South Alabama basketball adds D2 guard Isiah Gaiter

South Alabama basketball adds D2 guard Isiah Gaiter

South Alabama will use its final 2023-24 roster spot on Division II transfer Isiah Gaiter, who committed to the Jaguars on Wednesday.

Gaiter, a 6-foot-3 guard out of Assumption (Mass.) University, becomes the fourth player in the current cycle to join the South Alabama program out of the NCAA transfer portal. The Jaguars signed three transfers last week: guards Samuel Tabe (Seton Hill) and Maxwell Land (Saint Francis) and forward Thomas Howell (Louisiana-Monroe).

Gaiter announced his commitment via Instagram:

Gaiter, originally from Meriden, Conn., earned first-team All-Northeast 10 honors last season at Assumption, averaging 16.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. A 62-game starter in his career with the Greyhounds, he has one season of eligibility remaining.

College coaches are not permitted to comment on unsigned recruits, but Jaguars head coach Richie Riley appeared to acknowledge Gaiter’s commitment via Twitter:

The addition of Gaiter means South Alabama will not be signing former McGill-Toolen Catholic School standout Barry Dunning, who entered the transfer portal earlier this month after one season at Arkansas. Dunning, Mr. Basketball in the state of Alabama in 2022, is now expected to transfer elsewhere.

South Alabama had great success recruiting out of the D2 ranks last season, adding All-Sun Belt Conference guard Isaiah Moore, defensive stopper Owen White and future building block Elijah Ormiston. Moore and White were both fifth-year seniors last season, while Ormiston has three years of eligibility remaining.

South Alabama also signed three high school recruits in November: guards John Broom (Jacksonville, Ala.) and Smurf Millender (Clear Brook, Texas) and forward Ethan Kizer (Metamora, Ill.). Broom was named Class 4A Player of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association this past season, when he led the Eagles to their second straight state championship.

The Jaguars finished 19-16 in 2022-23, reaching the Sun Belt Conference tournament championship game.