Alcorn Braves Sign Elite Class on Basketball Signing Day

COACH LUTHER RILEY
HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY
Courtesy: ASU Athletics

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Head Coach Luther Riley was at it again this year signing a few elite players across the south region today on national day. The Braves will add four new faces to last year's team who went 12-19 this season.

The class includes, Juwan Henderson (Georgia), Reginald "Monsta" Johnson, Jr. (Louisiana), Tamarico Wilson (Holmes CC), and Xavier Graves (Coahoma CC).

Henderson, is a 5-11 point guard from Atlanta, Ga. who averaged 23.0 ppg and seven assists at Stephenson High School. He earned All-Distrcit, All-Region, All-Dekalb County and All-State honors during his senior year. He's known for his cat-quickness and ability to distribute the ball.

Johnson, is a 6-5 215 pound guard and forward who avearaged over 30 points per game, eight rebounds, and four assists. He attended Richwood High School in Monroe, La. where he led his team to a state championship, a runner-up in the state championship (2014), and four district 2-3A championships. He was also named the Class 3A MVP back-to-back years and this year was crowned as the 2014 Mr. Basketball for the State of Louisiana.

Wilson is a 6-2, 205 pound combo guard who attended Holmes Community College this past season. He averaged 12 points, four rebounds, which earned him a spot on the Mississippi JUCO All-Star Team this past season. He was also a member of the MACJC All-State 2nd Tema this year.

Graves (Bassfield, MS) was a force inside for the Tigers this season nearly averaging a double-double. His 13 points and nine rebounds per game, along with two blocks, were a big reason that CCC advanced to the MACJC playoffs for the second consecutive season. He was Co-MVP in the 2014 MACJC All-Star game.

"My focus during this recruiting period was to add quality players to go along with the nucleus that's returning next season," stated Head Coach Luther Riley. "Not only do I think we have good basketball players joining our program, but we have some great student-athletes with outstanding personalities."

Riley and his staff are planning on signing two more student-athletes later on before recruiting season is over.

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATIION

Alcorn State signs Louisiana's Mr. Basketball

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Alcorn State landed a big target Wednesday when Reginal Johnson Jr. signed with the Braves.

Johnson Jr. was recently named Mr. Basketball by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association's Farm Bureau. The 6-foot-4 forward from Monroe, La., averaged 32 points and 15 rebounds for Richwood High School, which finished runner-up in the Class 3A. He chose Alcorn among offers from Arkansas-Monticello and LSU-Alexandria.

"We wanted to fill three spots. We wanted a point guard, a big and a utility guy like Reginal," Alcorn coach Luther Riley said. "And I think he has the body makeup, he has the toughness and mentality."

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AAMU Bulldogs play host to area high school coaches

NORMAL, Alabama – With nine practices down, the Alabama A&M football program hosted a high school coach's social and clinic Wednesday, April 16.

Head coach James Spady and his staff met with each and every coach introducing themselves then explaining their football philosophy.

The Bulldog coaching staff then went into the tenth session of spring football allowing the area coaches and opportunity to see the pistol offense and 4-3 defense in action.



After two and a half hours of work A&M ended their tenth practice of the spring with a controlled scrimmage that allowed the coaches to see certain plays in action.

Next up A&M will complete their "Taking the show to the community" event with their second scrimmage of the spring at Bob Jones High School on April 18, at 10 a.m.

Everyone is invited to witness Bulldog football "Spady Style"

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU Rattlers Score 4 Unanswered Runs To Defeat ASU 4-3

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M (16-21, 10-7 MEAC) scored four unanswered runs to defeat Alabama State (28-14, 16-2 SWAC) 4-3 on Wednesday at Moore-Kittles Field. William Carrasco (3-3) earned his third win in 11 days after pitching 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits with four strikeouts. Ryan Kennedy and Marlon Gibbs combined to go 4-for-7 with two RBI in the win.

The Hornets grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning courtesy of an RBI single from Einar Muniz. Dexter Price hit a double down the left line before advancing to third on a wild pitch with two outs. Muniz singled through the right side to score Price from third for the first run of the game.

Alabama State increased its lead to 3-0 on Richard Gonzalez’s two-run home run in the third inning.

Florida A&M cut into the Hornet lead with a run in the fourth inning to make it 3-1. Logan Seymour drew a leadoff walk for the first base runner of the game for the Rattlers. Seymour then stole second and moved to third as Kennedy singled through the left side to put runners on the corners with one out. FAMU got on the board with an RBI single from Gibbs to plate Seymour, but Michael Birdsong later grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the scoring threat for the Rattlers.

The Rattlers tied the game in the sixth, at 3-3, with three hits and two runs in the inning. After Ryan Debi grounded out to second for the first out of the inning, Seymour doubled and Bennie Robinson followed with a single into left center. With Seymour on third, Kennedy’s RBI single cut the lead to 3-2 and Gibbs was hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Alabama State reliever Aramando Ruiz walked Weeks with the bases still full to bring in the game tying run.

