THIBODAUX, La. -- Nicholls State University head men's basketball coach Austin Claunch successfully secured the first members of his 2020 recruiting class earlier on Friday, inking a solid five signees set to join the Colonels on the hardwood come next fall. The group features four transfers along with one prospect directly out of high school, all of whom locally hail from the south, including two out of Louisiana and one from each Mississippi, Alabama and Texas.
CLASS OF 2020 SIGNEES
Name: Jitaurious "Ty" Gordon
Hometown: Tunica, Miss.
Previous School: Troy
High School: Horn Lake HS
Position: Guard
Quick Facts: Compiled 13 starts last season for the Trojans across 31 total appearances ... served as team leader in three categories, including scoring (12.1 ppg), total assists (100) and total steals (32).
HC Austin Claunch: "Ty is someone I've known for a long time and have always loved his game and what he brings to a team. He has an incredible feel with the basketball and natural tendency to get others involved. He impacts the game on both sides of the ball and has great command, presence and toughness. We are ecstatic to have him here in Thibodaux and can't wait to get him on the court."
Name: Damien Sears
Hometown: Haughton, La.
Previous School: St. John's
High School: Haughton HS
Position: Forward
Quick Facts: Made 28 total appearances last season, all off the bench for the Red Storm ... averaged 1.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in 7.8 minutes per game… grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds, six of which came on the offensive glass, against Central Connecticut State (11/9) … contributed four points and six rebounds in St. John's win over No. 16/17 Arizona in San Francisco (12/21) … tallied four points and four boards at Georgetown (1/8) … had two points, two rebounds and two blocks in the win over No. 10/11 Creighton (3/1) … played 13 minutes in the Red Storm's Big East Tournament victory over Georgetown (3/11).
HC Austin Claunch: "Damien is a big physical presence who will really be able to score in the post in our league. He had an opportunity to play against some of the best competition in the country last season and that experience will only help as he comes into his senior year. He's a warrior who competes with great energy and tenacity. He's going to play a huge part in our success next season."
Name: AJ Rainey
Hometown: Gray, La.
Previous School: Blinn College
High School: H.L. Bourgeois HS
Position: Guard
Quick Facts: Notched 18 starts across 32 games of action this past season ... acted as team's second-leading scorer and distributor, averaging 13.5 points and 3.6 assists per game ... Rainey finished his career at H.L. Bourgeois High School as the program's all-time leading scorer, racking up 2,066 total points for the Braves ... as a senior, he paced the squad behind 30.3 points, seven assists, six rebounds and two blocks per game ... also named All-District 7-5A MVP and The Courier/Dailey Comet All-Region MVP as well as a Louisiana Sports Writer's Association Class 5A All-State selection.
HC Austin Claunch: "AJ is someone we have been watching since his high school days at HLB. He is one of the most gifted passers I have seen at any level, and he has a beautiful flow to his game and a burst to get by guys and create for himself as well as his teammates. We are fired up to get him back home and start working."
Name: Anquaevious Pollard
Hometown: Lanett, Ala.
Previous School: Shelton State CC
High School: Lanett HS
Position: Forward
Quick Facts: Started in all 33 games for Shelton State CC last season ... served as the team's top scorer (16.6 ppg) and rebounder (9.4 rpg) ... helped lead Shelton State CC to a ACCC Tournament Championship behind a 72-68 victory over Snead State CC (3/6).
HC Austin Claunch: "Anquaevious is a hard-playing forward whose motor never stops. I have seen very few people play with a consistent ferocity like him. He pursues rebounds as hard as anyone I've ever seen and is constantly looking to make a winning play. He has won everywhere he has been and I look forward to that continuing when he joins us."
Name: Pierce Spencer
Hometown: Porter, Texas
High School: Lake Creek HS
Position: Guard
Quick Facts: Led Lake Creek HS behind a strong senior season, averaging 23 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.4 steals per game ... posted 10 or more points in every game this past year ... notched 14 double-doubles and one triple-double ... honored as back-to-back District 20-5A MVP.
HC Austin Claunch: "Pierce is a combo guard who is ultra competitive. There aren't many guys out there who bring toughness and confidence more consistently than him. He plays with a fearlessness and chip on his shoulder every time out. He has a "win at all cost" mentality about him and that will help him come in compete from day 1 on team looking to win a championship."
STAY SOCIAL
For more information on Colonels Men's Basketball, follow the team on Twitter (@Nicholls_MBB), Instagram (@geauxcolonels) and like their Facebook page (Nicholls Athletics).
-- #GeauxColonels --
