Eastern Kentucky Lands Rhode Island Transfer Jarelle Reischel

New Eastern Kentucky coach Dan McHale is already scoring some key victories on the recruiting trail.

One day after landing forward Anthony Pratt, Eastern Kentucky secured a pledge from 6-foot-7, 213-pound Rhode Island graduate transfer Jarelle Reischel, who will be immediately eligible in 2015-16 and has one year of eligibility remaining.

“Just the relationship with Coach Dan and the other assistant coaches,” said Reischel, a native of Germany who played at Point Pleasant Beach (N.J.) High. “I loved my visit and they have a winning culture and I want to be a part of it.”

Towns, Okafor, Mudiay Among Those Skipping Chicago Combine

Projected top three picks Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor and Emmanuel Mudiay are among the players expected to skip next week’s Draft Combine in Chicago.

Mario Hezonja of Croatia and Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia are also not expected, according to Chad Ford of ESPN.com.

The 7-foot Towns, out of St. Joe’s-Metuchen and Kentucky, is training and said on Sunday he’s looking forward to picking an agent and working out for some NBA teams.

“It would be awesome to play for anyone,” he said. “Wherever the chips fall, the chips fall. It’s just going to be an honor to be in the fraternity that is the NBA, to be able to play with the greats who have ever played this game, to put the jersey on as they put it on. I just can’t wait. I just can’t wait to see what happens.”

Kyle Alexander to Tennessee

Kyle Alexander , a 6-foot-10 1/2, 205-pound power forward from Orangeville Prep (Ontario) and CIA Bounce, committed to Tennessee, his AAU coach Tony McIntyre told SNY.tv.

Alexander also considered Dayton, Missouri and New Mexico.

“I thought it would be a better choice for me and family for me to attend the University of Tennessee,” the Milton, Ontario native told SNY.tv. “It’s closer to home. Rick Barnes is a Hall of Fame coach with a lot of success with Canadians and [I like] his assistant Rob Lanier.”

Barnes coached both Tristan Thompson and Myck Kabongo, fellow Canadians, at Texas and recently added another Canuck in 6-10 Ray Kasongo of College of Southern Idaho. Tennessee also landed reclassified point guard Lamonte’ Turner of IMG Academy in the late period.