La'Ryan Gary selects Ragin' Cajuns

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A highly-regarded South Louisiana guard prospect and one of the area's premier swing players are the first two signees for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajun men's basketball program for next season. Carencro's La'Ryan Gary, an athletic 6-foot-6 wing player who made a name for himself last year at St. Thomas More, and 6-foot-3 guard Damon Forest of Central High in Baton Rouge each inked letters of intent with the Cajuns Thursday. The two are among as many as six signees - four high school players and two transfers - on Cajun head coach Robert Lee's wish list before the early-signing period ends Tuesday. The Cajuns are still awaiting potential letters from 6-foot-7 forward Courtney Wallace, formerly of Brother Martin and now attending Woodlawn of Baton Rouge, and 6-foot-7 forward Aubrey Butler of Central High in Little Rock, Ark. UL also is seeking the services of 6-foot-3 guard Marquie Cooke, who played his freshman season at Virginia Tech in 2004-05 but left the Hokie squad in March and 6-10 center Marcus Hubbard of Kilgore Junior College. Hubbard averaged 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists a game last season as a freshman. He was a 2001 Florida state Small School Player of the Year out of West Palm Beach, Fla. Gary inked his letter at a Thursday morning ceremony at Carencro, where he transferred after leading STM to the Class 4A quarterfinals and averaging 15.3 points per game last year. "He's a phenomenal player," said Carencro coach Chris Kovatch. "He can do everything, inside, outside. Just his presence automatically makes us a contender, and he's the type player that makes everybody around him better. He's going to make an immediate impact at UL." The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

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University of Louisiana coach Robert Lee and his staff did a great job of recruiting and signing La'Ryan Gary of Carencro High School. The 6-7 Gary had an outstanding AAU summer season and shows a lot of potential. Ron Briscoe, a southeast basketball reporter, rates Gary as the number five player in the state and in the top 100 in the south. Gary is presently working on his academic standing and could be a great player for the Cajuns if he works at his game. Both Derek Gray and Spencer Ford will be allowed back on the Louisiana Ragin' Cajun team next year if they choose to return. Both are dealing with personal problems, which is the reason they will not play this season. The rest of the story Dave Thibodeaux