Men’s Basketball: UL’s Kande declared eligible – Payton, Long Recognized – Paschal Honored

Tim Buckley, Daily Advertiser, October 1, 2013

The UL basketball team opened practice for its 2013-14 season earlier this week minus one freshman it had hoped to have but with another now cleared to play by the NCAA.

The Ragin’ Cajuns weren’t sure for a while if Vieux Kande, a 6-foot-8, 242-pound center from Senegal, would be able to play this year.

But Kande – who averaged 9.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game as a senior last season at the Sagemont School in Florida – has been declared eligible by the NCAA Clearinghouse, a UL spokesman said Tuesday.

Kande originally signed with South Alabama last November, but was released from his scholarship commitment after longtime coach Ronnie Arrow left the Jaguars 10 games into last season.

Not with the Cajuns this semester is Kimani Jackson, a 6-8, 220-pound forward from Sequin High in Arlington, Texas, who signed with UL during the NCAA’s early signing period last November.

Jackson didn’t meet initial NCAA eligibility requirements and didn’t enroll for this semester, a UL spokesman also said Tuesday.

It remains to be seen if Jackson will join the team in January, the spokesman said.

Jackson’s absence leaves the Cajuns with three true freshmen: Kande; Luka Kamber, a Croatian-born forward raised in Germany; and Hayward Register, a shooting guard from Comeaux High.

UL also has two other newcomers: center J.J. Davenport, an Abbeville High product who transferred from New Mexico Junior College; and Xavian Rimmer, a point guard from Mississippi who transferred from Pearl River (Miss.) Community College.

EARLY START:

UL was able to start full preseason practice so early because of a new NCAA rule, approved last May, that permits teams to hold up to 30 practices during a 42-day span prior to the start of regular-season play.

The Cajuns’ first practice was Monday.

UL opens its season Nov. 9 at home vs. Louisiana College, preceded by a Nov. 4 exhibition game vs. William Carey.

Under old NCAA rules, teams were allowed to hold up to 24 practices during a 30-day span prior to the start of the season.

PAYTON, LONG RECOGNIZED:

UL junior point guard Elfrid Payton and sophomore big man Shawn Long both have been named to the all-Sun Belt Conference preseason team by the Sporting News 2013-14 College Basketball preview magazine.

Sun Belt 2012-13 Player of the Year Augustine Rubit of South Alabama and teammates George Fant and T.J. Price of two-time defending SBC Tournament-champion Western Kentucky also were named to the first team by the publication, which has Rubit as its “Top Player,” Kentucky transfer Ryan Harrow as its “Top Newcomer” and WKU’s Ray Harper as its “Top Coach.”

Sporting News picked UL to finish second in the Sun Belt, behind Western Kentucky and one spot ahead of conference-newcomer Georgia State.

PASCHAL HONORED:

Ex-Cajuns coach Bobby Paschal was inducted last Friday night into the Athletics Hall of Fame at South Florida, where he coached the Bulls from 1986-96.

Paschal coached the Cajuns to a 153-85 record with two NCAA Tournament appearances from 1978-86.