NEW ORLEANS — The lovefest known as the Xavier University of Louisiana Athletic Hall of Fame banquet convened for the third time Thursday evening, with five inductees from the class of 2024 expressing gratitude to XULA and to many individuals for their successes.
        In order of induction, Shaun Dumas, Dannton Jackson, Demetria Lang, Nour Abbes and Eddie Flint proudly named names after receiving their hall-of-fame hardware and medallions.
        Dumas (men's basketball) marveled at how XULA opened his eyes to opportunities that he never thought were possible. Jackson, XULA's all-time winningest men's basketball head coach, gave credit to his predecessor, 2023 inductee Dale Valdery, "for giving me the feel for the game."
        Lang (women's basketball), now known as Demetria Johnson through marriage, pointed out that "life is a journey to appreciate the little things and to enjoy every day." She added, "God ordains everything in His name."
        Abbes (women's tennis) said it was "surreal to come from a tiny country in north Africa to be here tonight." She also praised 22nd-year head coach Alan Green. "He's not just one of the best tennis coaches in the NAIA," Abbes said, "he's also one of the best college tennis coaches."
        Abbes added humor when describing Green's recruitment of her. She said Green succeeded in convincing her to sign with XULA, "but my favorite rapper is Lil Wayne, and I wanted to be in New Orleans."
        Flint (football, basketball, baseball), eight days shy of his 94th birthday, deferred to emcee Ro Brown to read his speech because "my words don't always come out right." Flint thanked XULA football coaches Alfred Priestley, a 2022 inductee, and Hiram Workman for leadership skills that carried over to his prep football coaching career. Flint also thanked Sister Alice Patrick McCabe from the XULA registrar's office for recommending him to St. Augustine High School for a job there in the late 1950s. Flint coached the Purple Knights to state football championships in the Louisiana Interscholastic Athletic and Literary Organization (LIALO) in 1963, 1965 and 1966.
        Forty-seven have been inducted into the hall. Event venue was the third floor of XULA's University Center in the Mary and William McCaffrey Ballroom. Attendance was approximately 200.
        Inductees also will be recognized during XULA's homecoming basketball doubleheader at the Convocation Center Saturday afternoon.
        Future nominees can be submitted in two ways:
        •  Online by clicking here
        •  A letter of nomination emphasizing a candidate's qualifications sent to Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation, Xavier University of Louisiana, 1 Drexel Drive, Box 92, New Orleans, LA 70125
        Nominations are due annually by May 31, and a committee selects inductees on the first Wednesday each June.