Men's Basketball | July 30, 2021

AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken, in conjunction with head men's basketball coach Mark Vanderslice, is excited to announce the addition of six student-athletes for the upcoming 2021-22 season.

Demitrios Dixon, Caleb Furr, Kameron Little, Samba Ndiaye, Preston Parks and David Strother, along with previous signees Mason McMurray and Malcolm Stevenson will continue their academic and athletic careers at USC Aiken beginning this fall.

"I'm thrilled about this year's recruiting class," Vanderslice stated. "Coachability, character, and work ethic are the cornerstones to development and each of these young men possess these attributes. It will be exciting to witness the development of the newest additions to our Pacer family."

Dixon is a 5-11 guard from Charlotte, N.C. The sophomore attended Caldwell C.C. There, he guided the team to the program's best record in school history (29-4). A first-team all-region selection, Dixon netted 16.7 points and had 6.5 assists per contest.

"I was impressed with Demitri from the first time we spoke," Vanderslice said. "The combination of his will to win and drive to succeed will be contagious within our program. His time at Caldwell the last two years have allowed his game to really blossom. As an extremely crafty ball handler that possesses uncanny playmaking capabilities, he will be able to make those around him better. He understands what it takes to be successful at the next level and we look forward to him bringing his battle tested experiences with him to our program."  

Furr, a 6-6 freshman forward from Warrenton, Va., was an all-district honoree as a junior. He accounted for 14 points and five boards a game as a senior. As a junior, Furr helped his team to a 28-3 ledger and a No. 2 ranking in the state. During a shortened senior campaign, he led the squad to an 11-2 mark and a No. 2 ranking in the state.

"Caleb is the definition of high motor," Vanderslice stated. "I was immediately drawn to how hard he plays on both ends of the floor. He's talented, skilled, and brings a level of energy that forces those around him to play that much harder. Not only is he deadly shooter with an arsenal of skills on the offensive end, he takes great pride in playing defense and rebounding out of his area. Caleb consistently makes winning plays that don't always show up in the stat sheet. We invite his winning mentality on and off the court and couldn't be more elated to have him become a Pacer."

Little is a 6-6 freshman forward from Greenville, S.C. He helped lead Legacy Early College to a National Prep Championship as a sophomore and senior. Little picked up all-region accolades as a junior and was named the Most Improved Player as a senior. He is a three-time Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

"Kameron is a tough, physical, well rounded forward that does all the small things to help a program succeed," Vanderslice said. "He's not afraid to get dirty and embraces contact on the defensive end. His athleticism and skill in the paint will be a strong plus for our team. He has practiced and competed against some of the best competitors in the state, which will undoubtedly prepare him as he takes it to the next level. Kameron is a great fit for our program and I couldn't be more excited about his addition to our team."

Ndiaye is a 6-9 forward/center from Thies, Senegal. The redshirt-senior from the College of Charleston, Ndiaye saw action in four games in 2020-21. Ndiaye played in three games during the 2018-19 campaign and saw action in 20 contests during his freshman season. That year, he was part of the CAA Championship and NCAA Tournament squad.  

"As a transfer from College of Charleston we are excited about the experience that Samba brings with him," Vanderslice stated. "His size and strength in the paint will allow for more depth in the post. He's an extreme competitor that has a strong will to win. He has great hands and good footwork along with the ability to score over both shoulders. Samba's very physical and covers a lot of ground on both ends of the floor. He embraces the defense, rebound, and toughness mentality. Samba embodies leadership and we are excited to have him become a part of our family."

Parks is a 6-1 guard from Greenville, S.C. The graduate student transferred from Samford. There, he played in 19 games and picked up six starts a season ago. Parks posted eight points and 3.2 rebounds a contest. He poured in a career-high 18 points and had eight boards against Mercer.

"I've followed Preston's progress ever since we recruited him out of high school and couldn't be more excited about his addition to our team," Vanderslice said. "He plays with a very high basketball IQ and has a terrific feel for the game. Not only is he a sniper from three but he has an unbelievable understanding of angles around the basket. On the defensive end, he brings a level of savvy, grit, and toughness that is required to be successful within our style of play. As a seasoned vet, his leadership, positive spirit, and experience will be welcomed and I'm thrilled he is now a part of our family."

Strother is a 6-2 guard from Lumberton, N.C. The graduate student most recently played for Old Dominion. There, he played in 13 contests. Prior to his time at ODU, Strother played for former PBC foe UNC Pembroke, scoring over 1,000 points in a three-year span.  

"David comes to us from Old Dominion," Vanderslice stated. "He's an extremely tough, versatile, athlete that plays at a high level on both ends of the floor. David is a relentless competitor that fits our system perfectly. His scoring capabilities, court vision, open court talents, and feel for tempo are just a few of the many offensive qualities he possesses. Along with being a three-level scorer, David takes great pride in setting the tone on the defensive end and making everyone around him better. He also checks all the boxes as a winner and I couldn't be more thrilled to have him as a Pacer."