Josiah Strong commits to Colorado State over multiple high-major programs

DENVER — Colorado State has landed Illinois State transfer Josiah Strong. 

A veteran guard with an ability to light up the gym from deep, Strong comes to CSU with experience in three different programs under his belt.  

Excited to announce I will be attending Colorado State University for my final year of eligibility. Ram nation, 2 locked in!!💚💚🐏🐏 @CSUMBasketball #Godspeed pic.twitter.com/nvFJaNdXy1

— Josiah Strong (@jbuckets5) May 12, 2022

The 6-foot-4, 195-pound hoopster started his career at the Naval Academy in 2018-19, where he averaged 3.1 points in about 10 minutes per game as a true freshman in the Patriot League.

Strong then moved on to Iowa Western Community College and averaged 17.8 points per game on 49 percent shooting from the floor and 46 percent from deep as a sophomore. In 28 games played for Iowa Western CC, Strong scored in double-figures 25 times and made a three in every single game. 

His red-hot season at the JUCO level caught the attention of Illinois State, where in 55 games Strong hit 39 percent of his attempts from 3-point range over the last two seasons. In 31.5 minutes per game, Strong averaged 11.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists during his time with the Red Birds. 

As a senior in 2021-22, Strong scored 10 or more points on 19 different occasions. His best offensive performance of the year was at Chicago State on Dec. 11, 2021, when Strong dropped 26 points on 80 percent shooting from the floor. One week later he actually hit 8 of 10 attempts from the floor again, finishing with 23 points in a win over Ball State. 

While Strong may not be one of the names that you’ve seen repeatedly mentioned by the talking heads — coming from a a 13-20 team in the Missouri Valley Conference doesn’t catch everyone’s attention immediately — it’s clear that he was coveted in the transfer portal by respectable basketball programs. According to the Minnesota Daily News, the University of Minnesota reached out, as did California, Oklahoma and Wake Forest. After visiting CSU, though, Strong elected to rock with the Rams and he is definitely a welcomed addition. 

After losing Adam Thistlewood, Dischon Thomas and Kendle Moore, three guys that have contributed a lot of 3-point production for the Rams over the last couple of years, CSU needed to go out and find some players to help offset what was lost with their departures. The Rams already brought in Patrick Cartier, a bruising power forward out of Hillsdale College, that can score at all three levels. CSU signed Tavi Jackson as well, a three-star prep guard from East Las Vegas, with serious athleticism. And now with Strong the Rams have a two guard that can help stretch the floor with his 3-point shooting and ability to get to the rim. 

If David Roddy chooses to come back for his senior year, the Rams will only have one more scholarship to fill before the fall. One player to keep an eye on is Marcellus Earlington, a 6-foot-6, 240-pound forward that’s played in 105 games between his time at Saint John’s and the University of San Diego. Earlington visited campus this week, so at the very least he is intrigued by the possibility of joining CSU. At this point, though, the roster is shaping up to be really solid for the 2022-23 season.