University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
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/ Men's Basketball
Ragin' Cajuns Men's Basketball 2014-15 Preview: Forwards
10/28/2014 4:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
This is the second in a three-part series, taking a glance at the upcoming 2014-15 Ragin' Cajun basketball team. Louisiana went 23-12 a year ago, claiming the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. They kick off the season this year with an exhibition vs Loyola-New Orleans on Nov. 5 before the official season-opening game on Nov. 14 at home vs Louisiana College.
Returners: Aaron LeBlanc
Newcomers: Devonta Walker, Brian Williams, Bryce Washington
LAFAYETTE, La. – Every team looks for areas to upgrade at each season, and the Ragin' Cajuns are no different. With losing nearly half of its rebounding from a year ago, Coach Bob Marlin and his staff made moves to bolster its front line and may enter this 2014-15 season with the top group of forwards in the Sun Belt Conference.
In addition to big man Shawn Long, the Cajuns welcome a trio of newcomers at forward, in addition to senior returner Aaron LeBlanc. Transfers Devonta Walker and Brian Williams could be looking at spots in the starting lineup on opening night, while freshman Bryce Washington brings a big frame and high upside to UL's corps of forwards.
"I told Shawn (Long) before the season that even though he's averaged more than 10 rebounds the past two years that he's going to really have to get busy it if he wants to do it again," head coach Bob Marlin said. "We loved Elridge (Moore) to death and he did a great job for us, but he was undersized. Now, we have Brian (Williams) and Devonta (Walker) who make us much bigger up front and will make things very competitive for rebounds."
The Cajuns were second in the league with a +5.8 rebound margin a year ago, trailing only regular-season champion Georgia State in that category; however, the team led the league in offensive rebounding and finished third on defensive boards. The added bulk from this year's group of forwards has Marlin optimistic that those margins could go even higher in 2014-15.
Williams could be the biggest addition to the squad, a fifth-year senior transfer from Oklahoma State who has played in the NCAA Tournament each of the past two seasons with the Cowboys. Originally from Baton Rouge, Williams brings an athletic 6-5, 210-pound frame to the Cajuns and his maturity and leadership has already made an impact in preseason workouts.
He played in 80 games over three seasons in Stillwater, averaging 7.2 points and 3.1 rebounds while playing against some of the toughest competition in the nation in the Big 12. He made 46 starts for coach Travis Ford, including 26 last year as a junior.
"Brian got here in the summer and started being a leader immediately," Marlin said. "It's tricky when you come in as an older guy and come in for one season. Still, he's fit in very well and has improved his leadership as we've gone on. We have noticed it as coaches too about how he's saying the right things at the right time to the right people."
He'll be flanked by another newcomer – Walker – who brings a prototypical power forward frame at 6-7, 220 pounds from Western Texas College. There, Walker was named an all-conference performer after averaging 15.4 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Westerners.
He was also the model of efficiency when on the court, hitting 61 percent of his field goals and 77 percent of his foul shots. That was after averaging a double-double in each of his final two seasons at Parkside High School in Salisbury, Md., to close out his prep career.
"Devonta may be our best rebounder period," Marlin said. "He is a very good athlete and a good shooter, even out to the three-point line. He brings additional length, size and versatility and is going to make us better on the front line."
The third newcomer is Washington, a 6-6, 255-pound freshman forward who brings a natural feel for the game to the court for the Cajuns. A former point guard in high school, Washington was one of the top prep players in the New Orleans area and helped lead St. Augustine High School to a state title in 2011. He also averaged a double-double for his high school squad and excelled in the classroom as well, earning salutatorian honors as part of his graduating class a year ago.
"Bryce has done a great job for us in the preseason, and he can play multiple positions," Marlin said. "He sneaks up on opponents because he is not very flashy, but he does a lot to affect the game and help out his team."
