Junior college point guard David Jackson became the Penn State men's basketball team's most recent commitment yesterday when Penn State coach Ed DeChellis received his letter of intent.

"We are excited to have David join our basketball family," DeChellis said in a press release. "He is a tremendous athlete who can play all the perimeter positions and will be a great leader for his teammates here at Penn State. David is strong, athletic and an unselfish guard who will fit well into our Penn State program."

Jackson is the second player to commit to the Nittany Lions since the signing period began. Ohio's Mr. Basketball, forward Jamelle Cornley, signed a letter of intent in November. The letters of intent from European posts Milos Bogetic and Joonas Suotamo are in the mail and should arrive next week.

Before making his final decision, Jackson, who played two years at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Fla., narrowed his choices down to Penn State and Auburn.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound guard averaged 18.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game during his sophomore season. The two-time All-Panhandle Conference selection also shot 53 percent from the floor and led the state in 3-point shooting, hitting 55 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.

"David is an outstanding individual who is mature and totally committed to being all he can be in the classroom and on the court," said Jim Hatfield, Jackson's coach at Gulf Coast. "He is a tireless worker and a leader by nature."

Since Penn State closed its 7-23, 1-15 Big Ten season, DeChellis has been working hard to recruit players who will lay the foundation for the rebuilding process.

"I chose Penn State mostly because I want to be part of that," Cornley said in an interview earlier this month. "Also, you are going to play against the best competition in the Big Ten."

During an interview on April 4, DeChellis said he was hoping to sign three additional players after receiving a letter of intent from Cornley and verbal commitments from Bogetic and Suotamo. With Jackson's commitment and DeChellis' intentions, the Lions are still looking to distribute two more scholarships during the late signing period.

"We haven't been successful so you hope that kids see the great arena, campus and the entire situation, but other schools have that too," DeChellis said during the interview. "I tell them what my dream is and what our goals are, and I tell them that it's very special to be involved in that process."