The non-conference round of games has ended for all twelve Mid-American Conference teams, and the early portion of the season has given us several top-level performances. With the gauntlet of conference play set to begin this weekend, here are five players to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
Javontae Campbell, Guard, Bowling Green Falcons
Javontae Campbell, a 6’2”, 155-pound JUCO transfer from Muskogee, Oklahoma, has made his mark on the Falcons early into his tenure. Campbell has been a consistent scoring threat for the Falcons, averaging 16.2 points per game on a highly efficient 55.8% shooting from the field. He’s been equally impressive on the defensive side of the ball, where he’s had at least two steals in every game he’s appeared in this season, including an active streak of four games with at least four steals. He’s currently averaging 3.3 steals per game on the season, the most in the MAC and 2nd most nationwide.
After putting up an 11 point, 11 rebound, and 10 assist triple-double against Division II opponent Aquinas College on December 23, Campbell was named the Mid-American Conference’s Player of the Week. It was the first triple-double recorded by a Bowling Green player since 2007.
AJ Clayton, Forward, Ohio Bobcats
AJ Clayton, in his fourth and final season in Athens, has been a central piece in the Bobcats’ offense this season. Clayton currently leads the team in points, rebounds, and blocks per game and tops the team in field goal percentage, converting 47.9% of his shots from the field. At 6’8” tall, Clayton’s interior presence has been invaluable for Ohio early on in the season. More than that, it’s Clayton’s abilities a shooter that skyrockets his value. Clayton is tied for first in the MAC in three-pointers attempted per game at 7.5, and converts them at an efficient 36.7%.
Clayton was named a First Team All-MAC selection in the coaches’ conference preseason poll and was named conference co-player of the week on November 25.
VonCameron Davis, Forward, Kent State Golden Flashes
A preseason First Team All-MAC selection, VonCameron Davis is one of the main reasons the Golden Flashes were voted as the favorites to win the conference. A fifth-year senior, Davis has worked his way up through the rotation during his tenure and is now the focal point of Kent State’s offense. Leading the team with 14.9 points per game on 44.3% shooting, Davis has the ability to score from all three levels of the court. He topped 1,000 career points in a December 6 loss to #6 Alabama.
Davis entered the transfer portal in March 2024, but ultimately elected to stay with Kent State to close out his collegiate career.
Jalen Terry, Guard, Eastern Michigan Eagles
Jalen Terry has been Mr. Do-It-All for Eastern Michigan to start the season. Terry, a transfer from DePaul University, leads the Eagles in points, assists, steals, and field goal percentage, while also being second on the team in rebounds. Terry has played a whopping 36.8 minutes per game, which is the most in the Mid-American Conference and eighth most in the country. Terry is particularly unstoppable when playing in Ypsilanti, he is averaging 17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists at home on incredibly high efficiency: 53.1% shooting from the field and 44.8% from three.
Terry was a four-star recruit coming out of high school in the class of 2020. He started his career with the Oregon Ducks before transferring to DePaul in 2021, and then to Eastern Michigan in the summer of 2024.
James Okonkwo, Forward, Akron Zips
Okonkwo, the only bench player on this list, has been integral to the Zips so far this season. Bringing energy and physicality off the bench, Okonkwo’s 240-pound frame gives him the ability to bully opposing bigs. A former three-star recruit, Okonkwo started out at West Virginia before transferring to North Carolina. After struggling to break into the rotation at both stops, Okonkwo has become an integral part of an Akron team that leads the Mid-American Conference in rebounding and is third in scoring. Okonkwo has lead the conference in rebounding with 8.6 per game and has added 8.3 points per game as well.
Mid-American Conference play kicks off on Friday, January 3 with Okonkwo’s Akron Zips on the road against Javontae Coleman’s Bowling Green Falcons.
