BE THERE
Ticket options for the 2023-24 basketball season are available HERE. The Privateer's home opener is November 6 versus Millsaps at 7 p.m. at Lakefront Arena.
NEW ORLEANS, La. - As they embark on another season, the New Orleans men's basketball program is poised to possess extensive depth in the backcourt. Under the leadership of Head Coach
Mark Slessinger, four guards return from last season with the addition of three newcomers to the Lakefront.
Here is a breakdown of New Orleans' guards heading into the Privateers 2023-24 men's basketball campaign:
In a single season (2022-23) with the Privateers,
Jordan Johnson became one of the most notable players to wear the Silver & Blue. The Memphis native was honored as the 2022-23 NCAA Division I statistical champion for Three-Point Field Goal Percentage (48.2), making him the first student-athlete in program history to become an NCAA Division I statistical champion in any category since New Orleans became a Division I program in 1976. His remarkable season was also highlighted by a third-team All-Louisiana selection, NABC first team All-District honor, and a second-team All-Southland Selection. The junior had a career high night of 39 points against Houston Christian University (HCU). It was the most points scored by a Privateer since Jamie McNeily's 40 points against Denver in 2007. With 93 triples this season, Johnson's made the most three-pointers in a single season in program history.
A New Orleans high school product out of L.B. Landry, Jamond "Turk" Vincent looks to carry the late momentum built in his sophomore season into the 2023-24 campaign. Vincent averaged 15.6 points and 9.1 rebounds in the final eight games after scoring in double figures three times through the first 24 games. He recorded consecutive double-doubles during the 2023 Southland Conference Championship tournament with 10 points and 14 rebounds against HCU and 18 points and 13 rebounds in quarterfinal win over Southeastern. With two years under his belt, Vincent has established himself as a resilient leader on and off the court for the Privateers.
Khaleb Wilson-Rouse returns after starting 30 of 31 games. Rouse averaged 9.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. The Chicago native had a game high of 21 points against LSU last year, and he led the team in total steals on the season with 46.
Preston Murphy Jr. enters his second collegiate season after starting four games as a true freshman. The Rhode Island native saw 30 minutes on the floor against LSU which marked a season high. Prior to joining the New Orleans program, Murphy was named the 38th best point guard in the class of 2022 per 24/7 Sports. ESPN recruiting services has the Barrington, R.I. native as the top player coming out of the Ocean State in the class of 2022.
New to the squad are two transfers and one true freshman: Junior-college third-team All-American forward
Carlos Hart from South Georgia, former Rice guard
Mason Jones and two-time high school state champion
Jah Short. Hart, a Miami, Fl., native, averaged 20.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game for the South Georgia Hawks, while leading them to a conference tournament championship and a trip to the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. Hailing from Chicago, Ill., Jones played 24 games throughout his freshman season at Rice and scored a season-high eight points in 12 minutes against Final Four participant Florida Atlantic. From Farmville, N.C., Short averaged 20 points per game in both his junior and senior years of high school and also led the Farmville Central Jaguars to a regional title last season.
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