Men's Basketball 8/16/2023 9:00:00 AM Kyle Taylor - Langston Sports Information

Men's Basketball Announces 2023-24 Recruiting Class

LANGSTON, Okla. – Langston University head men's basketball coach Chris Wright unveiled the incoming 2023-24 recruiting class. Wright returns for his second season leading the Lions after engineering the single biggest turnaround in college basketball by finishing the 2022-23 season at 31-3 overall and rising to No. 3 in the national polls.

Wright, his staff, and the Lions placed their name in the record books by becoming the first HBCU (Historically Black College and University) to win the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) regular season championship, the SAC tournament championship and advancing to the NAIA Sweet Sixteen.

"We make no secret our goal is to win an NAIA National Championship," stated Wright. "As good as our season was last year, I was thoroughly disappointed in how it ended. I felt as if a piece of my heart was ripped out by how we played in the second half against Georgetown (Ky.). Here we are five months later and I'm still not over that loss. No one in our program is satisfied with winning a conference title or 31 games, that is not why we came to Langston."

"I want to give our staff a lot of credit for their dedication to get our roster where it needed to be this offseason, we went out and signed eight guys that can really play. Six of them have not only been at the NCAA DI level but have also produced and put-up numbers at that level. We are now bigger, deeper, and more experienced than we were a year ago. I have no doubt that these guys all love the game of basketball, want to earn their degree, and fit our culture very well. It goes without saying that I am expecting big things from them this season. When you add in the returners we have, it is set-up for us to make a deep run in March."

The 2023-24 recruiting class is listed in alphabetical order below:

Jerry Carraway, Jr. | 6-0 | Guard | Dallas, Texas | Southern Arkansas

Carraway, Jr. played last season at NCAA II Southern Arkansas where he was an integral part to helping the Muleriders win 22 games while reaching the NCAA Tournament. Carraway, Jr. averaged 8.9 points per game to go along with 2.5 assists per game. He played his sophomore season at Neosho Community College where he averaged 15.5 points per game while making 83 three-pointers on 40.5% from deep.

"Jerry is a quick, dynamic play maker that can really shoot it from 3. He is a winner that played a big role at Southern Arkansas last season and gives us excellent depth at the point guard position."

- Chris Wright on Jerry Carraway, Jr.

Darrius Hughes | 6-7 | Forward | Kansas City, Mo. | Wagner University

Hughes appeared in 13 games last season at Wagner. Prior to Wagner, he starred at Nebraska-Omaha where he saw action in 85 games. As a sophomore he averaged nine points per game on 52% shooting to go with four rebounds per game. He scored a career high 19 points against Texas-A&M Corpus Christi.

"Darrius gives us great versatility at the forward position. He has been very productive throughout his career, there is no doubt he will be a mismatch nightmare in the NAIA. We love the way he can rebound offensively and is capable of getting tough buckets. This will be important for us come March."

- Chris Wright on Darrius Hughes

Majok Kuath | 6-7 | Forward | Salt Lake City, Utah | Northwestern State

Kuath saw action in 14 contests at Northwestern State last season. He helped the Demons win 22 games and make and advance to the Southland Conference Championship Game. At San Jose State, Kuath averaged 7.4 points per game and five rebounds per game while shooting 65% from the field.

"Majok is extremely athletic and has a good motor. He finishes well in the paint is a threat rolling to the basket. We really like that he can impact the game without having to score. Defensively he can guard inside and gives us the ability to switch a lot of things."

- Chris Wright on Majok Kuath

Ronald Mitchell, Jr. | 6-3 | Guard | Philadelphia, Pa. | Sam Houston State

Mitchell, Jr. played 18 games a season ago for the Bearkats as they won 26 games and qualified for the NIT. Prior to Sam Houston, Mitchell averaged 18.8 points per game at Colby Community College to go with 5.3 rebounds per game. As a freshman at UMASS Lowell, he made 15 starts and averaged 8.5 points per game and four rebounds per game.

"Ron's numbers at Sam Houston do not do him justice. He is an explosive athlete with great instincts. He is a three-level scorer that is going to have a monster year for us! He really improves our size on the wing and is very good on both sides of the ball."

- Chris Wright on Ronald Mitchell, Jr.

Anthony Roy | 6-5 | Guard | Oakland, Calif. | New Mexico State

Roy comes to Langston after spending last season at New Mexico State. He averaged an impressive 10.3 points per game while shooting 39.7% from 3. He poured in 23 points against both UTEP and Utah Valley State. As a COVID-Freshman at Wenatchee Valley he scored 23.3 points per game while grabbing 7.5 rebounds per game and dishing out four assists per game. As a true freshman at the University of San Francisco he averaged over four points per game.

"A lot of people have opinions on Anthony Roy and to be honest, I could care less as to what those are, I believe in him as a person, and I think he has a bright future. Obviously for us to get a guy that averaged double-digits at the mid-major level is a big time get. If he is not one of the best players in the NAIA this season, then I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing as a head coach."

- Chris Wright on Anthony Roy

Byron Smith | 6-3 | Guard | Palatka, Fla. | Florida A&M

Smith arrives in Oklahoma via another HBCU, Florida A&M. In his one season as a Rattler he averaged 8.6 points per game while dropping 20 points on the University of Florida. At Tallahassee Community College he averaged 10 points per game and 3.9 rebounds per game while helping the program win 22 games. As a true freshman at Southeastern Louisiana, he averaged 7.7 points per game and scored a then career high 18 against Lamar.

"Byron is an extremely talented and versatile guard that really scores it. He has produced at two different NCAA Division I programs, and we expect big things out of him this season."

- Chris Wright on Byron Smith

Jay Allen-Tovar | 6-9 | Forward | San Jose, Calif. | University of New Mexico

As a COVID-Sophomore at New Mexico he put up big numbers scoring 7.9 points per game while snatching five rebounds per game and blocking 44 shots. He scored a career high 25 points against Wyoming. At Salt Lake Community College he helped the Bruins to a 35-2 record and an appearance in the NJCAA National Championship Game.

"Jay is a legit mid-major forward. He was very productive both in the Mountain West and at one of the elite national Junior Colleges at Salt Lake. He is the type of guy that changes the whole complexion of our team. Offensively we love his skill level and his ability to get easy baskets. Defensively he is going to have a huge impact. We believe that he is going to make a very good defense even better."

- Chris Wright on Jay Allen-Tovar

Michael Wright II | 6-7 | Guard | Chicago, Ill. | Trinity Christian

As a sophomore, Wright II scored over 15 points per game white shooting 41% from deep and 89% from the free-throw line. He scored a career high 28 points on Simmons while burying six threes. As a freshman at Elizabeth City, he scored nine points in a game against the University of North Carolina.

"Mike is a guy that really shoots the heck of the basketball. He can absolutely stretch the floor at the 2-4 positions. We like his ability to create his own shot, and at his size he can get it off against any defender."

- Chris Wright on Michael Wright II

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Men's Basketball Announces 2023-24 Recruiting Class

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