NEW ORLEANS, La. - University of New Orleans Athletics honored 13 fall student-athlete graduates in a graduation reception on Thursday, Dec. 7. New Orleans will hold Fall Commencement today at 1 p.m. at Lakefront Arena.
"Balancing the demands of playing an NCAA Division I sport with a full academic schedule is an impressive achievement. These student-athletes have represented the University and the City of New Orleans in an outstanding manner. We are confident they will continue to do so whether they are beginning their professional playing careers, joining the workforce or pursuing advanced degrees. My hope is they will carry with them the core values of integrity, accountability, teamwork, and grit to their communities whether near or far." New Orleans Vice President of Athletics & Recreation Tim Duncan said.
"I always find joy in seeing our student-athletes be proud of their achievements in the classroom. Every day I get to see the dedication and hustle that they all put into getting to this point. With each of them, I am truly excited to see how they all continue to excel and grow. It's my hope that each graduate can use their experiences at the University to build on this success with pride." said Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Services Phil Pinkston said.
Take a look at what these graduates accomplished during their time as New Orleans Privateers:
WOMEN'S XC TRACK & FIELD
Tshwanelo Maruping | Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
Maruping joined the program in 2022 leading the Privateers to their first Southland Championship. She earned Southland Newcomer of the Year and Southland first-team honors with her third-place finish in 20:57.77. This year, Maruping helped secure a second-place team finish at the SLC Cross-Country Championships coming in 4th place (21:41.1).
She was also named first team All-Southland. Maruping finished 40th place at the 2023 NCAA South Central Regionals running the 12th fastest NCAA Regional marks in program history (21:48.4). During her time here, the Tlhageng Kimberly, South Africa native reached a personal best time of 2:12 in the 800m, 4:29.67 in the 1500, and 4:57.29 in the mile.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Sydney Gott | Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
Joining the program in 2022, Gott helped lead the Privateers to their first Southland Tournament victory for since 2009 with the win over UIW this year. She had a season high of 13 kills at Nicholls on October 5, 2023. In her first year as a Privateer, Gott earned All-Tournament honors at the New Orleans Invitational and was second on the team in total blocks with 58.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
DeArica Pryor | Bachelor of Science in Finance
Pryor is the first Preseason First Team All-Southland member in program history since 2017. She made the Second Team in the postseason last year after putting forth her biggest statistical year. The Urbandale, Iowa native poured in 440 total points over 27 games last season and led the Southland both in scoring and steals. Pryor is a two-time selection of the All-Defensive Team including last year when she posted 2.9 steals per contest. In the 2022-23 season, her 77 steals were the seventh-highest total in a single season in program history. Pryor posted a career-high 35 points in the 2023 Privateers' Southland Conference Tournament first round game against McNeese.
BASEBALL
Nathan Blasick | Bachelor of Science in Finance
Blasick joined the program in 2022-23 as a West Virginia transfer. He hit .120 last season for the Privateers and started six out of 17 games.
Ryan Delorbe | Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
Joining the program in 2022 as a redshirt sophomore, Delorbe finished last season with a 10-6 record on the mound. The Bronx, New York native pitched 21 innings total and had a season high four strikeouts against HCU.
Tyler LeBlanc | Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
LeBlanc became a Privateer as a freshman in 2021. Over his last three seasons, the Lafayette, Louisiana native has an 11-8 record on 31 starts and 38 appearances. LeBlanc made big strides in a sophomore season that saw him lead the team and finish fourth in the Southland in strikeouts with 74. He also co-led the team in wins with seven and earned Third Team All-Southland honors. In the 2023 preseason, he was named Second Team. He hit a season-high nine strikeouts against Jackson State on February 24, 2023.
Tyler McKenna | Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
McKenna joined the program last season as a transfer from Daytona State College, and has not yet appeared for the Privateers. At Daytona, he played 17 games, had nine hits in 42 at-bats, and drove in eight runs.
Brandon Mitchell | Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
Mitchell is a former baseball student-athlete who played all four seasons as a Privateer. Mitchell earned First Team All-Louisiana honors after a phenomenal 2023 season. He finished 11-3 with a 3.65 ERA and threw four complete games. The senior from Houston finished tied for third in the country in complete games. His 11 wins were the second most in a single season by a Privateer since 2000 and tied for the ninth most in a year in program history. He threw 101.0 innings across 16 starts and threw at least six innings in all nine of his starts against Southland opponents in the regular season. He threw a career-high 11 strikeouts in the win over Brown on March 4, 2023.
Mitchell Sanford | Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
Sanford was originally in Baton Rouge before heading to UT-Arlington and then to New Orleans last year. Sanford appeared in 60 games for the Privateers, hitting .319.
Miguel Useche | Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
Miguel Useche was the starting catcher for the Privateers last season. Useche earned All-Louisiana honorable mention after batting .298 with six home runs and 36 RBI in 55 games (all starts). He also co-led the team in doubles with 16. That total ranked tied for ninth in the Southland. For his career, Useche has 32 doubles in 102 games. Useche was also named to the 2022 Southland All-Tournament Team.
Jack Williams |Bachelor of Science in Psychology
In his two seasons as a Privateer, Williams earned a 10-3 record on five starts and 27 appearances. In 2022, Williams earned seven wins out of the pen and only walked five batters in 37.1 innings. Williams also inherited the most runners of any pitcher on staff last season (18).
GRADUATE ASSISTANTS
Mauri Carver | Masters of Higher Education Administration
As a volleyball graduate assistant, Carver helped lead the Privateers to their first Southland Tournament victory for the Privateers and their first conference tournament triumph since 2009. Mauri Carver played her final collegiate season with the Privateers after a standout career at Maryland-Eastern Shore. Carver led the MEAC in blocks in 2021 and was voted team captain by her sophomore season with the Hawks. In New Orleans, Carver was a force at the net. She finished fifth in the Southland in hitting percentage and landed eighth in blocks per set. Carver also earned an NCAA Ethnic Minority Scholarship and was selected to participate in the NCAA Career in Sports Forum.
Alexandra Louis | Master's of Health Care Management
Louis worked in the athletics department in the last year as the Keith & Cindy Gillies Athletic Academic Assistant. Louis helped facilitate the Student-Athlete of the Month recognitions in addition to assisting Pinkstonin all academic services needs. Louis earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Performance Health Promotion in May 2023 and was a women's cross country and track & field student athlete. As a student-athletes she was also named All-Academic Southland second team.
