Kawanise ‘Squeaky’ Wilkins will be playing his sophomore season for Western Michigan University.
The All-Region VI freshman from Chicago will not be returning to the Barton men’s basketball, instead getting a start at the NCAA level as a sophomore, giving him three seasons with the Broncos.
The Freshman of the Year in the Jayhawk Conference was a qualifier coming into Barton, so Coach Craig Fletchall knew all along him leaving after one season was a possibility if not a probability.
“We knew there was a good chance he would only be here one year,” Coach Fletchall said. “This is great for him. He gets to play D-I basketball and he gets three years in which to do it.
“For him to get that opportunity, he had to play at a high level for us during that one year. He did just that. I worked well for both of us and I am extremely happy for him. He is a quality young man.”
Wilkins averaged 14.8 points and 9.1 rebounds a game for the Cougars this past season. He shot 49 percent from the floor and made 43 3-pointers.
He was a first team All Region VI and All Jayhawk Conference and was one of only two Cougars to start all 36 games. Wilkins recorded 13 double-doubles.
Barton finished the season 29-7, earning a trip the NJCAA Tournament, where the Cougars won two games, advancing to the Elite Eight.
Wilkins also had offers from Loyola Chicago, Milwaukee, Kent State, Indiana State and Bradley among others. In all, Wilkins had 15 offers to choose from.
He was the only Cougar to sign on the first day of the spring signing period. The Cougars expect more to sign in the upcoming weeks.