CARBONDALE - In search of experience, Southern Illinois University men's basketball coach Chris Lowery appeared to get a little more Thursday.

Jack Crowder III, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound small forward from Cowley (Kan.) College, became the sixth member of Lowery's 2009 class after signing a financial agreement with the school. Crowder, 20, is the 24th-best junior college player in the country, according to rivals.com's JucoJunction.

"I just felt comfortable with the whole situation," Crowder said. "The coaches told me there would be playing time available, if I wanted it."

Crowder led the Jayhawk Conference in scoring at 20.7 points per game, and was the Tigers' leading rebounder at 7.1 per game. Crowder's 685 points last season were the sixth-best in school history. Against Coffeyville Community College, he scored 43 points in a 93-91 overtime victory.

"I've watched SIU for a long time. They play hard, get after it," former Cowley coach Steve Eck said. "He played hard for me for the last two years. I know coach will ask a lot out of him, and I think he's ready for that kind of challenge."

An honorable mention junior college All-American, Crowder shot 56 percent from the floor and helped Cowley finish 29-5. The Tigers lost in the Region IV finals, one step from the Division I national tournament, and were ranked 17th in the nation in the final poll.

SIU finished 13-18 last season, but could return four starters. Three of those potential returning starters will be second-year players in the program: incoming sophomores Justin Bocot, Kevin Dillard and Ryan Hare. Carlton Fay, a 6-8 incoming junior, started on the wing. SIU could return six of its top nine from 2008-09, and will get Iowa transfer Tony Freeman this winter. Freeman sat out last season via NCAA rules.

Crowder joined guards Drew Barham and Kendal Brown-Surles, forwards Jordan Myers and Gene Teague and guard/forward John Freeman in the Class of '09. Freeman is a junior college transfer from Vincennes (Ind.) University, while Teague is a prep school transfer from New Jersey.

todd.hefferman@thesouthern.com / 618-351-5087