STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton head men's basketball coach Lonn Reisman has announced the signing of six freshman and five transfers for the 2015-16 season.
 
"As a staff we are excited about adding these newcomers to our returning group of letterman," said Chris Reisman, associate head men's basketball coach. "We lost some key members from last season's Final Four team so we knew we had our work cut out for us heading into the new year."
 
Of the five transfers, two are former Division-I athletes with Charles Hill, a 6-foot-2 guard coming from TCU for his senior year and Xavier Smith, a 6-foot-8 forward from St. Bonaventure (N.Y.) for his junior year.
 
Louis Baltazar comes to the Texans as a junior college All-American at Burlington County College (N.J.) after averaging 23.6 points per game, which was eighth in the country.
 
Also joining the Texans is Romond Jenkins and Chantz Chambers. Jenkins, a 6-foot-7 forward, originally signed to Oral Roberts out of high school but played two years at Moberly Area College where he averaged a double-double with 10 points per game and 10.5 rebounds. Chambers is a 5-foot-11 guard coming in as a junior after collecting First-Team All-Conference honors at Bossier Parish Community College (La.) and scoring 16.6 points per game.
 
All six freshmen played their high school basketball in Texas, with five coming from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The 2015-16 freshmen class includes Anthony Davis (Lewisville), Josh Hawley (Irving MacArthur), Lance Ewell (Brock), Kealon Clayborne (Cedar Hill), Da'Rhon Mitchell (Cedar Hill) and Ivan Tevis (Perryton). In addition, five of the freshman recruits were ranked in the top 115 players in the state of Texas, according to texashoops.com.
 
The Tarleton Texans return nine members—including three starters—from the 2014-15 team that went 31-4 and reached the NCAA Division II Final Four.
 
"Each team is its own but our hope is each of these new guys embraces what it means to be a Tarleton Texan," said Reisman. "No championship has ever been won on paper and now its time to go to work and prepares these guys for the expectations of wearing purple and white."
 

CHARLES HILL: Senior - Guard - 6'2, 185 - Fort Worth, TX (Trimble Tech HS | TCU)

Charles Hill transfers to Tarleton for his senior season after playing three season for TCU. Hill played in 52 games for the Horned Frogs in his three years and averaged 5.1 points per game as a sophomore. Hill set a career-high with 20 points against Mississippi State as a sophomore; scored 13 points against West Virginia as a junior. Was a 3-star recruit out of Trimble Tech High School in Fort Worth. Coach Reisman quote: "Charles has the difference-maker quality if he will come in here hungry and ready to prove he can be the type of college player everyone expected coming out of high school. He was a great high school player in Fort Worth. We would have liked to have gotten him then, but he was a high major prospect coming out of Trimble Tech High School."

XAVIER SMITH: Junior - Forward - 6'8, 215 - Richardson, TX (Plano East HS | St. Bonaventure)

Xavier Smith transfers to Tarleton for his junior season from St. Bonaventure (N.Y.) Smith played in 22 games for the Bonnies. Smith was ranked the 66th best high school recruit in Texas and led Plano East to a 30-6 record as a senior. He was high school teammates with current Texans Sawyer Kipp and Jacob Morales. Coach Reisman quote: "Xavier has a lot of upside. Coming from the Atlantic 10 Conference he has seen a great level of basketball. He has good size, athleticism and can step out and shoot the three-pointer. He has the potential to be very good in our system as he continues to get stronger and learn our terminology and methods."

ROMOND JENKINS: Junior - Forward - 6'7, 220 - Oklahoma City, OK (Moberly Area College)

Romond Jenkins averaged a double-double with 10 points per game and 10.5 rebounds on 57% shooting at Moberly Area College. Jenkins ranked 6th in the nation in offensive rebounds with 141. Jenkins signed with Division-I Oral Roberts out of high school. Coach Reisman quote: "Players like Romond Jenkins win you games in the Lone Star conference. Ro brings an energetic motor to the floor. He's relentless on the boards and protects the paint. He plays with a passion and brings an edge to our team that I like in our players."

