EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Purple Aces head men's basketball coach Marty Simmons has announced the signing of Taylor Stafford and Willie Wiley to National Letters of Intent to begin play at the University of Evansville next season.
 
As the 4^th-youngest team in the nation in 2013-14, the Purple Aces bring back one of the top nuclei in the conference.  While the team continues to develop, improve and gain experience, Coach Simmons adds two junior college All-Americans to assist in the team's maturation process.
 
"We are very excited to add Willie and Taylor to our basketball family," Simmons said.  "Both of them bring specific basketball skills, experience and off the court intangibles that will certainly improve our program.  Both come from extremely well coached teams and have received many individual accolades."
 
Stafford, a 6-1, 170-pound guard, transfers to UE from Eastern Arizona College where he was one of the top scorers in the nation.  Originally from Duluth, Minn., Stafford posted 25.0 points per game in his sophomore campaign with the Gila Monsters.
 
As the fourth-leading scorer in the nation, he shot 43.1% from the floor and 40.2% from 3-point range over the course of the 2013-14 season en route to being named the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Player of the Year.  In addition to that honor, he also garnered All-conference first team honors in each season at Eastern Arizona while earning a pair of Third Team All-American berths.  In his first season at Eastern Arizona, Stafford was named the Freshman of the Year in the ACCAC. 
 
"Taylor can score the ball in a variety of ways," Simmons explained.  "He can catch and shoot as well as play off the dribble.  We are excited about his ability to score and make others better."
 
Willie Wiley, a First Team All-American in 2014, makes the quick trip down Route 41 from Vincennes University to Evansville.  Wiley, a 6-7, 215-pound forward from Springfield, Ill., helped Vincennes make a deep run in the NJCAA Tournament in 2014.   The Trailblazers, who were ranked 2nd in the NJCAA Poll at one point this season, finished 3rd nationally in the NJCAA Tournament
 
Wiley averaged 16 points and 9.5 rebounds in the tournament on his way to a berth on the NJCAA All-Tournament Team.  During the regular season, he was just as solid, averaging 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in his sophomore season.
 
"Willie has proven he can score as well, but he will add a dimension of shot blocking, rebounding and athleticism that will certainly help our team," Simmons added.