LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Men's Basketball Head Coach
Pat Duquette announced the addition of four newcomers to his squad on Wednesday.
Members of the 2017-18 incoming class hail from three different states. The River Hawks are excited to welcome true freshmen Joey Naccarato (Coeur d'Alene, Id.) and Obadiah Noel (Frederick, Md.), in addition to junior college transfer Shawn Jones (Bridge City, La.) and Division I transfer Christian Lutete (Silver Spring, Md.).
"We are excited to welcome four new players to our program this year," said Duquette, who is entering his fifth year at UMass Lowell. "This class is a nice combination of transfers and incoming freshmen that will provide our lineup with additional depth and experience."
River Hawk Player Profiles
Name: Shawn Jones
Hometown/High School: Bridge City, La./L.W. Higgins/Howard College
Class: Junior
Position: Guard
Height: 6-0 Weight: 175
Club Team: A.S.S.I.S.T. Academy
Major: Business Management
Howard College (2015-17): Started 25 of 58 games played in two seasons … averaged 7.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game … shot 44.5% (134-301) from the field 72.0% (131-182) from the foul line … career-high 24 points scored at Clarendon College.
High School: Team member at L.W. Higgins … two-time All-District selection … earned All-State honors as a senior … helped lead his team to a District Championship in his final season.
Personal: Son of Floyd and Wendy Jones … has seven siblings … brother (Casey) played basketball at Chattanooga … spends his free time reading … lists The Originals as his favorite TV show … includes the Los Angeles Lakers as his favorite professional sports team and Kobe Bryant as his favorite sports figure … chose UMass Lowell because he felt the coaches would not only help him get better on the court, but off the court, as well … majoring in business management.
Coach Duquette on Jones: "Shawn is a strong, extremely quick guard, who will get in the lane, get his teammates open shots, and defend the ball as well as any guard I have seen."
Name: Christian Lutete
Hometown/High School/Previous School: Silver Spring, Md./Phillips Exeter Academy/Radford University
Class: Junior
Position: Guard
Height: 6-5 Weight: 190
Major: Business Management
As a Sophomore (Radford, 2016-17): Appeared in 30 games with two starts … averaged 4.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 14.0 minutes per game … shot 37.7% (46-122) from the field, including 33.8% (25-74) from three-point range, and 63.3% (19-30) from the foul line … added 18 assists, two blocks and five steals.
As a Freshman (Radford, 2015-16): Appeared in 27 games with one start … averaged 2.9 points and 2.2 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game … shot 34.6% (28-81) from the floor and 66.7% (8-12) at the foul line … totaled 11 assists, two blocks and one steal.
High School: Played basketball at Phillips Exeter Academy … averaged 17 points per game as a senior … named to the All-NEPSAC Team … graduated with a 3.9 cumulative GPA.
Personal: Son of Claude and Lishion Lutete … has one older sister (Bijou) … enjoys spending time with his nephews … lists First Take as his favorite TV show … names the Washington Wizards as his favorite professional sports team … Kobe Bryant his is favorite sports figure … chose to attend UMass Lowell because he felt it was a great school … majoring in business management.
Coach Duquette on Lutete: "Christian is a transfer from Radford, who will have to sit a year. He is a talented, long wing who can really shoot and score in a variety of ways."
Name: Joey Naccarato
Hometown/High School: Coeur d'Alene, Id./Coeur d'Alene
Class: Freshman
Position: Guard
Height: 6-4 Weight: 210
Club Team: Idaho Select
Major: Undeclared
High School: Four-year varsity team member at Coeur d'Alene … two-time All-Conference and Team MVP selection … senior captain … averaged 20 points and nine rebounds during his final campaign … named 2017 All-State honoree … Coeur d'Alene Booster Club Male Athlete of the Year … 2016-17 North Idaho Male Athlete of the Year nominee and North Idaho Basketball Player of the Year nominee … also played football … was named team captain for football as a senior … All-Conference Wide Receiver … helped lead his team to a conference championship as a junior.
Personal: Son of John and Gretchen Naccarato … has one brother (Tony) and one sister (Olivia) … brother played basketball at North Idaho College … hobbies include lifting and boating … lists the Boston Celtics as his favorite professional sports team … names Kobe Bryant and his dad as his favorite sports influences … chose UMass Lowell because he really liked the coaching staff … has yet to declare a major.
Coach Duquette on Naccarato: "Joey is a smart, skilled and tough perimeter player with great strength for his position."
Name: Obadiah Noel
Hometown/High School: Frederick, Md./Tuscarora
Class: Freshman
Position: Guard
Height: 6-4 Weight: 185
Club Team: CBSA
Major: Undeclared
High School: Played basketball at Tuscarora … named Frederick County Player of the Year as a senior after averaging 22.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists … totaled 61 three-pointers in his final season … set the school records for most points in a single game (41) and for most threes in a single game (8).
Personal: Son of Simeon and Lavern Noel … lists ESPN as his favorite thing to watch on TV … names the Los Angeles Lakers as his favorite professional sports team and Kobe Bryant as his favorite sports figure … chose UMass Lowell for the basketball program and the academics … has yet to declare a major.
Coach Duquette on Noel: "Obadiah is a versatile, skilled and dynamic guard, who can really score and make plays."
