Jacksonville, Florida-Head Men's Basketball Coach Cabral Huff has announced the signing of nine players that will don the Purple & Orange for the upcoming 2024-25 Edward Waters men's basketball season. The class is highlighted by five transfers (Joseph Womack, Prince Davies III, Myles Hosten, Ja'Kobe Williams, and Cyrus Huggard-Noel) and four from the high school ranks (Jaelen Nelson, Carter Hankerson, Amari Davis, and Kyle White).

"The goal of the for this year's class in recruiting was to add length, athleticism, size, versatility, leadership and winners," remarked Coach Huff. "We wanted to gain more experience while also having a balance of the future. Our plan to recruit Florida is something we believe in! So we believe we found every aspect we were searching for in our 2024 recruiting class. Moreover, we found what we love to call RKG's meaning the 'Right Kind of Guys' for our program. Leaders and winners that want to be in Jacksonville at EWU!"

Joseph Womack, F/C, 6'8, Ozark, AL, Enterprise State Community College
An imposing, and dominant player, Womack is expected to provide size and strength inside for the Tigers. The Ozark, Alabama native comes to Jacksonville from Enterprise State Community College, where he was a second team All-Conference selection last season. Womack averaged 12 points per contest last year shooting 65% from the field, while also adding eight boards per game to his stat line. In addition to his prowess on the floor, Womack also is serving his country as an active member of the United State Army.

Coach Huff on Womack: "His leadership and size give us a low post presence we haven't had. His ability to control the glass and the paint is something we were ecstatic about bringing to Duval as he showed both of these aspects at his JUCO. Our opponents will feel his presence and once people watch him play then that presence we speak of will be evident. We're excited about what he will bring this team on and off the floor."

Prince Davies III, F, 6'6, Atlanta, GA, Texas A&M Commerce
Long, lengthy, and quite athletic are just some of the adjectives to describe NCAA Division II transfer Prince Davies. Coming to Edward Waters from Texas A&M Commerce, Davies appeared in 10 contests for the Lions last season. Prior to coming to TAMU-CC, Davies averaged 27 points during his lone junior college season at Central Arizona College in 2022-23. Coming out of high school, Davies played significant minutes as a freshman at DII Belmont Abbey and was a key contributor to a team that made the NCAA DII National Tournament in 2021-22.

Coach Huff on Davies:  "Excited to get this DI transfer to Duval as he has been a winner throughout his playing career whether in high school as a state champion or at his previous D2. He is a Swiss army knife as his versatility will play a major impact for our team. In addition, his willingness and ability to be an elite defender will pay dividends for our team."

Jaelen Nelson, G/F, 6'4, West Palm Beach, FL, William T. Dwyer High School
An athletic and lengthy guard, Jaelen Nelson brings a championship pedigree to Edward Waters. Nelson helped to lead his team at Dwyer to the FHSAA Class 6A State Title in 2023, the programs fourth championship under head coach Fred Ross. Nelson averaged 14 points per contest to go along with three assists, five boards, and one steal.
Coach Huff on Nelson: "Jaelen is a lengthy athletic player that can score at all three levels as he is a sniper from deep. He is a winner, a champion during his high school career. We feel we got a player that has the ability to be special for us here at EWU."

Myles Hosten, F, 6'8, London, England, TRC Academy
Another long, agile, and dominant player, Myles Hosten chooses to stay in Jacksonville to play for Edward Waters. The native of London, England played for Edward Waters grad and former men's basketball player Ben Jones at Impact Christian Academy in Jacksonville. During his senior season, Hosten averaged 15 points, 10 boards, three blocks, and two steals for the Lions. Last season during his postgrad year at TRC Academy, Hosten averaged 26 points,12 boards, three blocks, and one steal per contest. Hosten was also recently selected to represent his country for the upcoming FIBA U20 European Basketball Championships.

