Jonesboro, AR – (Contributed) – Arkansas State men’s basketball head coach Ryan Pannone announced the addition of five players to the 2026-27 roster on Tuesday, signing Anthony Hester, Aliou Maiga, Aaron McGee, Delang Muon, and Rho Omed.
Hester will arrive in Jonesboro following the conclusion of his interscholastic career at Mills University Studies High School. The Little Rock native averaged 14 points and eight rebounds during the 2024-25 campaign and guided the Comets to a 35-1 record that included a 56-51 win over Morrilton in the 4A State Championship.
“One of the biggest things that stands out about Anthony Hester is that he is a state champion,” Pannone said. “I loved him on film because he’s got some incredible tools. He’s 6-6, long, athletic, can shoot threes, has a quick trigger, and he defends multiple positions.”
I asked him about his high school coach because I wanted to learn, and his quote about him was ‘builder of men.’ When a young man can recognize that about someone that’s invested in them, he gets the big picture.”
Maiga is a forward from Mali, and is set to transfer to the Red Wolves from South Plains College. He has appeared in all three games for the Texans this season, recording two blocks in each matchup to average 2.0 per game.
“Aliou is a 6-10, high-level shot blocker,” Pannone said. “He’s a player that Coach Sowers got to coach at South Plains College, and his rapid development and growth over the last year is something that really excites us. We think his ceiling is extremely high.
He brings to us a big-time defensive presence and is a high-level rebounder. Who he is as a person, his work ethic, is why we really wanted him.”
McGee will don the scarlet and black following his senior season at Gillion Academy. He played for Team Breakdown on the New Balance circuit, leading the team in scoring en route to a Circuit Championship and a First Team All-New Balance selection.
The Melbourne, Florida, native was named the 2025 6A District 12 Florida Athletic Coaches Association Player of the Year while at Viera High School.
“Aaron McGee is a 6-4 athletic shooting guard from Gillion Academy, and we’re very fortunate to get him,” Pannone said. “He brings athleticism, shooting, toughness, and has a chance to make plays. He’s a really well-raised young man that is focused on school, and when you are having conversations with him, he is engaged.
His little brother was on campus on the official visit, and when you got a chance to really see his care factor for him, it shows one of the many character traits that stuck out to me.”
Muon will join the program out of New Mexico Junior College, where he is averaging 7.3 points per game on 61.9 percent shooting from the floor plus a 42.9 percent clip from beyond the arc alongside 4.3 rebounds. The Frankston, Australia, native joined the Thunderbirds after one season at Southern, where he made eight starts across 32 appearances for an average of 12.3 minutes per game.
The forward converted 52 field goals on 72 attempts (72.2 percent) for the Jaguars, averaging 4.3 points per game plus 3.1 rebounds in his sophomore campaign.
“Delang is currently at New Mexico Junior College and was previously coached by Rashaad Richardson at Southern,” Pannone said. “He’s 6-9, long and athletic. He can defend one through five and is a shot blocker that can play as a four and a five.
He is an undervalued shooter, and his coach is doing a great job in his development.”
Omed is the final signing day addition and will arrive in Jonesboro following one season at Spire Academy in Geneva, Ohio. The 6-10 forward from Calgary, Alberta, previously played for The Academy Prep in Suwanee, Georgia.
“Really excited to add Rho to our team,” Pannone said. “He is a 6-10, super-skilled big guy that can dribble, pass, shoot, and really fits the way that we play offensively in terms of being able to use him as a stretch big and passer.
He’s a player that can grab a rebound and make decisions off the dribble, and he’s got a high-level upside that can continue to grow and develop.”