Alexander, Jackson are first Gold Rush signees for 2015-16

NEW ORLEANS -- Guards Leland Alexander of Houma, La., and Seth Jackson of Baton Rouge, La., are Xavier University of Louisiana's first men's basketball signees for 2015-16.
     

Both student-athletes signed scholarship documents Wednesday afternoon at their respective schools — Alexander at Ellender Memorial High School, Jackson at Baton Rouge Community College.      

Alexander, 6-feet-5 and 180 pounds, averaged 19 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals per game in 2014-15 for Ellender's Class 4A state quarterfinalist team. He is a two-time district MVP and played in the Louisiana and Terrebonne Parish all-star games. Alexander averaged 22 points, 11 rebounds and three assists as a junior.
     

"Leland is a long and extremely athletic defender. He can handle the ball, shoot it well and rebound well," XU coach Dannton Jackson said. "He's going to be real versatile for us. Once he gets on the weights with us, he's going to get even better."
     

Alexander's single-game highs at Ellender included 32 points as a junior and 30 as a senior. He made the school's A/B honor roll multiple times.
     

"Xavier is a good school and a good opportunity," Alexander said. "I wanted to go somewhere where I was wanted. It's a good environment, and it's not too far from home. Coach Jackson has a high graduation percentage in his program, and that most definitely made a positive impression on me."
     

Seth Jackson, 6-1 and 176 pounds, is not related to the XU coach. He averaged 9.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and made 39.4 percent of his 3-pointers for BRCC in 2014-15. He scored in double figures 11 times and had back-to-back games with five 3-pointers made.
     

"We've liked Seth for a long time," Dannton Jackson said. "Seth is a strong, very athletic guard who defends at a high level. We're excited to get him in here."
     

Seth Jackson was a two-year starter at Baton Rouge's Redemptorist High School and helped his team reach the second round of the 2012 Class 2A playoffs and the 2011 Class 3A playoffs. Jackson will have two seasons of eligibility at Xavier.
     

Alexander has not decided on a major at Xavier. Jackson will major in business.
     

Xavier was 24-10 in 2014-15, finished second in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular season and tournament, qualified for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship for a school-record fifth consecutive year and ranked 21st in the postseason poll.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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