HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University men's basketball team inked the signatures of three student-athletes to continue its notable 2026-27 signing class as JJ Massaquoi, Tyler Rolison and Tybo Bailey will continue their academic and athletics endeavors, released SLU head coach David Kiefer.
Massaquoi, Rolison and Bailey join Southeastern as it looks to build depth in every position this upcoming season. All three newcomers come to Hammond, America with DI experience to reestablish the competitive, gritty and fast-paced tone of Lion basketball.
Massaquoi, a Prince George's County, Md. native, comes to SLU with three years of eligibility remaining. The newcomer spent his rookie year at UMass Lowell, appearing in 30 games with eight starts, averaging 8.5 points per game and finishing 50.2 percent from the field in over 16.0 minutes per contest. Massaquoi posted a season-high 26 point performance against Wake Forest and was named America East Rookie of the Year.
The 6-6 forward recorded nine games in double-figures last season with the River Hawks after a successful high school career at Jackson Reed. Massaquoi averaged 22.0 points per game on 67.0 percent shooting from the field, earning Second Team All-MET, First Team All-DCIAA, and First Team All-DC honors as a senior.
"JJ brings a physical presence and toughness that immediately stands out. He's a skilled forward who embraces contact, plays through defenders, and competes with an edge," stated Coach Kiefer. "His combination of strength, skill, and competitiveness will make him a tremendous addition to our program."
Rolison, a native of Los Angeles, Calif., joins Southeastern for his senior campaign after three seasons at Nevada. During his time with the Wolfpack, Rolison averaged 5.6 points and 2.1 assists per game while claiming 67 steals, finishing 40.4 percent from the field and 80.6 percent from the free throw line. This past season, the veteran appeared in 34 games with four starts for Nevada, securing a career-high 21-points versus Colorado State and seven assists against Louisiana Tech and Southern Illinois.
The 6-0 guard averaged 17.2 minutes of playing, 5.5 points and 2.6 assists per game while also impacting on the defensive end with 24 steals. Southeastern adds an experienced floor general as Rolison will look to add some West Coast flare to the program.
"With Tyler's understanding of the game and ability to see plays before they develop, it's like having a quarterback on the court. He's a big-time two-way point guard with the experience, elite basketball IQ, and skills to impact winning on every possession," said Kiefer. "Players like him set the tone for a program, and we're excited to have him in Hammond."
Bailey, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., joins the Lions with two seasons of eligibility left. The newcomer spent two seasons at East Carolina, averaging 7.1 points and 2.2 rebounds this past season. Bailey shot 30.5 percent from behind the arc for the Pirates while dishing out 19 assists and claiming 14 steals last season.
The 6-2 guard appeared in 20 games with 15 starts in the 2025-26 season while recording a career-high 19 point performance his first collegiate start over Elizabeth City State. Bailey dropped 17 points along with four assists against Tulane and closed out the season with seven games in double-figures.
"Tybo's a two-way player with great experience, who can impact the game on both ends of the floor," commented Kiefer. "He's a competitor that can score the ball, defend at an elite level and his versatility make him a perfect fit for our program."
2026-27 Southeastern Louisiana Men's Basketball Signing Class
Haki Muhammad II – 6-2 – G – Landover, Md. – Murray State College – New Hope Academy
Ashley Sims II – 6-8 – F – Glen Burnie, Md. – Bryant – Riverdale Baptist
Quincy Allen – 6-8 – G – Silver Spring, Md. – Bryant – Maret School
Gio Sanford – 6-4 – G – Glen Dale, Md. – Bryant – Riverdale Baptist
JJ Massaquoi – 6-6 – F – Prince George's County, Md. – UMass Lowell – Jackson Reed
Tyler Rolison – 6-0 – G – Los Angeles, Calif. – Nevada – St. Bernard High School
Tybo Bailey – 6-2 – G –Winston-Salem, N.C. – East Carolina – Winston-Salem Christian
HARDWOOD CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the basketball program are encouraged to join the Hardwood Club. Lion alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letterwinners. All membership fees and donations to Hardwood Club are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern basketball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Basketball, follow @LionUpMBB and @DavidKieferSLU on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
TICKETS
For ticket information, please contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net/tickets. Southeastern is implementing mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets. All tickets will be available via e-mail in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
