PRAIRIE VIEW – Head Coach Byron Smith announced the addition of eight newcomers to the Prairie View A&M men's basketball program today.

The defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champions are tasked with replacing an experienced championship core that garnered several all-conference accolades along with back-to-back league crowns. It's a reality that helped power this year's focus on the recruiting trails.

"We lost a lot of seniors, and with that we lost a lot of experience. We brought in multiple Division I transfers so our team can be as mature as we possibly could, as these guys have been through the rigors before," Smith said. "If and when we play this season, I feel like we're going to be strong. I think we'll definitely have an opportunity to be at the top of the conference and hopefully accomplish a rare feat in winning three championships in a row."

Smith expects the newest crop of Panthers to address multiple holes as the program gears up for a march toward a potential three-peat.

"For the first time since I've been the head coach at Prairie View, we have a lot of guys who can do a myriad of things," Smith said. "We don't have just one-trick ponies. We have guys who are very versatile with very unique skill sets, so it allows us to tinker with our lineups. We're really excited about the direction we're going. We have a lot of talent and on any given night, we have five, six or seven guys that can lead us in any statistical category, and that gives us a lot of depth and versatility. This can make us a tough out for our opponents."

The full list of signees are Jerroda Briscoe, Jeremiah Gambrell, Eric Hester, Dajour Joseph, Boe Nguidjol, Damari Parris, D'Rell Roberts and Myles Washington.

Briscoe should bring length and defensive prowess to the Panthers as the 6'8 forward arrives to the Hill from Central Wyoming College, where he is the program's all-time leader in blocks.

"He's an athletic freak," Smith said. "He's a long kid that can play around the rim as well as step out from 15 to 17 feet to keep the defense honest. I think his impact will be his effort, enthusiasm, toughness and ability to protect the rim. He should be one of the better shot-blockers on our team, if not the league."

In his past season of play he averaged 11.6 points per game on an efficient 64.4 percent shooting clip, along with 6.0 boards and roughly two blocks per game.

"He's a hungry kid that comes from a good program," Smith said. "He's a guy we expect to have an impact on our team from day one."

Gambrell, a native of Houston, arrives as a transfer from Western Kentucky. Though he saw limited action with the Hilltoppers, the 6'2 guard has prodigious scoring ability, averaging 20-plus points per game in his junior and senior seasons at Madison High School, where he led the team to a District 24-5A title on his way to a TABC 5A All-State selection.

The aforementioned offensive prowess quickly drew the Panthers' interest, with Smith noting that Gambrell's talent was well known long before it came to the forefront. As a result, Smith said he believes Gambrell could be one of the top scorers and newcomers in the SWAC and should make an impact early and often.

"He can put the ball in the basket, and he's had that ability since about the seventh grade," the Panthers' coach said. "I used to see him at one of the gyms I'd go work out at. I noticed at a young age that he was unbelievably skilled and had a great mind for the game. Jeremiah is a kid that when he steps off the bus, he's within his shooting range. He can shoot as well as any kid I've seen in a long time, and he's a gym rat that comes from a great family. He's a Houston kid that wanted to get closer to home. He's a combo guard that can play some point, but he's a threat from anywhere on the floor."

Hester, a 6'3 guard from Clearwater, Fla., is a former four-star prospect who projects as a top-tier marksman for the Panthers. Originally committing to Florida – where he shot 57 percent from three-point range despite sporadic appearances – he eventually found his footing at Tallahassee Community College, flashing difference making ability on the court.

"On paper, he's probably our most talented kid," Smith said. "He's an all-conference type of performer. If he can regain the form he had at Florida, he could have the kind of impact that Gerard Andrus and Devonte Patterson had on our program the past two seasons."

Hester averaged 8.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 46.7 percent from three-point land and 46.4 percent from the floor. Earning first-team All-Panhandle Conference honors, Hester also got it done in the classroom, having been named to the Dean's List during the Fall 2019 term.

"He's an athletic kid that can get to the basket, and he can really defend," Smith said. "What we really like about him is that he is a two-way player. We're expecting big things from him, and we expect him to be one of the better players in the conference.

Joseph is a 6'6 swingman from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. that transferred from New Mexico State, where he redshirted. Prior, he was a key reserve at South Plains College, aiding the team's run to the Final Four of the NJCAA National Tournament in 2018-19.

