MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama men’s basketball head coach Ronnie Arrow announced Wednesday the signing of two players to National Letters of Intent for the 2012-13 season.

Joining the program are Antoine Allen and Delvin Dickerson.

Allen is a 6-1, 185 guard that currently attends Palm Beach State Junior College. He originally signed with Miami (Fla.) and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Dickerson, a 6-5, 200 forward, attends Westbury Christian High School in Houston, Texas and will be a freshman during the 2012-13 campaign.

“We were looking to bring in two good players at those two positions,” said Arrow. “They both fit our system and are good athletes. We feel like they have the opportunity to come in and play right away because of the positions they play.”

Allen played his freshman season at Miami where he averaged 2.9 points and shot 41.7 percent from 3-point land in 17 appearances. After the season, he was named to the All-ACC Academic Men's Basketball team.

“Because of the experience he gained at Miami and the high level he played at in high school and junior college, Antoine is ready to play at this level,” Arrow said. “Coach (Butch) Estes does a really good job and is one of the top junior-college coaches in the country. Antoine can not only play two positions for us, but he’s a leader. He was nominated captain for his Palm Beach State team, so not only does he bring playing ability, he brings leadership ability as well.”

“He’s a very talented, young shooting guard,” said Estes. “We’re ranked fourth in the country and No. 1 in the state of Florida with a lot of experience returning, and he’s competed and won a starting position. He’s an outstanding player and an outstanding young man, not to mention a great student. He’s been a great addition to our program and I think South Alabama has done well to add him to their team.”

As a prep, Allen was a Baltimore Sun First Team All-Metro pick at Lake Clifton High School after averaging 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals per game. He led the Lakers to both Baltimore City and Class 3A North Region titles.

Allen moved to Mississippi Elite Christian Academy, former home to current Jaguar Xavier Roberson, for the 2008-09 campaign and averaged 20 points, six assists and five rebounds per outing before signing with Miami.

“It’s rare to find a player that has a shooter’s mentality and want to guard also,” Arrow said. “When he was on his visit, he told me that when he gets here, he wants to take the other team’s best scorer. So he already has in his head that he’s a defensive player that can shoot the ball.”

Dickerson led Westbury Christian to a 37-2 record last season and a runner-up finish in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools state tournament. The Wildcats and head coach Russell Carr are ranked No. 47 in ESPN.com’s Preseason POWERADE FAB 50 Rankings and have won three state titles in the last six years.

“Delvin will bring some size and strength to our wings and he’s an athlete,” Arrow commented. “He can hit the open shot and can improve on hitting his shot off the dribble. He’s a tough kid that is a great fit for our system.”

As a junior Dickerson averaged 17.8 points and 11.0 rebounds and was named MVP of the 71st annual Houston ISD Boys Basketball Tournament in December 2010.WCHS defeated two-time defending 4A champion Houston Yates in the final behind 25 points and 12 rebounds from Dickerson.

“Delvin is a good hard-working kid and we’re very proud of him getting a chance to compete in the Sun Belt Conference at South Alabama,” said Carr. “He’s a great athlete at that size—if he were playing football he’d be a tight end. His ability to move at that size gives him the advantage of playing on the perimeter or in the post. He can also defend a number of positions, against either guards or forwards because of his size.”

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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