Southeastern Louisiana signs three for 2022 men’s basketball class

HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University men’s basketball team inked Brody Rowbury, Sami Pissis and Mehdi Pissis to the 2022-23 signing class, SLU head men’s basketball coach David Kiefer announced Thursday morning.

Rowbury (6-11, 290, F) was named the Gatorade Idaho Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year following the 2020-21 season. A Meridian, Idaho native, Rowbury helped guide Meridian High School to a 20-1 record and the Idaho 5A State Championship on March 6, 2021, under head coach Jeff Sanor.

As a senior, Rowbury averaged 17.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, shooting 60.4 percent from the field and 71.4 percent at the free throw line. After high school, Rowbury reclassed to 2022 and did a post-graduate year at Sunrise Christian Academy (SCA). At SCA in Bel-Aire, Kansas, Rowbury averaged 10 points and six rebounds per game. SCA has produced NBA players such as Buddy Hield and 77 Division I players, including Rowbury.

“I really liked the relationship I built with the SLU coaching staff during the recruiting process,” said Rowbury. “The program accomplished great things last year and I’m excited to come in this upcoming season and help build on it.”

The Pissis brothers join the Lions by way of Paris, France. Mehdi (6-5, 210, G), the older brother of Sami, played in 30 games last season for Missouri State University West Plains Junior College, averaging 9.5 points per game. The sophomore adds a long range threat to the fray after shooting 35.8 percent from three-point range (63-for-176) last season. He also shot 84.9 percent at the free throw line (45-for-53).

“They (SLU) were the first people to put trust in me and offer me a scholarship,” said Mehdi. “And I wanted to take the opportunity to play for a program that showed they felt like I could help. And then to play with my brother makes this an even better place for me.”

Sami (6-3,190, G) suited up for post graduate program Middle Georgia Prep (MGP) in Atlanta during the 2021-22 season under head coach Aaron Tribbey. At MGP, the Paris native averaged 20.2 points, 7.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game. As a senior in high school, the freshman scored 21.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists for Trinity Christian School in Sharpsburg, Georgia. TCS, a 1A high school, upset 7A Collins Hill as Pissis scored a career-high 38 points in the win.

“The atmosphere I felt when I went on my visit to Southeastern was great,” said Sami. “I feel like I can get an opportunity to play immediately and getting the opportunity to play with my brother as well, it’s a dream come true for me.”

Kiefer, entering his fourth year as Lions’ head coach, was pleased with the intangibles of Thursday’s three signees.

“Sami is ultra-competitive and super tough,” said Kiefer. “He’s a two-way player that can play on and off the ball. Him and Brody aren’t your typical freshmen because of their toughness and high basketball IQs. They will be a big part of this team. Mehdi’s a big and skilled wing that makes shots. He’s got a lot of experience under his belt of playing at the Division II and JUCO levels. Brody is extremely skilled with a high basketball IQ as well. He’s a guy that could come in and be an immediate impact player and a dominant force for us for many years to come.”

Wednesday’s additions helped Southeastern (19-15, 10-4 Southland in 2021-22) reload with the losses of Keon Clergeot, Jalyn Hinton and Ryan Burkhardt from last year’s squad.