Gold Rush welcome 4 more for upcoming hoops season

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men’s basketball has added four more newcomers for the 2018-19 season.
Third-year head coach Alfred Williams announced Wednesday the following signings:

•  Ed Carter, a 6-foot-1 guard from Detroit and Edison Public School Academy. A transfer from NCAA Division I University of Detroit Mercy, Carter will major in mass communications at XULA and be a sophomore on the roster.

•  Haji Jawara, a 6-11 junior center from Oslo, Norway, and Persbraaten High School. A transfer from Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City, La., Jawara will major in sociology at XULA and pursue minors in business and psychology.

•  Anfernee King, a 5-10 sophomore guard from Donalsonville, Ga., and Seminole County High School. King transferred from Olney Central College, a two-year school in Olney, Ill., and will major in business sales and marketing.

•  Johnell Lane, a 6-3 junior guard/forward from Gonzales, La., and East Ascension High School. A transfer from the University of Texas at Tyler, Lane will major in social justice.

“All four of these young men are of high character and possess a strong work ethic,” said Williams, who last season led the Gold Rush to a 24-9 record, a share of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship and a berth in the NAIA Division I National Championship tournament.

Carter redshirted at Detroit Mercy this past season after playing in 20 games in 2016-17. Carter averaged 18.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game as a senior at Edison (2015-16) and received honorable mention on the Associated Press Class C All-State team. As a junior he averaged 17 points, 7.5 assists, seven rebounds and three steals. Carter was honorable mention All-Detroit as a junior and senior.

“Ed Carter is a versatile combo guard,” Williams said. “He has a lot experience from the Division I level. He is a capable 3-point shooter. He’s a leader. He’s a throwback old-school guard.”

Jawara averaged 11.2 points, 11.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots per 40 minutes the past two seasons. He spent his freshman season at New Mexico Junior College before transferring to BPCC, where he had high games of 17 and 15 points and 13 rebounds.

“Haji has a ton of potential,” Williams said. “He is a very active rebounder and shot blocker. He has great hands. He’s a great teammate.”

King made 86 percent of his free throws and averaged 6.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 assists per game for Olney Central in 2017-18. He shared the team lead in steals and was third in assists. At Seminole County he was first-team Region 1-AA as a senior (2015-16), and as a junior he made the Georgia Sportswriters Association Class AA All-State first team after averaging 18.3 points, seven rebounds, 4.5 assists and 5.6 steals for a state champion.

“Anfernee is a throwback old-school guard in the same mold as Ed Carter,” Williams said. “He’s a combo guard who can score, shoot and pass. He’s defensive-minded, and he loves to win.”

This past season Lane averaged 13.1 points and 4.8 rebounds and made 39.2 percent of his 3-pointers (65-of-166) for the second-winningest team in UT Tyler history (17-9). Lane was All-American Southwest Conference honorable mention in its East Division. He was all-district at East Ascension as a senior.

“Johnell is a knockdown shooter with great size,” Williams said. “He has the ability to stretch the floor and open lanes for everyone else. His work ethic is unbelievably strong.”

XULA, a qualifier for nationals 11 of its past 14 seasons, will open the season Oct. 26 against Keiser at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. The home opener will be Nov. 1 against Carver at the Convocation Center.