One of Ty Orton's favorite players from his time at McCook Community College is coming with him to Dickinson State.
Diminutive shooting guard Jeremy Mallard was one of two players who signed national letters of intent to play men's basketball for the Blue Hawks on Monday.
Although Mallard is just 5-foot-6, he was one of Orton's leaders at McCook and left the school as its fifth all-time leading 3-point shooter.
"I know I'm not going up there to be the man," Mallard said. "I'm just going up there to try and change things and get a good image around that program."
Mallard averaged seven points per game but shot 40 percent from 3-point range.
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"Everybody will love watching this kid play because he will run through a wall," Orton said. "He just works his tail off. He's a kid who will do whatever it takes to win."
Orton's second signee, Sean Burnham, played for McCook's rival, North Platte Community College.
Burnham, a 6-2 point guard, helped North Platte to a 21-8 record last season.
He averaged two points a game but shot 39 percent from beyond the 3-point line.
Orton plans to sign more players in the coming weeks and may have more inked by the end of the week. He'll also be in Dickinson this weekend to show prospective recruits the campus.
While the new coach said both Mallard and Burnham are solid role players and fill roles DSU lacked last season.
"I really like how they handle themselves in the classroom and on the floor," Orton said. "They're good fits for us to start to build that team."