Coach Huff on Hosten: "The ability to keep this young man home was key for us as although Myles is from England, he's a Jacksonville kid. He is a player that fans need to keep an eye on even as a freshman. He's an athletic above the rim player who brings versatility to handle the ball and attack the rim while also keeping opponents honest with his ability to shoot the ball. We believe he has the ability to guard multiple positions and be a monster at the rim defensively."

Carter Hankerson, F, 6'8, Orlando, FL, Wekiva High School
A big body, but has an exceptional ability to step outside and shoot from the wing, the multi-faceted Carter Hankerson makes the short trip up I-4 and I-95 to don the Purple & Orange. The Orlando native, averaged nine points and seven boards per game during his senior season for Wekiva High School last year.

Coach Huff on Hankerson: "A big that wants to be a big, yet he still has the ability to step out and shoot the basketball. Carter has soft hands which allow him to catch in the contested painted area and score the ball. His potential is through the roof with his ability to get better, his athleticism and skill set."

Ja'Kobe Williams, G, 6'3, Jacksonville, FL, Virginia Union
After spending some time away, Ja'Kobe Williams makes his highly anticipated appearance back home to play for his hometown HBCU. Williams comes to Edward Waters after a stint at Virginia Union last season, where he average 6.7 points per game, 2.6 assists, and 2.6 rebounds for the Panthers. Coming out of high school Williams originally committed to and played for Paine College, where he averaged 14.9 points per game, 3.4 assists, and 3.8 boards. Williams played his high school basketball for head coach Toby Frazier at Paxon School for the Advanced Studies, where he was a major part of a renaissance of boys basketball for the Golden Eagles.

Coach Huff on Williams: "Can't say enough about what it means to bring a hometown player back to Duval. Excited to get this D2 transfer as he's athletic, strong and a legit scorer at all three levels that can make plays for himself and others. Having had to find a way to stop Ja'Kobe when he was our opponent, it will be great for our staff to now gameplan for ways to get him to his shots for us here at EWU."

Cyrus Huggard-Noel, F, 6'7, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Highland Community College
From the "Great White North", Cyrus Huggard-Noel becomes the second Canadian to be a member of the EWU men's basketball, joining his fellow countryman Jeremiah Kwarteng. Huggard-Noel was a major contributior to his team at Highland Community College winning the Region Four Championship, averaging seven points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.

Coach Huff on Huggard-Noel: "The versatility of Cyrus is what pops out for us when you watch him play. His athleticism is evident around the rim as he can control the paint offensively and defensively, but his ability to handle the basketball and attack while also being able to shoot the basketball is what excites us as a staff for this young man who has also proven to be a winner at the JUCO level."

Amari Davis, F, 6'8, Orlando, FL, Oak Ridge High School
Amari Davis is another big that can be quite the rim protector for the Tigers. The Orlando native led his team in blocks last season, helping Oak Ridge to a 27-5 mark, a region championship, and a runner-up finish at the FHSAA Class 7A Boys Basketball State Tournament. Davis finished 2024, averaging 10 points per game, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks.

Coach Huff on Davis: "Amari is a physical presence around the rim and in the paint both offensively and defensively. That unique ability to do this as a high school player is what stood out for us as a staff. However, he has the ability to step out and make plays and shot the basketball. That versatility is another asset we expect to develop in this young man. In addition, he is another young man that is a winner and knows what it takes to win."

Kyle White, G, 5'8, Douglasville, GA, Chapel Hill High School
A true floor general, Coach Huff went back to his hometown of Atlanta to recruit point guard Kyle White to play for Edward Waters. White helped to take his Chapel Hill High School squad to a 21-9 mark during his senior season. He averaged 8.2 points per game and shot 32% from beyond the arc last season. White will come in and redshirt in 2024-25 to get bigger, stronger, and better for the Tigers in the future.

Coach Huff on White: "Kyle is a young man that has been coached hard so he knows how to play the right way. In addition, his high school program has helped him understand what it takes to win. His ability to shoot the basketball is elite. We look forward to seeing the development here at EWU with Kyle."

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