Ben Jacobson looked Matt MacDougall in the eye last Thursday and offered him a spot on the University of Northern Iowa basketball team for next season.

MacDougall didn't need any time to think it over. "I accepted on the spot," he said Monday night.

MacDougall, a 6-foot-4 guard from Cedar Rapids Prairie, will join the Panthers as a preferred walk-on, which means he's guaranteed a place on the team but will not receive a scholarship next season.

"I'm excepted to get to work," he said. "Hopefully I'll work real hard and will be able to help the club some day."

MacDougall averaged 14.3 points and 6.4 rebounds this season and made third team all-state.

MacDougall will be the fourth former Metro player on Coach Jacobson's team next season, joining Wes Washpun (Cedar Rapids Washington), Matt Bohannon (Linn-Mar) and Max Martino (Cedar Rapids Kenendy). Washpun announced Monday that he plans to join the Panthers after spending one year at Tennessee.