ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Coming off its eighth conference championship in the last 15 seasons and its second appearance in the NCAA Division III championship game in the last three years, the Augustana men's basketball program looks to maintain that momentum with the announcement of its 2017 recruiting class.
 
The group of seven players is easily the most geographically diverse bunch that Coach Grey Giovanine has brought in as he heads into his 19th season at the helm of the Viking program. It includes one local product and two Chicago-area athletes, along with three players from the West Coast and another from Ohio.
 
Carson Frakes, a 6' 5", 180-pound forward from Rockridge High School in Taylor Ridge, Illinois, was a four-year letter winner in Coach Toby Whiteman's powerhouse Rockridge program. During his four seasons, Frakes helped lead the Rockets to a 107-14 record and second and third-place finishes at the IHSA Class 2A state tournament. As a senior, he averaged 17 points, 11 rebounds and two assists per game. He was a first team All-Three Rivers Conference selection for the second year in a row, was named to the IBCA Class 1A/2A All-State third team and garnered Class 2A All-State honorable mention from the Associated Press. In addition, he earned first team all-area recognition from the Dispatch/Argus, Quad-City Times and West Central Illinois Sports.
 
"Not only is Augustana College getting a great basketball player, but also a very high character person," said Whiteman.  "I personally believe that Carson has not scratched his basketball potential and will only get better in the Augustana program."
 
Dillon Durrett, a 6' 4", 165-pound forward from Wheaton Warrenville South High School in Wheaton, Illinois, helped lead Coach Mike Healy's Tigers to a 29-2 record and an undefeated (16-0) DuPage Valley Conference championship this past season. Durrett averaged 17 points and five rebounds per game, shooting 71 percent from inside the arc and 37 percent from beyond. He was named the DVC Player of the Year and was the Suburban Life Area Player of the Year as well. He was a Class 3A/4A fourth team All-State selection by the IBCA and earned All-State honorable mention from the Champaign News Gazette, whose team encompasses all four classes in Illinois. He garnered all-area recognition from the Sun Times, Daily Herald and Comcast Sports Network. In addition, Durrett was named MVP of the WWS Martin Luther King and State Farm Classic tournaments.
 
"Augustana is not only getting a great basketball player, but an even better young man," said Healy of Durrett. "The Wheaton Warrenville basketball community wishes Dillon a memorable four years at Augustana."
 
Jarrett Tribble, a 6' 2", 165-pound guard from Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, Illinois is Augustana's other Chicago-area addition. A four-year letter winner for Coach Marc Condotti, Tribble averaged 12 points per game this year on shooting percentages of 55 from inside the arc, 43 from beyond and 75 from the free throw line. He earned all-tournament honors at the Chicago Heights Classic and was selected as the Vikings' Most Improved Player.
 
"Jarrett has been a model member of the Homewood-Flossmoor boys basketball program for the last four years," said Condotti.  "He is a high-character kid both on and off the floor and was a pleasure to coach and be around on a daily basis.  His attitude and abilities will be missed.  Augustana will be getting a high-quality student and athlete when he steps on campus in the fall." 
 
Jason Cassens, a 6' 4", 180-pound wing from Emerald Ridge High School in Puyallup, Washington, was a three-year letter winner for Coach Pat Mullen's Jaguars. Cassens, a team captain, averaged 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game and set school records with 54 three-point field goals and an 87-percent mark from the free throw line. He was a first team All-South Puget Sound League selection.
 
Mullen calls Cassens, "a gifted all-around player" and "a hard-working leader." He added, "Jason worked extremely hard during his three years in our program, both on the court and in the weight room, to propel his team to unparalleled success in our program's history."
 
Stefan Kljajic is a 6' 8", 220-pound forward from Podgorica, Montenegro and Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California. His Sierra Canyon squad, coached by Ty Nichols, spent much of the 2016-17 season as the nation's top-ranked high school team according to USA Today and MaxPreps. Kljajic averaged 6.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game for the 27-3 Trailblazers this year while backing up UCLA commit Cody Riley and Marvin Bagley III—the nation's top-ranked junior. A member of Montenegro U14, U16 and U18 national teams, Kljajic averaged 21.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as an 18-and-under player during the 2014-15 season.
 
"Stefan came from Montenegro for his junior year and we thought he could be a real difference maker for us," said Nichols. "When Marvin Bagley also transferred, Stefan embraced the role of playing minutes off the bench and competed every day in practice. He is an absolutely great teammate."
 
Cole Clark, a 6' 2", 156-pound guard, was a two-year letter winner for Coach Andy Rucker at Vista Murrieta High School in Murrieta, California. Clark was the third-leading scorer this year for a Bronco outfit that went 24-6 and reached the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Championships. He averaged 9.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists, shooting 45 percent from the floor and 70 percent from the free throw line. He was named to all-tournament teams this year at the "Showdown in the Snake Pit" and the Paloma Valley Shootout and won MVP honors at the Beaumont Classic as a junior.
 
"Cole has made a huge impact on our program at Vista Murrieta and has done a great job of leaving a very impactful legacy for future Broncos," said Rucker. "He is a fierce competitor with a calm and cool demeanor on the court." Rucker added, "I feel that it is a great fit for Cole to be able to be a part of a program like Augustana, as well as learn and further himself as a player and young man from Coach Giovanine and his staff."
 
Jack Jelen, a 5' 10", 175-pound point guard from Bay High School in Bay Village, Ohio, missed most of his senior season due to an injury. He did return for the final seven games, earning his fourth varsity letter in Coach Jared Shetzer's Bay program. As a junior, Jelen was a first team All-Great Lakes Conference selection and earned all-district honorable mention for a Rocket outfit that finished 24-4 and reached the Ohio Division II state semifinals. He averaged 10.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game. His 192 assists were a single-season record at Bay and he also set a school mark by converting 23 consecutive free throws.
 
"Jack was one of the best athletes we have had come through our program," said Shetzer, adding that he thought Jelen would be a great addition to the Vikings. "He led our team to the school's first State Final Four. We will miss his leadership, hard work, and commitment. We wish him the best of luck in his collegiate career."
 
 "This is a terrific group of talented, high character young men that compliment last year's freshman class very well," said Giovanine. "As they mature, I expect them to be able to help us continue to compete for national honors."