Rounding out the forwards is senior LeBlanc, who has played in 24 games over the past two years for UL. He played just six games as a junior, but averaged 4.3 points in 18 games played as a sophomore, while shooting .600 from the field
#GeauxCajuns
2014-15 Season Preview Schedule
October 24 – Posts
October 28 – Forwards
October 30 – Guards
Nov. 3 – Loyola (N.O.) Exhibition Preview
Returners: Aaron LeBlanc
Newcomers: Devonta Walker, Brian Williams, Bryce Washington
LAFAYETTE, La. – Every team looks for areas to upgrade at each season, and the Ragin' Cajuns are no different. With losing nearly half of its rebounding from a year ago, Coach Bob Marlin and his staff made moves to bolster its front line and may enter this 2014-15 season with the top group of forwards in the Sun Belt Conference.
In addition to big man Shawn Long, the Cajuns welcome a trio of newcomers at forward, in addition to senior returner Aaron LeBlanc. Transfers Devonta Walker and Brian Williams could be looking at spots in the starting lineup on opening night, while freshman Bryce Washington brings a big frame and high upside to UL's corps of forwards.
"I told Shawn (Long) before the season that even though he's averaged more than 10 rebounds the past two years that he's going to really have to get busy it if he wants to do it again," head coach Bob Marlin said. "We loved Elridge (Moore) to death and he did a great job for us, but he was undersized. Now, we have Brian (Williams) and Devonta (Walker) who make us much bigger up front and will make things very competitive for rebounds."
The Cajuns were second in the league with a +5.8 rebound margin a year ago, trailing only regular-season champion Georgia State in that category; however, the team led the league in offensive rebounding and finished third on defensive boards. The added bulk from this year's group of forwards has Marlin optimistic that those margins could go even higher in 2014-15.
Williams could be the biggest addition to the squad, a fifth-year senior transfer from Oklahoma State who has played in the NCAA Tournament each of the past two seasons with the Cowboys. Originally from Baton Rouge, Williams brings an athletic 6-5, 210-pound frame to the Cajuns and his maturity and leadership has already made an impact in preseason workouts.
He played in 80 games over three seasons in Stillwater, averaging 7.2 points and 3.1 rebounds while playing against some of the toughest competition in the nation in the Big 12. He made 46 starts for coach Travis Ford, including 26 last year as a junior.
"Brian got here in the summer and started being a leader immediately," Marlin said. "It's tricky when you come in as an older guy and come in for one season. Still, he's fit in very well and has improved his leadership as we've gone on. We have noticed it as coaches too about how he's saying the right things at the right time to the right people."
He'll be flanked by another newcomer – Walker – who brings a prototypical power forward frame at 6-7, 220 pounds from Western Texas College. There, Walker was named an all-conference performer after averaging 15.4 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Westerners.
He was also the model of efficiency when on the court, hitting 61 percent of his field goals and 77 percent of his foul shots. That was after averaging a double-double in each of his final two seasons at Parkside High School in Salisbury, Md., to close out his prep career.
"Devonta may be our best rebounder period," Marlin said. "He is a very good athlete and a good shooter, even out to the three-point line. He brings additional length, size and versatility and is going to make us better on the front line."
The third newcomer is Washington, a 6-6, 255-pound freshman forward who brings a natural feel for the game to the court for the Cajuns. A former point guard in high school, Washington was one of the top prep players in the New Orleans area and helped lead St. Augustine High School to a state title in 2011. He also averaged a double-double for his high school squad and excelled in the classroom as well, earning salutatorian honors as part of his graduating class a year ago.
"Bryce has done a great job for us in the preseason, and he can play multiple positions," Marlin said. "He sneaks up on opponents because he is not very flashy, but he does a lot to affect the game and help out his team."
Rounding out the forwards is senior LeBlanc, who has played in 24 games over the past two years for UL. He played just six games as a junior, but averaged 4.3 points in 18 games played as a sophomore, while shooting .600 from the field
#GeauxCajuns
2014-15 Season Preview Schedule
October 24 – Posts
October 28 – Forwards
October 30 – Guards
Nov. 3 – Loyola (N.O.) Exhibition Preview
Quannas White Media Availability (Nov 28, 2025)
Saturday, November 29
Quannas White Media Availability (Nov 11, 2025)
Wednesday, November 12
De'Vion Lavergne and Milan Mejia Media Availability (Nov 11, 2025)
Wednesday, November 12
Quannas White Media Availability (Nov 10, 2025)
Monday, November 10
