NIU men’s basketball coach Ricardo Patton inked guards Jerwin Callaway and Keith Smith to National Letters of Intent to play for NIU in 2008.

Patton also got former recruit Xavier Silas to join the squad for next year. The guard will transfer from Colorado, meaning he will have to sit out the 2008-09 season.

Patton focused on recruiting guards this offseason, as he felt this was key to being successful in the MAC.

“If you look around the MAC and the country, the teams that are playing the best basketball are really good at the guard spot,” he said. “If you add the three guys we have signed in April with the class we had in November, we have gotten better on the perimeter.”