Alabama State loaded the bases twice in the seventh inning but FAMU reliever Carrasco made a great defensive play fielding a slow grounder back to the pitcher and throwing out the would-be go ahead run at the plate. Carrasco followed his defensive gem by striking out Price to end the inning, leaving the bags full for AlabamaState.

For FAMU in the eighth, Robinson singled up the middle and Gibbs recorded a single of his own with one out to put runners at first and second. Blake Quillin came to bat and hit a ball deep into the hole at short. AlabamaState tried to throw Robinson out at third on a force out, but the throw from Hornet shortstop Emmanuel Marrero sailed high allowing Robinson to score what turned out to be the game-winning run.

FAMU held AlabamaState scoreless over the final six frames.

Alabama State reliever Patrick Coffin (3-2) was tagged with the loss after giving up the winning run in the eighth inning.

Florida A&M and Alabama State close out the two game series at Moore-Kittles Field on Thursday, April 17 at 2:00 pm.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern, Banks negotiating new deal

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- One day after concluding a visit from NCAA officials, Southern turned its attention Wednesday to the future of men’s basketball coach Roman Banks.

Athletic Director William Broussard and Chancellor James Llorens met with Banks to discuss enhancing the coach’s contract and securing his services long-term.

Texas A&M contacted Banks last Friday about the vacancy for the top assistant’s position on head coach Billy Kennedy’s staff. Banks spoke twice with Kennedy, for whom he was an assistant for two seasons at Southeastern Louisiana (2003-05).

It’s unclear if Kennedy has made a formal offer to Banks, who put talks with the Aggies on hold while awaiting an opportunity to visit with Broussard and Llorens. But the Jaguars appear to be proceeding with a sense of urgency.

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GCAC champion Nuggets still 14th in NAIA rankings

DEVINN ROLLAND

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's women are still 14th in the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings announced Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

This is the first season and the second week of the rankings, which are based on the best individual times and distances during the 2014 outdoor season.

Coach Joseph Moses' Gold Nuggets won their second consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference team championship on Saturday and their third in four years. GCAC individual champions for the Nuggets were Devinn Rolland in the long jump and the 100- and 200-meter dashes, Catherine Fakler in the 1,500, 3,000 steeplechase and 5,000, Angelica Alexander in the high jump and Terri Cunningham in the 400 hurdles.

Defending NAIA champion Indiana Tech remained No. 1, followed by 2012 champion Oklahoma Baptist, which climbed one notch from a week ago.

The top 25:

1. Indiana Tech
2. Oklahoma Baptist
3. British Columbia
4. Doane
5. Wayland Baptist
6. College of Idaho
7. Baker
8. Cal State San Marcos
9. Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
10. Hastings
11. Westmont
12. Concordia (Neb.)
13. Carroll (Mont.)
14. Xavier
15. Indiana Wesleyan
16. Olivet Nazarene
17. The Master's
18. Siena Heights
19. Southern Oregon
20. Biola
21. Vanguard
22. Concordia (Ore.)
23. Cornerstone
24. McPherson
25. Bethel (Ind.)

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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No. 2 Abbes one of five ranked Xavier singles players

XU freshman Nour Abbes has yet to lose a collegiate singles match.

NEW ORLEANS — Nour Abbes is No. 2, a record for a Xavier University of Louisiana women's player, in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's NAIA national rankings announced Wednesday.
   
Abbes is one of five ranked singles players from Xavier. Teammate Kourtney Howell is 16th, and Brion Flowers is 27th. On the men's team, Kyle Montrel is 16th, and Nikita Soifer is 29th.
   
Howell had been the highest-ranked Gold Nugget at No. 6 last season. But Abbes, a freshman from Tunis, Tunisia, and a graduate of Lycée Sportif d'El Menzah, reached No. 4 in the March 12 rankings. Abbes is 13-0 in singles — six victories against NCAA Division I opponents — and 11-2 in doubles.
   
In the NAIA national doubles rankings, Howell and Flowers are fifth, and Montrel and Soifer are 20th.
   
In the ITA's South region singles rankings, Abbes is second, Howell ninth and Flowers 16th. Montrel is fifth among men in the South, and Soifer is 13th.

Howell and Flowers are fourth in the South in doubles, and Montrel and Soifer are seventh.
   
Howell is a senior from Cypress, Texas, and a graduate of Cypress Woods High School. Flowers is a sophomore from Lafayette, La. (St. Thomas More), Montrel is a sophomore from Atlanta (Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy), and Soifer is a junior from Beer Sheva, Israel (Hof Hasharon).
   
The Gold Nuggets' next dual will be April 25 in the NAIA Unaffiliated Group 2 Tournament in New Orleans. Pairings and times will be announced next week. The Gold Rush will play the University of New Orleans at 3 p.m. Thursday at XU Tennis Center. Day and venue of that dual were moved.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/xulagold