EKU men’s basketball picks up Saint Francis transfer Cranford

EKU Athletics

RICHMOND, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- Juan Cranford Jr, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound guard from Saint Francis, is the newest member of Head Coach A.W. Hamilton’s Eastern Kentucky men’s basketball team.

In over 30 games as a freshman for the Red Flash, Cranford averaged 10.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He made 45% of his shots from the field and was a 39% shooter from distance. At the charity stripe, he knocked down 90% of his shots.

Those statistics were good enough to earn him Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year and NEC Tournament MVP honors.

“We’re so excited about Juan joining our program,” said Hamilton.  “He’s extremely efficient and can make shots from anywhere on the floor.  His fearless mentality fits our style of play perfectly.”

Cranford is a Dayton, Ohio native and played at Wayne High School, where he was a three-time all conference player and the Greater Western Ohio Conference Player of the Year as a senior in 2023-24.

He is the second offseason addition to EKU’s team after the Colonels signed MJ Williams on Monday. Williams is a rising freshman from North Carolina and plays guard.