LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock head basketball coach
Wes Flanigan has announced three guard additions to the 2017-18 Trojan basketball roster. Junior transfers
Anthony Black and
Rayjon Tucker and freshman
Jaizec Lottie have all arrived on campus and will suit up for the Trojans this season.
Black, a 5-7, 150-pound point guard, spent the past two seasons at Arkansas Baptist, averaging 16.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Black shot 43.4 percent from the floor, including a 39.1 percent clip from beyond the arc, helping lead the Buffaloes to a 21-9 record and a postseason appearance in 2016-17.
A Little Rock native, Black graduated from Hall High School where he helped guide the Warriors to a 26-5 record and the 6A state championship in 2012-13. Coached by Jon Coleman, Black averaged 10.5 points, 6.5 assists and 3.0 steals during his prep career.
"AB is just a winner," Flanigan said. "What he may lack in size, he makes up for in toughness and leadership. He played for Coach Rip and Coach Coleman, two well respected coaches in our city, so I know he has been taught the game of basketball. We are very fortunate to add a player of his caliber to our program and I fully expect for him to be in the competition at the point guard spot for us."
Tucker, a 6-5, 210-pound shooting guard, comes to Little Rock after spending the past two seasons at Florida Gulf Coast, helping lead the Eagles to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances. Tucker played in 68 games during his FGCU career, averaging 6.9 points and 3.0 rebounds and helped lead the Eagles to the 2016-17 Atlantic Sun Conference title.
A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Tucker was a McDonald's All-American at Northside Christian Academy, averaging 24 points, 11 rebounds and four assists during his prep career. An all-state and all-conference performer, Tucker was a top-100 recruit after helping the Knight capture back-to-back state championships. Tucker will sit out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
"Rayjon is a guy I have been familiar with since he was in high school," said Flanigan. "He has put in a lot of hard work to become a good shooter, which has expanded his game. He has size, experience, and a competitive nature that will hopefully make an immediate impact for our program. He and
Andre Jones both probably make up one of the more athletic tandems in our league and I am looking forward to seeing how much Ray can improve during this year in which he is unable to compete."
Lottie, a 6-1, 170-pound point guard, heads to Little Rock following an impressive prep career at Cherokee Trail High School in Aurora, Colorado. Lottie was a two-time honorable mention all-state selection and a three-time first team all-league honoree for the Cougars, averaging 20.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game as a senior.
A two-time selection for the Colorado prep basketball all-star game, Lottie averaged 16.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game as a junior, helping lead Cherokee Trail to a 19-7 mark and a regional finals appearance.
"Jaizec has already made an impression on me not only as a player but as a person," said Flanigan. "Like
Anthony Black, we were very fortunate to get him as late as we did. He is tough, cerebral, and probably the best passer and decision maker on our team. I look forward to watching him grow and develop over the next four years. Little Rock got a great representative with Jaizec."
The three additions round out Flanigan's 2017-18 roster as the Trojans set their sights on the upcoming season. Little Rock opens the 2017-18 campaign at home against Ouachita Baptist on November 11 as the Trojans will play 15 home games at the Jack Stephens Center. Season ticket and flex plans are available by contacting the Trojan ticket office at (501) 565-8257.
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