NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball announced Wednesday the signing of Rayshawn Mart of Houma, La., and H.L. Bourgeois High School to an athletic scholarship. He is the first Gold Rush signee for 2017-18.
     Mart, a 6-foot-3 guard, averaged 17 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals for HLB this past season and helped the Braves reach the round of 16 in the LHSAA Class 5A state playoffs and finish 28-7. He was honorable-mention all-state, first-team All-District 7-5A and the league's defensive MVP.
     "It's great to have Rayshawn in the Gold Rush family," XULA head coach Alfred Williams said. "He's a talented young man. In addition to his offensive skills, he has long arms and big hands and plays excellent defense."
     As a junior in 2015-16, Mart averaged 12.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals to help the Braves reach the 5A state quarterfinals and finish 24-9. He was a member of back-to-back state-championship teams in AAU competition with the L.T. Rockets.
     Mart played strong safety for the Braves' football team in 2016. He intercepted four passes and scored on an interception and a fumble recovery.
     "Xavier felt like home when I stepped on the campus," Mart said. "I felt welcomed there. I feel like I can be the best that I can be at Xavier."
     Mart will be a pre-pharmacy major at XULA.
     "Rayshawn worked just as hard in the classroom as he did on the court to get to this position," HLB coach Andrew Caillouet said. "He has a 3.5 GPA, and that got Xavier's attention."
     XULA won five Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championships and qualified 10 times for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship during the past 13 seasons. XULA's 31 seasons of 20-or-more victories are a Louisiana men's collegiate record.