Paul Mills lands first recruit at Wichita State with UTSA transfer center Jacob Germany
The first domino in the recruiting season has fallen.
UTSA transfer Jacob Germany, a 6-foot-11 center with one season of eligibility remaining, announced his commitment to the Wichita State men’s basketball team on Tuesday morning, just two days after completing his official visit.
It’s the first recruiting win of head coach Paul Mills’ tenure with the Shockers and could kick off a chain reaction over the next week.
After announcing his decision on Tuesday morning, Germany told The Eagle that it had been a long time coming.
“Honestly, as soon as coach Mills got announced that he had (the Wichita State) job, I was instantly drawn towards that,” Germany said. “And then once I got there on the visit, it was wraps. I had another visit (to Vanderbilt) set up, but after talking to coach Mills and after meeting the rest of the coaches and the guys, I was so dead set. No one could have thrown anything at me to change my mind.”
Germany gives WSU a veteran presence at the center position, as he compiled 1,261 points, 760 rebounds and 83 starts in a standout, four-year career at UTSA, which coincidentally is moving to the American Athletic Conference this upcoming season.
Mills, then the head coach at Oral Roberts, recruited Germany, a highly-touted prospect out of Kingston, Okla., four years ago coming out of high school. His first official visit was with Mills at ORU and that relationship paid off the second time around when Germany was in the transfer portal.
“We’ve had a good relationship for a few years now,” Germany told The Eagle after his visit. “I like him as a coach and I know Wichita is a great place. I’ve heard some amazing things about the fan support there and the culture that place has had. That’s something that really draws me as a player is that culture and then coach Mills.”
Germany, a 6-foot-11 southpaw, averaged 14.7 points and 7.2 rebounds as a junior, then followed that up with averages of 12.3 points and 8.3 rebounds this past season. Germany had his fair share of individual success — he ended his career top-10 in UTSA history in points, rebounds and blocks — but the team finished with a combined 48-74 record in his four years.
His specialty is his left-handed hook shot around the basket, but he feels like he has versatility to his game. His range at UTSA didn’t extend to the three-point line, but Germany did prove plenty capable of knocking down 15-footers. He was one of the best rebounders in the country this past season and his size has always made him a shot-blocking presence around the rim on defense.
“I’m really big on personal development and growing as a person and being in a good culture,” Germany said. “I think coach Mills would be a really good step for me in my whole journey in life. What’s intriguing to me is going somewhere where I can really grow as a person.”
Germany told The Eagle after his visit to Wichita that he had one scheduled to Vanderbilt early this week, but nixed those plans to visit SEC facilities to commit to the Shockers.
“It’s a huge relief off my shoulders,” Germany said. “I’m a big Christian, so I prayed about it every night. Even before I went on the visit there. It’s such a big decision for me and my family and my supporters. I’m just happy that I found the right place and I’m so excited to get out there as soon as I can.”
Germany said he still has one class he is taking in San Antonio before he graduates this May and hopes to move to Wichita as soon as possible. Newcomers typically arrive in Wichita in early June.
WSU currently only has one center on its roster in 7-foot junior Quincy Ballard, a rim-running shot-blocker who was limited to 10.1 minutes per game in 10 appearances due to injuries, while last year’s starter, junior Kenny Pohto, remains in the transfer portal but uncommitted.
“(Mills) gave me a glimpse of what I might look like in Wichita when I was on my visit,” Germany said. “He really likes my style of play. I’m a versatile big. I don’t need my back to the basket all the time. I can space it and I can run in transition and that fits the program he wants to build and his style of play really well.”
This story was originally published April 11, 2023 at 11:38 AM.
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