Sophomore transfer is coveted major college recruit, hopes to help Gaston College to success

At 6-foot-10, 245 pounds, Kaleb Siler draws a lot of attention for his frame and size.

As an athletic, shot-blocking basketball, he's also becoming the most highly-recruited player in Gaston College history before playing his first regular season game.

"This is my third year in college, so I'm coming for it all," said Siler, who began his career at Western Carolina where he redshirted before playing last year at NCAA Division II USC Aiken. "I know what I can do. I want to be (Region 10) player of the year, defender of the year... everything.
"And as a team, I want to win. Every school I've been to, we've won or been close to it. I want to get another ring."

Siler and Gaston College open their regular season on Saturday at 2 p.m. against the Pfeiffer University developmental team at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School.

So far in preseason workouts and scrimmages, Siler has been able to showcase his skills for more than 20 four-year college coaches and staffers.

He's already received offers from East Carolina, Texas San Antonio, Middle Tennessee, Campbell, North Carolina A&T, Georgia State, Georgia Southern and Old Dominion.

He's already planning visits with multiple NCAA Division I schools and could visit others.

Siler isn't sure when he'll made a commitment for his future but hopes to do so before next spring.

So far, he's been working to improve his game under a coaching staff that had relationships to many of his previous stops.

"There's obviously a lot of connections in this sport," said Siler, whose Carmel Christian High coach Joe Badgett was a former Charlotte 49ers teammate of current Gaston College coach Benny Moss. "The camaraderie on this team is great. And same with the coaches.
"I started at Western Carolina and redshirted but I was able to see college basketball at the highest level. I saw basketball at a different level (at USC Aiken) but I hit the portal.
"As soon as I hit the portal, coach Moss called me. And he said, 'I know what you can do. I know what level you deserve to be at. I want to trust me and come here and I'll help you out.'
"And he's done nothing but kept that promise."