Two more Cajuns enter NCAA basketball transfer portal

Lafayette Daily Advertiser

Two more UL basketball players have left the program, bringing the total since the 2019-20 season ended to six.

Freshman guard Javonne Lowery no longer is with the team and has entered the NCAA transfer portal, a Ragin’ Cajuns spokesman confirmed when asked Monday afternoon, and on Monday night big man Tirus Smith announced on Twitter that he has entered the portal too.

UL coach Bob Marlin did not immediately respond to an interview request made through the team’s spokesman Monday.

Tweeted Lowery: “God’s plan.”

Smith, a frequent starter who was suspended for the last six games of the 2019-20 season, issued a lengthy statement on Twitter. His suspension was for undisclosed disciplinary reasons.

UL big man Tirus Smith, shown here during a February game against Georgia State at the Cajundome, has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

“I know God has a plan for me,” he wrote.

“I want to thank the University of Louisiana for their support of me throughout this past year. I want to thank the coaching staff for helping me grow to become a better man on and off the court. I’d also like to thank my teammates for holding me accountable for my actions and for sticking by my side through it all.

“After a lot of prayer and numerous talks with my family,” Smith added, “I that it will be best for me to enter the transfer portal. ... I wish the program and school nothing but the best, and I pray God be with you all.”

Smith’s final game of the season came when he scored 17 points and pulled down eight rebounds over 21 minutes in a Feb. 15 win at Troy; UL's season ended with a March 9 second-round Sun Belt Tournament loss at Georgia Southern.

A transfer from Jones College in Mississippi who began his college career at UTEP in 2017-18, Smith — from Petal High in Mississippi — took over the starting job in the post in mid-December and averaged 8.3 points, 5.9 boards and 1.4 steals in his lone season as a Cajun.

Lowery appeared in just one game for the Cajuns as a true freshman, scoring seven points over 19 minutes in a 2019-20 season-opening victory over Loyola-New Orleans.

But the product of Pearland High in Texas injured a knee during the win, underwent subsequent surgery and did not play the rest of the way — preserving a season of eligibility with a medical redshirt.

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Lowery and Smith are the fourth and fifth Cajuns to enter the portal, joining leading scorer and rebounder Jalen Johnson, who is headed to Mississippi State as a graduate transfer; freshman guard Calvin Temple, who according to his personal Twitter account is joining SWAC-member Jackson State; and sophomore big man Kristian Lafayette, whose next stop is not yet known.

Freshman walk-on guard Jaylon Williams, who joined the team after last season’s first semester, also is no longer on the UL roster.

Two other outgoing Cajuns — guard P.J. Hardy and walk-on guard Mason Aucoin — were seniors last season.

The Cajuns are known to have picked up three additions from the transfer portal: former Mississippi State guard Devin Butts, ex-University of Portland big man Theo Akwuba and former Cal small forward Jacobi Gordon.

More:Marlin's Cajuns add 6-foot-11 Portland transfer Akwuba

More:Cal transfer Gordon commits to Marlin's Ragin' Cajuns

Javonne Lowery, who is in the NCAA transfer portal, takes the ball to the basket during his lone game as a Ragin' Cajun before getting injured.

UL has announced the signing of Butts and Akwuba but has not yet acknowledged the addition of Gordon, who tweeted out his plans.

It remains to be seen which if any of those three will be eligible next season, due to NCAA transfer rules.

Since the 2019-20 season ended, UL also has signed Ranger (Texas) transfer guard Brayan Au and Springfield (Massachusetts) Commonwealth Academy forward Isaiah Richards.

Lake Charles-area guard Michael Thomas was the Cajuns’ lone early signing period addition.

More:Marlin says new Cajuns signee Thomas 'has good vision'

Au, Richards and Thomas will be eligible right away.

They’ll join seven Cajuns scheduled to return: starting guards Cedric Russell and Mylik Wilson; starter Kobe Julien, who missed most of the season following knee surgery; part-time starting big Dou Gueye; usual backup point Trajan Wesley, who started 10 games; freshman sub Chris Spenkuch; and Durey Cadwell, who missed all last season following knee surgery.

More:Cajun additions have Marlin feeling good about 2020-21

SPADE HIRED

The UL women’s soccer team has announced the hiring of new assistant coach Cheyenne Spade, who played at both North Carolina State and Tennessee and professionally in Sweden the past two seasons as a midfielder for Enköping SK UK and Sandvikens IF.

She’s also a former assistant coach at Towson University in 2017 and Susquehanna in 2016.

GREENHOUSE GETS DEGREE

A UL spokesman has confirmed that Kamar Greenhouse, a senior cornerback on the UL football team, has met all requirements needed and received his degree as a member of the university’s spring graduating class.

Greenhouse — featured last month and throughout his career by The Daily Advertiser for all the personal obstacles he’s overcome — had an incomplete grade prior to the school’s recent virtual graduation ceremonies, but the issue has since been resolved.

WORKOUTS DELAYED

Voluntary workouts for the scholarship players on UL’s football team were postponed until Tuesday due to Tropical Depression Cristobal, a UL spokesman said.

The Cajuns, away from their practice facility since mid-March due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, originally had been scheduled to return Monday.

Cajun coaches were permitted to work Monday, but players were not allowed in UL’s student-athlete performance center because campus was closed.

More:Ragin' Cajuns have a return date for football players

GEORGE OFFERED

Acadiana High Class of 2021 defensive end/outside linebacker Cameron George, who has been offered by the Cajuns, tweeted Monday that he has picked up new offers Monday from fellow Sun Belt Conference-member Georgia State and MAC-member Ohio.

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