SAN ANTONIO -- UTSA men's basketball has signed guard John Buggs III and forward Carlton Linguard Jr. during the spring signing period, it was announced on Tuesday by head coach Steve Henson.
"John and Carlton, along with Massal (Diouf) and DJ (Richards), give us a terrific class, to this point," Henson said. "We are signing guys who address specific needs and they will mesh extremely well with our returning group."
Buggs and Linguard join a current four-member recruiting class that includes 6-foot-9 forward Massal Diouf, a product of the Netherlands, and 6-5 guard DJ Richards, a former standout at Houston's Cypress Creek.
John Buggs III, R-Jr., G, 6-2, 185, Homer, La. (Summerfield HS/Putnam Science Academy [Conn.]/UMass/Hill College)
Buggs is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound guard out of Homer, La., who enters the Roadrunners program as a redshirt junior. He prepped at Summerfield [La.] High School and in a post-graduate season at the Putnam Science Academy [Conn.], before redshirting the 2019-20 season at UMass. He played the 2021-22 season at Hill College, where he averaged 15.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game in 30 outings. He was 89 of 188 from 3-point range, good for 47.3 percent to rank 11th in the National Junior College Athletic Association and earned NJCAA Division I honorable mention All-America accolades. He scored in double figures in 27 of 30 games as sophomore at Hill, including five games with 20+ points scored. He averaged 23.2 points per game as a senior at Summerfield High School, helping the Rebels to the Class C state championship – their third state championship with Buggs on the roster – while earning All-Louisiana first-team honors.
Henson on Buggs …
"J is a proven scorer and shooter. He's done it from high school, AAU and all through his time at Hill College. His prior NCAA I experience at UMass along with his two years at Hill give him a wealth of collegiate experience that will prove valuable for us. We look forward to working with him as he plays an integral part in our pursuit for a conference championship."
Carlton Linguard Jr., Jr., F, 7-0, 220, San Antonio, Texas (Stevens HS/Temple CC/Kansas State)
Linguard returns to San Antonio after playing the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons at Kansas State, following a season at Temple College in 2019-20. He played in 15 games with two starts in 2021-22 at K-State, with 1.3 points and 1.3 rebounds per game while coming off injuries that limited him to 17 games as a sophomore in 2020-21. He averaged 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds per game in 113 minutes as a sophomore in 2020-21, including sinking 4 of 11 3-point tries. Linguard went to Manhattan, Kan., after a decorated season at Temple College in 2019-20, where he was ranked as the 12th best junior college prospect in the nation according to 247Sports. He helped Temple to a 24-7 record, where he averaged 13.3 points – on 51.4 percent shooting and 9 of 34 from deep – with 9.5 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game in 30 outings. He shot 70.1 percent from the charity stripe, while leading the team in total blocks, blocks per game, total rebounds and offensive rebounds. Linguard had 12 double-doubles, including a win that saw him go for 28 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks. He scored in double figures in 25 of 30 games, had double figure boards in 13 games and at least four blocks in 15 outings, including an 11-block outing. He was a three-year letterwinner and a two-year starter at Stevens High School, helping lead the Falcons to 39 wins and consecutive trips to the UIL Class 6A State Tournament over his final two years. He averaged 13 points and 7.5 rebounds as a junior and senior with 16 double-doubles, earning first-team all-district honors and second-team all-academic honors as a senior in 2018-19. As a senior, he averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 31 games for Coach Michael Raynes. Linguard was born on July 24, 2001 in Durham, N.C., to parents Carlton Linguard Jr. and Latrisha Brown. He has a sister, Candace.
Henson on Linguard …
"We are excited to bring Carlton back home to San Antonio and have him join our UTSA basketball family. Carlton is a player that will bring high-major ability to our front line. His versatility, high skill level and great attitude will immediately aid us. His time at K-State helped him improve defensively and his experience in the Big 12 will help him transition to our program immediately."
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