THIBODAUX, La. – Head coach Richie Riley finalized the 2017-18 Nicholls men's basketball roster Wednesday when he announced that the Colonels have signed nine student-athletes to join the squad for the upcoming season.

The class consists of six transfers, Maurice O'Field, Kimani Jackson, Daniel Regis, Legend Robertin, Zaquavian Smith and Jeremy Verhagen, and three freshmen, local products Rafe Blades and Kevin Johnson alongside Ryghe Lyons. All nine recruits are eligible to play this year, joining newcomers Roddy Peters and Tevon Saddler who sat out last season due to transfer rules.

"We are extremely excited about our 2017 recruiting class," said Riley, who's entering his second season at the helm. "We were able to improve our team by adding size, skill and depth. It was important for us to add a mixture of experienced guys as well as some younger players to be the foundation of the program. This class features student-athletes who will represent our program the right way both on and off the court. I am very proud of that and excited to get started with this group."

O'Field is a 6-5, 220-pound combo guard with two years of Division I experience at Power 5 school Arizona State. The Cleveland native appeared in a total of 44 games and shot 57 percent from the floor last season.

Likewise, Jackson appeared in 40 games over the past two seasons with Colorado State, averaging 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest during his final run with the Rams. The 6-7, 225-pound forward was the No. 5 overall junior college prospect in the nation coming out of New Mexico Junior College in 2015.

Regis started all 36 games for Gilette College this past year, totaling 11.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. He collected 100 offensive rebounds and 47 blocks, which ranked 31st and 49th, respectively, in the NJCAA.

The tallest player on the team standing 7-1, Robertin made 25 appearances with Clemson during his two-year tenure with the Tigers. The 280-pounder from London first attended Chipola College where he shot over 52 percent from the floor in 26 appearances.

Smith was a NJCAA Second Team All-American at South Georgia State, pouring in double figures in 30 of 32 games. The 6-foot, 170-pound guard out of Statesboro, Georgia, was also named to the first team of the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association and runner-up for MVP. He ranked atop the league in field goals and three pointers made and total points. Smith tallied a school-record 154 threes made during his two-year stint with the Hawks.

Verhagen made 61 appearances including 41 starts with Northern Colorado. He averaged 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game with the Bears in his final season. The 6-10, 230-pound big man led all Arizona high school players in blocks and rebounds. The Oceanside, California native poured in 17.6 points per game his senior season at Florence High School.

Blades and Johnson join the Colonels from nearby E.D. White High School.

Blades averaged a double-double as a senior with the Cardinals. The 6-5, 170-pound guard was a District 8-3A Honorable Mention performer in basketball and baseball and participated in the Bayou Region All-Star game where he was named MVP.

Johnson capped his final season by being named District 8-3A MVP and First Team, All-Bayou Region First Team and Second Team All State.

Lyons was a pivotal player for the John Curtis High School basketball squad that won the 2015 district championship and finished as the state runner-up.

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