XU's Erves, Joseph, Simmons are preseason All-GCAC

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Denzell Erves, Wanto Joseph and Anthony Simmons have been selected to the All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference preseason men's basketball team by the GCAC head coaches. The conference announced the 12-player team Monday.      Xavier, 23-9 in 2011-12 and the GCAC regular-season co-champion, was the only school with more than two players chosen.

Denzell Erves

Wanto Joseph

Anthony Simmons

    
Erves, a 6-foot-7 senior forward from Vicksburg, Miss., and a graduate of Vicksburg High School, averaged 9.5 points this past season and led the Gold Rush with 6.8 rebounds per game and 33 blocked shots. Erves was All-GCAC and a three-time GCAC Player of the Week in 2011-12, and his six double-doubles were the most by a Gold Rush player since the start of 2003-04.

Joseph, a 5-9 senior guard from New Orleans and a graduate of O. Perry Walker High School, averaged 8.6 points, 3.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds as a junior. He led the team with 43 steals, 89 free throws and 132 free throws attempted.

Simmons, a 6-8 senior forward from Rochester, N.Y., and a graduate of Allendale Columbia School, averaged 9.7 points and six rebounds and shot a team-best 62.9 percent from the floor a year ago. He's a two-time All-GCAC selection, and he was GCAC Player of the Week twice in 2011-12.

Xavier qualified six times in the past eight seasons for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship. The Gold Rush season will begin in early November, and the schedule will be announced soon.

2012-13 Preseason All-GCAC Men's Basketball Team

Name	School	Ht.	Year	Position	Notes (provided by coaches)
Kadon Day	Tougaloo	6-5	Junior	Forward	2010-11 GCAC Freshman of the Year
Javon Demerson	Philander Smith	6-11	Junior	Center	Strong rebounder and scorer
Carlton Downing	Edward Waters	6-7	Junior	Forward	12.9 points, 9.1 rebounds per game
Kevin Dukes	SUNO	6-2	Sophomore	Guard	2011-12 GCAC Freshman of the Year
Denzell Erves	Xavier	6-7	Senior	Forward	9.5 points, 6.8 rebounds per game
Juan Gray	Tougaloo	6-0	Senior	Guard	10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds per game
Wanto Joseph	Xavier	5-9	Senior	Guard	8.6 points, 3.3 assists per game
Cameron Lewis	Fisk	6-3	Sophomore	Guard	Four 20+ point games last year
DeMarkus Lipscomb	Philander Smith	5-9	Senior	Guard	One of top defensive players
Darrell Miller	Fisk	6-7	Junior	Forward	15 double-doubles last season
Clyde Moore	SUNO	6-4	Senior	Forward	16.6 points, 8 rebounds per game
Anthony Simmons	Xavier	6-8	Senior	Forward	9.7 points, 6 rebounds per game

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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