SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State men's basketball team and head coach Vinay Patel has added another player to the incoming 2023-24 class, announcing the signing of Keyshawn Embery-Simpson, a graduate transfer from Tulsa University.

"We are thrilled to land an experienced guard like Keyshawn in this class," said Patel. "He has been a part of some great programs and should transition into ours very quickly. We are going to be able to utilize his skills at any of the guard positions on the floor.  He can score from the 3-point line and has the size and quickness to finish at the basket."

A 6-foot-3 guard, Embery-Simpson averaged 4.8 points per game this past season for the Golden Hurricanes. In his first season in Tulsa, he averaged 7.3 points per game. His season-high scoring performance came against Jackson State on November 12^th, 2022, when he scored 20 points against the Tigers.

"One of the biggest things we loved about him was his ability to take care of the ball," said Patel. "We look for basketball IQ in recruiting, and we believe that Keyshawn will do a great job of reading the defense to make the right plays."

Before his three seasons in Tulsa, Embery-Simpson played his freshman season at the University of Arkansas, averaging 4.1 points and 1.2 rebounds per game for the Razorbacks. He twice scored 16 points in road SEC contests, doing so against Ole Miss and LSU.

Embery-Simpson was a highly-touted prospect in high school, spending three seasons at Midwest City High School in Oklahoma before concluding his prep career at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

He was a consensus four-star recruit and was rated the No. 22 point guard in the country and the No. 13 overall prospect in Florida. As a junior at Midwest City, he averaged 26.8 points per game and 5.6 rebounds, earning a spot on The Oklahoman's Super 5 Team. He led the Bombers to a 23-4 record and a state championship.

"Keyshawn is a tremendous young man and has a chance to excel in our program on and off the floor," said Patel. "He graduated this past May with a degree in Mass Communications. We believe he will raise the intensity level of everyone around him."

"He has played in some very big moments throughout his college career, and we know he will be ready to compete in the always-tough LSC," said Patel. "Fans are going to love watching him play, and we are excited that he will wear the Blue and Gold next year!"

The 2022-2023 Rams finished 26-7 and made it to the second round of the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament.  The 26 wins were the second most in program history and the most by a first-year head coach. The Rams also finished a perfect 13-0 inside the Junell Center – Stephens Area and finished first in the Lone Star Conference in home attendance.
 

2023-24 Signees	Yr.	Ht.	Previous School
Everson Armstrong	Fr.	6-5	Wall HS
Shemar Smith	Jr.	6-7	Connors State College
DJ Freeman	Jr.	6-6	Oklahoma Baptist University
Keyshawn Embery-Simpson	Gr.	6-3	Tulsa University