCAA regular-season poll. The Lions won the Bi-State Conference East Division championship and advanced to the NJCAA Region II tournament semifinals.

“Between Chris Echols, Jacolby, Aramie Brooks and Lester, those were the guys who took a chance on me as I took a chance on them that first year,” said Lions coach Josh Newman, who just finished his second season at UA Fort Smith. “To see them two years removed being able to walk out this door with a degree in hand and a Division I scholarship couldn’t make me more proud.

“They’ll be sadly missed, not only from a basketball perspective but more importantly from a character and teammate perspective.”

Echols, who was a two-year starter, was second on the team in scoring with 11 points per game this past season, while shooting 53.8 percent from the field. He led the team in rebounding with 5.9 rebounds per game.

He was named first team All-Conference and All-Region this past season after being named first team All-Conference and second team All-Region as a freshman.

Along with Georgia State, Echols received interest from Kansas State, the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and the University of Massachusetts. He chose Georgia State based on its academic program, especially is music department.

“They have a really good music department,” Newman said. “And, Atlanta is really connected with the music industry.”

Georgia State, which is coached by former Ole Miss coach Rod Barnes, competes in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Panthers finished 9-21 overall and 5-13 in conference play this past season – Barnes’ first season at the school.

Johnson, a one-year starter who transferred from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, averaged 9.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. He led the team with 5.1 assists per game and was ranked No. 47 in the nation. He was named second team All-Conference.

Along with North Texas, Johnson received interest from the University of Louisiana-Monroe, Albany University, Central Arkansas University and the University of South Alabama.

“It’s similar to here with the same style of play. It will be a good fit for me,” said Johnson of North Texas. “I’ve got a lot of family from that area, and my parents like the school. It’s a good place to be.”

North Texas, which is coached by Johnny Jones, competes in the Sun Belt Conference. The Mean Green finished 20-11 overall and 10-8 in conference play this past season – Jones’ seventh season at the school.

Hardiman, a two-year starter, averaged 8.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game this past season. He averaged 2.4 assists per game and 1.7 steals.

Along with Central Michigan, Hardiman received interest from Eastern Illinois, Texas State, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, North Texas and Loyola-Chicago.

“When I went to visit, it was a nice environment,” said Hardiman of Central Michigan. “They have a good academic program. I want to major in business entrepreneurship, and they have a good business program. That topped it off.

“The guys on the team were really cool. I fit the system really well.”

Central Michigan, which is coached by Ernie Zeigler, competes in the Mid-American Conference. The Chippewas finished 14-17 overall and 8-8 in conference play this past season – Zeigler’s second season at the school.

Murry, a 5-foot-11 guard from Northside High School, signed a NJCAA letter of intent and received an athletics scholarship, and White, a 6-foot guard from Southside High School, received an academics scholarship.

They will be a part of the Lions’ last team to compete at the junior college level. UA Fort Smith is making the transition to NCAA Division II and will be a provisional member beginning with the 2009-10 season.

“We’re really excited that we can keep two hometown guys close to home,” Newman said. “They will help us build on what we expect to be a great foundation for (NCAA) Division II.”

Murry averaged 9.5 points and 3.8 assists per game for the Grizzlies, who finished second in the 7A-West Conference and advanced to the state tournament quarterfinals. He earned All-Conference and All-State honors and was the MVP of the Coca-Cola Classic.

He also was named to the Times Record All-Area Team and the state tournament All-Tournament Team.

White averaged 10.1 points per game for the Rebels, who finished fourth in the 7A-West Conference and advanced to the state tournament.

He earned All-Conference and All-State honors and was named to the Times Record All-Area Team and the state tournament All-Tournament Team.

“We’re fortunate to be able to have two young men from our community whom we feel like can really step in and help this team,” Newman said. “We’re looking for these guys to be the bridge between that junior college and Division II gap.”

Newman, who recently finished his second season as Lions coach, signed four recruits last week – Ryan Keese, a 6-foot-3 guard from Muskogee, Okla.; Chris Johnson, a 6-8 forward from San Antonio, Texas; Mark Rutledge, a 6-4 guard from Tulsa, Okla.; and Paul Kohlheim, a 6-5 forward from Tupelo, Miss.

“We’re excited,” Newman said. “We’ve added depth to our roster. All of these kids can come in and play right away, which is great for our team because it creates competition. Last year, the strength of our team was our depth. And without a doubt, the strength of next year’s team will be our depth as well.”

Newman is well on his way to replenishing his team, which lost five sophomores from this past season’s squad that finished 28-4, won the Bi-State Conference East Division and reached the Region II tournament semifinals.

Still, Newman has a couple of spots to fill and likely will sign a point guard and a small forward in the coming weeks.

“We’ll lose five guys, and all five will have signed Division I scholarships,” Newman said. “It’s going to be hard to replace those guys, but I think we’ve done a pretty good job in doing that with the class we’ve signed so far.”

The following is a brief synopsis of the Lions’ incoming players.

Ryan Keese, Fort Gibson (Okla.) High School

Keese averaged 25.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, four steals and 4.5 assists per game this past season, while leading the Tigers to a 19-8 finish. A McDonald’s All-American nominee, Keese earned Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State honors, was named to the Daily Oklahoman All-State Team and was the Muskogee Phoenix Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Keese also earned All-District Region III honors and All-Conference honors for the second-consecutive season and was named an Eastern Oklahoma All-Star for the second-consecutive year.

Chris Johnson, Brackenridge High School (San Antonio, Texas)

Johnson helped lead the Eagles to a 31-7 record and a berth in the Class 4A Region IV championship game, where they lost to Boerne 66-48. Johnson was named to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Class 4A All-State Team and All-Region team and was first team All-District 28-4A. He was named to the Greater San Antonio All-City Super Team and the South San Antonio ISD All-Tournament Team and was the Northeast ISD Tournament MVP. He also received interest from Sam Houston State, Wichita State, Texas State and Long Island.

Mark Rutledge, Thomas Edison High School (Tulsa, Okla.)

Rutledge averaged a team-high 19.8 points, five assists and five rebounds per game for the Class 5A Eagles, who finished 19-8 and advanced to the state semifinals. Rutledge averaged 26 points per game during the Eagles’ two state tournament games – a 63-60 win against Harrah in the quarterfinals and 50-48 loss to Guthrie.

Rutledge was a McDonald’s All-American nominee and a three-time member of the Green Country All-Conference Team. He was named first team All-State by the Oklahoma sports writers and High School Sports The Magazine, was named first team All-Metro by the Oklahoma Coaches Association and was named to the Channel 8 Elite Eight Team of Oklahoma.

Paul Kohlheim, Jacksonville (Fla.) University

Kohlheim averaged 1.2 points and 1.1 rebounds per game this past season for the NCAA Division I Jacksonville (Fla.) University Dolphins. Kohlheim, a transfer who will be a sophomore at UA Fort Smith, led Tupelo High School to an 85-40 win-loss record during his four prep seasons. As a senior, he was named one of the Mississippi “Dandy Dozen” after averaging 22 points and 12 rebounds per game and was named first team All-Area and preseason All-State.