NIU men’s basketball coach Brian Hammel went the junior college route a second time this summer and signed 6-7, 215-pound forward Theo Stafford from Cowley County Community College in Kansas to a National Letter of Intent.

With the graduation of seniors Donnell Thomas, Andrew Wells and Antwon Harmon from last season’s 25-6 quintet that captured the regular-season Mid-Continent Conference title and earned a berth in the NCAA Championships, Hammel needs help inside next winter.

“Theo really goes to the boards. He plays hard. He defends well. He’ll get after you on defense. He’s intense. He’s competitive in the paint. Theo comes highly recommended. We really need some bodies inside,” said Hammel, who took the NIU job last May.

Stafford, a Street & Smith’s pre-season prep All-America as a senior at Hugo (Okla.) High School in 1988-89, averaged 13.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game on a 27-3 quintet for head coach Darnell Shanklin at Cowley CC last season.

A first-team All-Jayhawk Junior College Conference pick in 1990-91, Stafford led his team in rebounding (251), ranked second in field goals (160) and free throws (85), plus finished fourth in team steals (40) as a soph. Last year, he shot .513 from the floor (160-of-312).

As a frosh, Stafford averaged 10.5 ppg. and 6.4 rbpg. and connected on .485 percent of his shots (110-of-227) on a 20-9 Cowley team in 1989-90. He will have two seasons of eligibility at NIU.

Stafford won First-Team All-Red River Conference and First-Team All-State honors at Hugo during his senior campaign on a 24-3 loop champion.