HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University men's basketball coach announced Tuesday that Daron Populist has signed a Grant-In-Aid to play for the Lions beginning in the 2011-12 season.

Populist, a 5-foot-10 guard, will be eligible immediately after spending the past two seasons at LSU where he was a walk-on tryout selection.

“I am excited by the addition of Daron Populist,” Yarbrough said. “He is a smart, tough and seasoned guard that will really enhance the mental dimensions of our team. I look for him to have an immediate impact. Like so many of our players he comes from a great family and we welcome them to Southeastern.”

Populist played in 35 games in two seasons for the Tigers, averaging 1.3 points as a freshman in 9.8 minutes of action. He played in 13 games in 2009-10, scoring a season-high eight points in a win against Arkansas while adding four against Mississippi State.

As a sophomore, Populist scored a season-high six points against Centenary and added three against Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament.

Populist helped Salmen High School to the 2009 Class 4A State Championship as the Spartans defeated Bossier, 61-46. He played point guard and shooting guard for head coach Jay Carlin and averaged 14.7 points as a senior while earning All-District and All-St. Tammany Parish honors.

Populist will be the second former SEC transfer on Southeastern's 2011-12 roster joining former Mississippi State post player Elgin Bailey. The signing of Populist increases Southeastern's signing class to three, joining early signees Donovon Ross and Todd Nelson.

2011-12 SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA MEN'S BASKETBALL ADDITIONS
Elgin Bailey, C, 6-8, 265, New Orleans, La. (Mississippi State/Belaire HS)
Todd Nelson, G, 6-3, 185, Brandon, Miss. (Itawamba CC/Northwest Rankin HS)
Donovan Ross, F, 6-6, 195, Madison, Miss. (Ridgeland HS)
Daron Populist, G, 5-10, 170, Slidell, La. (LSU/Salmen HS)