Hounds, Zias add players

Coming off first-round losses this season in the Lone Star Conference tournament, Eastern New Mexico University's basketball coaches are looking for pieces that can help get their teams over the hump.

Men's coach Andrew Helton has added two players this week, while women's coach Lindsey Wilson has signed one.

The men's signees, both California junior college transfers, are 6-foot guard Rodney Blackmon of Los Angeles (West Los Angeles College) and 6-5 forward D.J. Hardwell of Harbor City, Calif. (Los Angeles Harbor College).

"We'd like to sign probably three more," said Helton, whose team went 14-14 in 2011-12. "We're real happy with the two we've signed."

Blackmon, who can play either guard position, was eighth in California juco scoring last year at 20 ppg. He made 46 percent of his 3-point shots (73-for-158) and also averaged more than five assists per outing.

Hardwell scored 13.2 ppg and averaged just under eight rebounds last season.

"We knew we were going to sign a combo guard, and that's where Rodney fits in," Helton said. "D.J. can play both a 3 or a 4 (small or power forward) position."

The Zias have added Neesha Peterson, a 5-11 forward from Palestine, Texas. She was a two-time first-team all-district selection at John Horn H.S.

"She can play a lot of different positions for us, and she has a high basketball IQ," said Wilson, whose squad was 10-17 in her first season at the helm. "She can really do a little bit of everything."

Wilson wants to add a couple more players for next season — specifically, a post player and a point guard.

With point guard Tori Northcutt graduating this year, Wilson said she thinks senior-to-be Karen Grant is capable of playing the position.

"I would like to play her as an off-guard, but she's more than capable of doing it," Wilson said of Grant.