“We are very . . .
Originally from Queens, N.Y., Mateen spent last season at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyo. During the 2017-18 campaign, Mateen averaged 17.6 points, 4.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 37.1 percent from three-point range and 85.9 percent from the free-throw line, which ranked 18th nationally. Mateen had a 2.3 assist-turnover ratio and recorded 1.8 steals per game while helping the Golden Eagles to a 17-win season.
“Zaire is a dynamic guard who can score in multiple ways,” Montgomery said of Mateen. “He is a good distributor of the basketball and has good maturity, both as a person and as a basketball player. Zaire made a smooth transition to college basketball at Laramie and we expect the same as he transitions to NIU.”
Mateen will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
A native of Victorville, Calif., Travis joins the Huskies following two seasons at Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz. Last season at Pima, Travis averaged 12.1 points, 7.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game while also shooting 76.8 percent from the free-throw line and 38 percent from three-point range. Travis helped guide Pima to a 31-5 overall record and a runner-up finish in the NJCAA Division II national tournament, where he was named to the all-tournament team.
“Alize is an excellent passer and decision-maker,” Montgomery said of Travis. “He led one of the highest-scoring teams in the country last year and has the ability to score himself as well as setup others. Alize is a cerebral player who has played with, and against, high-level talent which should allow him to fit in here immediately.”
Travis will have two seasons of remaining eligibility.
Mateen and Travis become NIU’s third and fourth signees for the 2018-19 season, joining Justin Lee (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill) who signed in November and Austin Richie (Glenwood, Ill./Don Bosco Institute) who signed on April 27.