FORT SMITH, Ark. – With a host of players returning from last year’s team, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith men’s basketball coach Josh Newman doesn’t have to replenish his roster all that much this offseason.

Still, the Lions coach has some holes to fill, and he took one step in accomplishing that task on Wednesday afternoon with the signing of Broken Arrow (Okla.) High School’s Jake Toupal.

Toupal, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard, averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 assists and two steals per game this past season while guiding the Class 6A Tigers to a 21-5 record. He shot 46 percent from the field, 79 percent from the free-throw line and 37 percent from 3-point range this past season.

“We are really excited about adding Jake to our program. He fits a huge need on our team, and we anticipate that he will handle that perfectly,” said Newman, whose Lions will begin their second season as members of NCAA Division II and the Heartland Conference. “As our roster continues to evolve, it is important that we add not only quality players but high-character individuals. Jake fits that perfectly.”

Toupal was the Frontier Valley Conference Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Metro honors. He also was Second Team All-State and will play in the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-Star Game in July.