University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Men's Hoops Signs Two to Letters of Intent
4/12/2012 4:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Contact: Brian McCann
LAFAYETTE - The Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball program received a boost on Thursday when a pair of all-state players signed national letters of intent to attend UL and play basketball beginning next fall.
Signing with the Ragin' Cajuns are Matthew Moss (Anacoco, La./Charis Prep) and Kasey Shepherd (Houston, Texas/Dekaney). Both will be freshman with four seasons of eligibility.
The duo joins Steven Wronkoski (Hammond, La./St. Thomas Aquinas) and Alex Andrews (Tallahassee, Fla./Godby), both of whom signed with UL during the early signing period in November.
”The addition of Matt and Kasey is a good start to our spring signing season,” second-year Ragin' Cajuns head coach Bob Marlin said. “We have made great strides in the program the last two seasons and these two will help to continue that growth in the coming seasons.”
Moss, a 6-9, 240-pound forward, played this past season at Charis Prep in Wilson, N.C., helping the team to a 38-3 record and the prep national title.
A three-time first team all-state selection while playing at Anacoco High, he scored more than 2,600 points and grabbed nearly 1,200 rebounds during his career, set the school record for career blocked shots, and helped the team to an 83-52 record.
Moss averaged 19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds a game as a senior to earn district most valuable player honors. The award marked the fourth straight year he was on the all-district team, including his third straight season on the first team.
A nominee for the McDonald's All-America team as a senior, he played in the Louisiana High School Coaches Association All-Star game that year.
“Matt was one of the first players we looked at when I came to UL two years ago, so it was an easy decision when we had the chance to sign him coming out of the prep school,” Marlin said.
“He is step-back forward who is as comfortable shooting from the perimeter as he is playing with his back to the basket. He shoots the ball real well, especially from three-point range, which will create some matchup problems for opponents.”
Shepherd, a 6-3, 165-pound guard, was named the district defensive player of the year this past season at Houston's Dekaney high. He averaged 11.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.8 steals a game, shooting .750 from the line (33-44).
A two-year starter, Shepherd averaged 11.2 points and 5.7 rebounds a game as a junior, helping his team to a 31-6 record.
“Kasey will find a place for himself in our guard rotation because of his ball-handling ability and defense,” Marlin said. “He has proven to be a very hard worker at both ends of the court, which is an attribute that will help him fit right into the program.”
In his two seasons leading the Cajuns, Marlin has rebuilt the program. UL went 16-16 this past season, finished fourth in the 12-team Sun Belt and earned a berth in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. It was the program's first post-season appearance since 2002-03 and the home game in the tourney against Rice was the first postseason contest played in Lafayette since 1985.
In addition, the 16 wins were the highest win total in 10 seasons while UL's 21-11 league record over the last two seasons is the second-best record in the Sun Belt.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
