University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Cajuns Add SEC Transfers To 2017-18 Roster
8/24/2016 2:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Gant, Stroman to sit out 2016-17 season; will have two years remaining
LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball coach Bob Marlin announced that forward JaKeenan Gant and point guard Marcus Stroman have each transferred to play for the Ragin' Cajuns beginning in the 2017-18 season.
Â
Gant, a two-year letterwinner at Missouri, and Stroman, a two-year letterwinner at South Carolina, will each sit out the 2016-17 season before having two years of eligibility remaining. The duo joins University of Southern California transfer Malik Marquetti as newcomers on the 2017-18 team.
Â
Gant, a 6-foot-8 forward, played in 53 games in two seasons at Missouri, where he averaged 5.1 points and led the Tigers in blocked shots in 2015-16. A former high school teammate of current Ragin' Cajuns point guard Jay Wright, Gant was chosen as Mr. Basketball in the state of Georgia in 2014 and was the state's Class 5A Player of the Year as a junior.
Â
"Being from an SEC school will give us an experienced guy that will have two years to play," Marlin said. "He's athletic … can run and jump. We feel like he can be a very special player and this is a great opportunity for him to get back to work in the classroom and on the court."
Â
Stroman, a 6-2 guard, played in 57 games in two seasons at South Carolina and led the team in assists (3.1) as a freshman. A three-star prospect coming out of high school, Stroman was the No. 2 overall recruit in South Carolina by ESPN.com while averaging 16.8 points and 7.6 assists per game in his final two seasons as a prepster.
Â
"Marcus was one of the best point guards in the country coming out of high school and had great success in the AAU circuit," Marlin said. "He was the first player that (head coach) Frank Martin signed at South Carolina and played quite a bit early on. He did some really good things for South Carolina. He can push the ball, he's got excellent speed and our system will fit him well."
Â
Louisiana, which reached the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament last season, returns three starters and will officially tip off the 2016-17 season at Big Ten opponent Minnesota on Nov. 11.
Â
Â
Gant, a two-year letterwinner at Missouri, and Stroman, a two-year letterwinner at South Carolina, will each sit out the 2016-17 season before having two years of eligibility remaining. The duo joins University of Southern California transfer Malik Marquetti as newcomers on the 2017-18 team.
Â
Gant, a 6-foot-8 forward, played in 53 games in two seasons at Missouri, where he averaged 5.1 points and led the Tigers in blocked shots in 2015-16. A former high school teammate of current Ragin' Cajuns point guard Jay Wright, Gant was chosen as Mr. Basketball in the state of Georgia in 2014 and was the state's Class 5A Player of the Year as a junior.
Â
"Being from an SEC school will give us an experienced guy that will have two years to play," Marlin said. "He's athletic … can run and jump. We feel like he can be a very special player and this is a great opportunity for him to get back to work in the classroom and on the court."
Â
Stroman, a 6-2 guard, played in 57 games in two seasons at South Carolina and led the team in assists (3.1) as a freshman. A three-star prospect coming out of high school, Stroman was the No. 2 overall recruit in South Carolina by ESPN.com while averaging 16.8 points and 7.6 assists per game in his final two seasons as a prepster.
Â
"Marcus was one of the best point guards in the country coming out of high school and had great success in the AAU circuit," Marlin said. "He was the first player that (head coach) Frank Martin signed at South Carolina and played quite a bit early on. He did some really good things for South Carolina. He can push the ball, he's got excellent speed and our system will fit him well."
Â
Louisiana, which reached the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament last season, returns three starters and will officially tip off the 2016-17 season at Big Ten opponent Minnesota on Nov. 11.
Â
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballQuannas White Media Availability (May 4, 2025)
Monday, May 05
Quannas White Introductory Press Conference
Sunday, March 16
Derrick Zimmerman Media Availability (Feb 24, 2025)
Monday, February 24
Derrick Zimmerman Media Availability (Feb 17, 2025)
Monday, February 17
