Nicholls hoops signs 2 JUCOs

For the second-straight week, new Nicholls men’s basketball coach Richie Riley has dipped into the junior college talent pool to secure some future Colonels.

Riley announced this weekend that the Colonels signed Jahvaughn Powell and Kamall Richards, the third and fourth players that Riley has inked in the past 14 days — all JUCOs.

Both signees will arrive in Thibodaux during the fall semester and each will be eligible to play in the 2016-17 season — Riley’s first with the team.

The coach said during his inaugural press conference that he would recruit aggressively to make Nicholls into an annual contender.

“We will not leave any stone unturned,” Riley said. “We will be aggressive in our recruiting efforts so that we can attract and bring the right type of student-athletes into our program for years to come.”

In Powell and Richards, Riley has secured the services of a couple guys who have a track record for being able to score against top-notch defenses.

Powell is a 6-foot slashing guard who spent the past two seasons playing at Tallahassee Community College in Florida.

While there, Powell was an energetic playmaker offensively — one of the leaders on an Eagles team that went 21-12 with an 8-4 record in the 2015-16 season.

The Eagles reached the Florida State Championship Final in their successful run, losing to Northwest Florida State College in the title game.

Powell averaged 12.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the season, while shooting 31 percent from behind the 3-point line. He also made 79.5 percent of his free throws.

But Riley said his biggest strength is his defense. With the Eagles, he routinely guarded opponents’ best wing players, often limiting them to several points below their scoring average.

“Jahvaughn possesses the qualities of a guard we need in our system,” Riley said. “He is a high-level on-ball defender with great intangibles. Offensively, he is not only a shot maker, but has the ability to attack in ball-screen situations. His energy is contagious and we can’t wait to get him to campus.”

While Powell will try and make his mark with defense, toughness and energy, Richards will look to be a matchup nightmare to opponents in the Southland Conference.

A 6-foot, 6-inch combo guard/small forward, Richards played the past season at Harcum College in Brooklyn, enjoying a high-level of success for the New York-based two-year program.

Richards averaged 16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game for Harcum, while shooting 42.4 percent from the field. He also made 72.4 percent of his free throws, helping lead Harcum to a 28-win season.

The high-level season for Richards was the icing in a comeback season.

The new Colonel was a prep basketball sensation in the Northeast, finishing his prep career at South Kent School in Connecticut after a solid run at basketball factory St. Benedict’s Prep in New Jersey. With St. Benedict’s, Richards earned First-Team All-Prep by the Newark Star Ledger, helping the team win 35 games and a state title.

Richards signed with Xavier out of high school and played a handful of games in his freshman season before tearing his ACL. He then transferred, sat out a season and returned to the floor for Harcum, enjoying a high level of success.

Riley said he likes the fact that the new Colonel can play anywhere on the court — a luxury that coaches love to have.

He said the young man’s ability to recover from a serious injury also shows toughness and a winning personality — two things the Colonels want in all future players.

“Kamall gives us a guy with a winning mentality and we are excited to have him,” Riley said. “He is a versatile athlete that can be effective playing multiple positions.”

Both players will be juniors next season.