La Salle signs local point guard

La Salle's basketball program has added a fourth recruit to its 2017 class, although he won't be eligible to play until 2018. And he's a Philadelphia native who's coming back after spending two seasons at Marquette.

The Explorers are getting 6-foot point guard Traci Carter, who has to sit out this coming season per NCAA transfer rules. He'll then have two years of eligibility remaining.

Coach John Giannini had recruited Carter when he was a sophomore in high school. He went to Roman Catholic for two years before going to South Jersey's Life Center Academy, where he averaged 16 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 steals as a senior. He was considered a Top 100 prospect, and a top 30 at his position.

"He brings leadership and toughness that is necessary to succeed in today's college basketball world, where so many teams are highly invested and have good players," Giannini said in a statement. "He was one of the Big East leaders in assists and steals as a young player. With his work ethic, he should keep improving and be an outstanding player in the (Atlantic 10)."

Carter played in 33 games as a freshman, starting 19. But last season, he averaged 16 minutes in eight games before announcing his intention to leave in mid-December. He cited a desire to be closer to his family as the reason.

"It's been tough being away, so far," he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel at the time. "I miss them a lot."

The Explorers finished 15-15, losing in their first game of the A-10 tournament to Davidson in an 8 vs. 9 seed matchup. They return their starting backcourt of senior Amar  Stukes and junior Pookie Powell. They also will have senior forward B.J. Johnson, their leading scorer  (17.6 average) and rebounder (6.3).

Carter joins a group that signed in November: 6-10 Miles Brookins from Southern California, 6-6 Dajour Joseph from Florida (via a prep school in North Carolina) and 6-1 Jamir Moultrie from Maryland.