With senior guards Andre Stringer and Shavon Coleman lost to graduation, the LSU men’s basketball team has a serious hole in its backcourt heading into next season.
Anthony Hickey is expected to return for his senior season at point guard, but with the leading and third-leading 3-point shooters gone, the Tigers need to find a shooting guard who can be a threat to knock down shots on the perimeter.
There’s still months until the 2014 15 season actually begins, but LSU coach Johnny Jones may have found his answer. Jones announced Monday that LSU President F. King Alexander will be joining the team this summer in hopes of competing for a starting spot in the fall.
Alexander, 50, a standout lefty point guard during his collegiate days at Saint Lawrence University, has stayed in shape by playing bi-weekly pick-up basketball games in the Basketball Practice Facility.
“President Alexander has an excellent jump shot, maybe the best on the team,” Jones said. “We’ve seen him play against our guys in practice, and we think he absolutely can come in and help us fill the void left by Stringer and Coleman next season.”
Alexander will be allowed to play thanks to a NCAA rule giving all athletes four years of eligibility.
In light of the Steve Masiello saga — the Manhattan College coach lost his chance at the USF job after a background check reportedly found he never actually graduated from Kentucky — LSU decided to run expansive background checks on all high-level employees.
The check on Alexander found that he actually graduated from Saint Lawrence in three years before jetting off to University of Oxford for grad school. Upon learning the results, Alexander approached Jones about joining the team, and the interest was mutual.
After conferring with the NCAA via conference call during the weekend, Jones and Alexander announced the King’s plan to take the court.
“I think I can contribute to this basketball team and help us reach the NCAA tournament,” Alexander said. “My jumper can be a bit inconsistent, but I’ve been on a hot streak of late. I don’t expect coach Jones to hand me a job, I plan to come in and earn my spot like anyone else.”
Alexander insists playing ball will have no effect on his ability to run the University, but in the off chance something important comes up while he is away from his post on a road trip, he offered a solution — ball never lies.
“In the event I’m not around, whoever raises the question will shoot a jumper. If it goes in the answer is yes; if not, it is no. The ball never lies,” Alexander said.