St. Aug's RJ Daniels signs scholarship with XU Gold Rush

R.J. Daniels

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — RJ Daniels, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from New Orleans and Saint Augustine High School, signed a men's basketball scholarship Tuesday with Xavier University of Louisiana.

Daniels averaged 8.9 points, six rebounds and two steals per game this past season for the Purple Knights, who were 31-6 and won the Class 5A state championship and the District 10-5A championship. Daniels scored nine points Monday in St. Aug's season-opening 63-43 victory at Brother Martin.

"We are excited to bring RJ into the Xavier family," ninth-year Gold Rush coach Dannton Jackson said. "He is a great addition to our program. He brings a winning attitude and academic excellence to our university. He knows how to win. He's a tough player. He can shoot the ball and take it to the rim."

Daniels, Xavier's first signee for 2012-13, will be a biology/pre-medical major.

RJ Daniels signed a men's basketball scholarship with Xavier University of
Louisiana at the St. Augustine High School library Tuesday. In attendance were,
 from left: XU athletics director Dennis Cousin, XU head coach Dannton Jackson,
 family members Marcel Daniels, Angerean Taylor, Connie Daniels,
Roland Daniels, Caleb Daniels and XU assistant coach Alfred Williams.

(click on all photos to enlarge)

The Gold Rush are 4-0 and ranked 21st in NAIA Division I. The XU men were 27-6 in 2010-11 and qualified for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship for the fifth time in seven seasons. Xavier's 26 seasons of 20 or more victories are the most in the history of Louisiana men's college basketball.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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