MOBILE, Ala. – Rozelle Nix will be joining the University of South Alabama men's basketball program for the 2017-18 season, head coach Matthew Graves announced Friday.

Nix, a 6-foot-11, 300-pound forward, comes to Mobile as a graduate transfer and will have one season of eligibility remaining.

"We are extremely excited to add Rozelle to our team for next season, Graves said. "He obviously brings a great deal of size which will help our frontcourt especially in rebounding the basketball and having a defensive presence."

Nix spent last season at Pittsburgh, where he averaged 1.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per contest in 20 games. He saw action in 13 of the last 14 games of the season – all against Atlantic Coast Conference competition – and set new career highs of seven points at Duke and eight rebounds vs. North Carolina.

He sat out the 2015-16 season due to a foot injury.

Prior to attending Pittsburgh, Nix was a two-time all-Panhandle Conference selection at Pensacola Junior College after tallying 8.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

As a sophomore, the Cincinnati, Ohio native averaged nearly a double-double while leading the team to an 18-12 record. He converted 54.0 percent from the floor and averaged 11.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, to earn first-team all-conference honors. He reached double-digits in points 15 times and rebounds on 13 occasions, including a career-best 26 points with 15 boards vs. Tallahassee Community College.

Nix put up 5.5 points and 3.8 boards per game in his freshman campaign, and shot 61.6 percent from the floor to earn honorable mention all-conference honors. The Pirates went 21-11, reached the state semifinals and won the Panhandle Conference Tournament.

"Rozelle is a tremendous person who will bring passion and enthusiasm to the game and for his teammates," Graves said. "The fans will absolutely love him."

As a prep, Nix was a two-time honorable mention all-Ohio selection at Withrow High School.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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