Carr signs with Warhawks

MONROE, La. – The ULM men's basketball team tapped into its New Orleans pipeline once again on Friday when prep star Colby Carr signed a National Letter of Intent during the early period to play with the Warhawks starting with the 2009-10 season.

Carr, entering his senior season at O.P. Walker High School, will become the fifth New Orleans native to sign with ULM since Orlando Early was named head coach. He will join current Warhawks David Garrison, Nathaniel Roché, Kenneth Averette, and Lawrence Gilbert.

"The New Orleans area has a ton of talent," Early said. "The main thing about the kids from that area is that they are tough. They are hard-nosed, solid players. The whole state of Louisiana has great athletes and we have always wanted to bring those guys [to ULM]. Coach Harold Juluke is well known in New Orleans. He has done a great job recruiting there and has opened a lot of doors for ULM and our basketball program."

A 6-3 wing, Carr averaged 15 points and seven rebounds per game as a junior in helping O.P. Walker to a 4A Louisiana state runner-up finish – falling in the state championship to Helen Cox and Georgetown signee Greg Monroe.

Carr joins an early signing class that includes Hugh Mingo, a former West Monroe, La., standout and current letterwinner at South Plains College.

"Colby is a very good athlete," Early said. "He is a strong guy who really reminds us of Jarvis Hill. He is really tough and always plays hard. He is going to bring toughness right away. He is a defensive minded guy who will come in well coached and ready to play."

ULM will look to make it two wins in a row to open the 2008-09 season when it travels to Starkville, Miss., for a 7 p.m. game against Mississippi State.