LOUIS BALTAZAR: Junior - Guard - 6'3, 190 - Bronx, NY (Burlington County College)

Louis Baltazar comes to Tarleton after earning junior college All-American honors at Burlington County College. Baltazar averaged 23.6 points per game on 60.8% shooting, ranking 8th in the nation in scoring. Baltazar reached the 1,000 point milestone at BCC back in January. Coach Reisman quote: "He's athletic, can really drive the ball to the hole and brings a great level of basketball maturity to our team.  Baltazar is a high-character young man with outstanding ability. Usually a player of his ability is only available as a Division I transfer and you get them for one year, but we're blessed to have him for two years and see how he continues to develop."

CHANTZ CHAMBERS: Junior - Guard -  5'11, 170 - Shreveport, LA (Hunington HS | Bossier Parish College)

Chantz Chambers was named First Team All-Conference at Bossier Parish College after averaging 16.6 points per game. Chambers ranked top 10 in the league in scoring, points per game, field goals made, 3-pointers made, assists and steals. Coach Reisman quote: "Chantz is a very athletic addition who can play point guard or shooting guard. He has great passing ability off the bounce but also can score from different areas on the court. We really like the tenacity and toughness he brings to the floor. He has a high energy level that is very important to how we want to play."

ANTHONY DAVIS: Freshman - Forward - 6'7, 215 - Lewisville, TX (Lewisville HS)

Anthony Davis was named First Team All-District the last three years at Lewisville HS. Davis, who was ranked the No.29 recruit in Texas according to texashoops.com, averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds per game as a senior. Coach Chris Reisman quote: "I've watched Anthony since his junior season and have always admired his ability. He's a bonafide D1-caliber player and held D1 offers his senior season but loved Tarleton. He has a good build and high skill level. I'm excited to see his progress in our program."

JOSH HAWLEY: Freshman - Guard/Forward - 6'6, 185 - Irving, TX (Irving MacArthur HS)

Josh Hawley was named First Team All-State at Irving MacArthur HS after averaging a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds per game. Hawley was ranked the 73rd best recruit in Texas, according to texashoops.com. Coach Chris Reisman quote: "Josh came out of nowhere his senior season and we feel like we signed one of the biggest sleepers in the state. He has great ability but will really benefit from our strength program as he makes the transition to the college game. Fans are going to enjoy watching him during his career."

LANCE EWELL: Freshman - Guard - 6'4, 200 - Brock, TX (Brock HS)

Lance Ewell was named First Team All-State at Brock HS while averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds per game. Ewell helped the Brock Eagles go 37-2 and win the Class 3A State Championship while being named Championship Game MVP. Ewell was ranked the 63rd best recruit in Texas according to texashoops.com. Coach Chris Reisman quote: "Lance has potential to be a key addition and comes from a state championship team his senior season. He has a great motor, athleticism and body potential. As he makes the transition to guard full-time at the college level his best basketball is ahead of him."

KEALON CLAYBORNE: Freshman - Guard - 6'2, 175 - Cedar Hill, TX (Cedar Hill HS)

Kealon Clayborne was named First Team All-Region at Cedar Hill HS. Clayborne averaged 12.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game and helped Cedar Hill go 28-4 and reach the Class 6A Regional Quarterfinals. Clayborne was ranked the 90th best recruit in Texas, according to texashoops.com. Coach Chris Reisman quote: "Kealon was successful in one of the toughest districts in the state and rose to the challenge on a nightly basis. He has a good feel with the basketball and great court awareness. He makes players around him better when he's on the floor."

DA'RHON MITCHELL: Freshman - Forward - 6'8, 220 - Cedar Hill, TX (Cedar Hill HS)

Da'Rhon Mitchell played for Cedar Hill HS and helped the Longhorns go 28-4 and reach the Class 6A Regional Quarterfinals. Mitchell was ranked the 115th best recruit in Texas, according to texashoops.com. Coach Chris Reisman quote: "Da'Rhon possesses great size and came from a very demanding High School program. Even though he hasn't been playing basketball for very long, he has potential to be a force defensively and on the boards early. As he continues to improve his skill-set, he could be a big surprise to Tarleton fans in the future."

IVAN TEVIS: Freshman - Guard - 5'11, 175 - Perryton, TX (Perryton HS)

Ivan Tevis was First Team All-District guard at Perryton HS after averaging 16.3 points per game. Coach Chris Reisman quote: "Ivan is a self-made player with great work ethic. He's a proven winner on the court and in the classroom. We like the intensity and effort he can bring to the floor."