Utah St. basketball: JC All-American hoops star signs with Aggies

Utah State received a verbal commitment from Junior College All-American Norvell Arnold to join the basketball team this coming season.

Arnold, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound swingman out of Southeastern Community College in Iowa was a second-team All-American after averaging 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for the Blackhawks while shooting 51 percent from the floor. Originally from New York City, Arnold was heavily recruited by several Big 12 schools but dropped off the recruiting scene when it appeared he might not get his associate degree in time.

That concern has now been taken care of, Arnold said, and he's excited to have found a spot with Utah State.

"The coaches I talked to said they were looking for another wing. I looked up the program and I saw them in the tournament a bunch of times," Arnold said in a phone interview with the Deseret News. "I could have gone to any old school. But I didn't want to go to any old school. I wanted to go to a winning team."

Because it is outside the signing period, Arnold will not be able to sign a National Letter of Intent until fall semester begins.

Arnold, who said he has not visited USU yet, said Aggie fans will like his game.

"I'll bring a lot of athleticism and a lot of hustle," he said. "I like to think defense is my main thing, and I'm just really happy to be coming to a school with a winning program. That was real important to me."

Arnold said he will probably redshirt this season and be a junior for the 2011-12 season.