"He's another athletic kid that can put the ball in the basket," Smith said. "He wasn't able to do all he was capable of because he played on an unbelievably talented team (at South Plains). He's a big guard that can get downhill and play above the rim at times, but he just hasn't had the opportunity to showcase all of his talents. We're hoping that Prairie View gives him the platform to show the world the type of talent he is."

While at Boyd Anderson High School, he averaged 9.2 points and 5.0 rebounds for as a senior, and earned All-Broward County Honorable Mention as a junior.

"He's got toughness, and I like his confidence. He's a confident and intelligent young man, and it's our job to help him fulfill his goals," Smith said.

Nguidjol, a 6'8 forward from Los Angeles, arrives from Detroit-Mercy, where he was a key reserve for the Titans over the past two seasons.

"He's a consummate stretch four that can force the opposing rim protector to come outside," Smith said. "He can create scoring and driving lanes for his teammates. He's a really good offensive rebounds that can score in the post and step out as far as the three-point line. He's a versatile big and another guy I think has a chance to be an all-conference performer."

He spent his last prep season at Middlebrooks Academy and averaged 16.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 60.0 percent from the field. Prior to that, he played for Central City Value High School in Los Angeles, where he led the team with 23.0 points and 14.9 rebounds per game as a junior and was named to the All-CIF Los Angeles City Section Team in 2016 and 2017.

"He's definitely a guy that's going to be on the floor day one," Smith said. "I think he can average double-figures in scoring and rebounding, and we love what he brings to our program."

Parris, a 6'3 point man, comes to The Hill from Eastern Michigan. He played in 20 games for the Eagles, including 11 starts, averaging 14.5 minutes per game along with 3.7 points, 1.8 assists and 1.2 rebounds per contest. Prior, the Prince George's County, Md. native was a standout for Trinity Valley Community College, where he averaged 12.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.

"Damari is a big guard that can play on or off the ball. He's got a great feel for distributing the ball and can see over the defense," Smith said. "He's a guy who can get to the basket and finish or make the defense converge so he can dish out to his teammates. He understands how to play the game. He's 21, but he carries himself like he's 24 or 25 years old, so that experience and know-how is going to be very valuable to our team."

Smith said that Parris should figure in for the battle of top point guard for the Panthers.

"He will have the opportunity to have the ball in his hands early," Smith said. "Our biggest question is who's going to be the starter there, as we have so many different options. But I think at the 11^th hour, Damari is going to be someone who has a huge impact on our team as well as become one of the better assist guys in the league."

Roberts, a 6'6 sharpshooter from Dallas, stands to give the Panthers another lethal option from beyond the arc. He previously attended Kilgore Community College and averaged 11.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 41.2 percent on three-point attempts during the 2019-20 season. He spent the 2018-19 campaign at Broward Community College, where he averaged double-digits in scoring and knocked down 43.8 percent of his tries from three-point land.

"He can play multiple positions and guard multiple positions," Smith said. "He has a great feel for the game and can really pass the ball well for a guy his size. He's a hybrid that can really defend, and I think he makes everyone better when he's on the floor. We found out about him late but we did a good job of recruiting him. He's going to have an impact."

Washington, a 6'5 forward from Charlotte, projects as a nice perimeter option for the Panthers. In his lone season at Central Georgia Tech, he averaged 13.1 points on nearly 51 percent shooting from the floor, flashing as a capable threat from deep as evidenced by a 35 percent clip from beyond the arc. He also hauled in nearly six rebounds and a steal per night while dishing out close to two assists per contest.

"He's going to fit in great as we like to get up and down the court, and we like guys who can get to the cup," Smith said. "Myles is someone that I think will get to the foul line a lot because he's constantly on the attack. He's got great size and can handle the ball. He's a lunch pail, hard hat type of guy from what his coaches have told us. So we know he's a hard worker."

In all, expectations remain high for the defending SWAC champions, and Smith said there's reason to be optimistic for the 2020-21 season due to the variety of attributes found within the newest members of the team.

"I love this group's work ethic," Smith said. "They care about being very good basketball players and getting an education. They also have that experience. We have a team of grown, mature men. We're excited about our team and our newcomers, and we believe we can get some things done this year."