HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University men's basketball team gained the signatures of four student-athletes to open its 2026-27 signing class as Haki Muhammad II, Ashley Sims II, Gio Sanford and Quincy Allen will continue their academic and athletic endeavors, announced Southeastern head coach David Kiefer.

Muhammad II, Sims II, Sanford and Allen kick start SLU's signing class for its 2026-27 campaign as the green and gold look to reestablish the culture of Lion Basketball. With three Division I transfers and one junior college product, Southeastern will seek to lean on these signees' experience and athleticism as it rebuilds.

Muhammad II, a 6-2 guard from Landover, Md., comes to Hammond, America with three years of eligibility remaining. Muhammad II spent his rookie campaign at Murray State College as he played in 27 games with 22 starts to lead the team in scoring, averaging 19.2 points per game. The high-level scorer shot 40.4 percent clip from the field, 37.0 percent from behind the arc and 81.3 percent from the charity stripe. 

The freshman closed out 25 games in double-figures for the Aggies while claiming Freshman of the Year and named to the All-Region Team. Muhammad II posted a season high 34 points against Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa and recorded 13 games with 20+ points for Murray State College.

"Simply put, Haki is a bucket getter," stated Coach Kiefer. "He's a proven scorer who can get it done and has a natural feel for putting pressure on defenses. His ability to put points on the board will translate immediately, and we expect him to make a real impact in our program from day one."

Sims II, a 6-8 forward from Glen Burnie, Md., comes to SLU with three years of eligibility left after his rookie season at Bryant University. Sims II appeared in all 31 games last season for the Bulldogs with 29 starts and made an immediate impact, averaging 7.2 points and leading the team with 5.0 rebounds per game. The true freshman finished with 10 double-digit scoring efforts, gained a season-high 16 points in an overtime win versus UMBC and recorded a 12 point, 10 rebound double-double against Maine.

Sims II also competed in the Overtime Elite League, one of the premier developmental leagues for high school and post-grad players, as Keifer expects the newcomer to make an immediate impact for the green and gold.

"Ashley is an incredibly skilled player with a high IQ and a natural ability to put the ball in the basket," commented Kiefer. "His versatility and playmaking ability fit perfectly with the style of basketball we're building here, and we're excited about what he'll bring to our program."

Sanford, a 6-4 guard from Glen Dale, Md., comes to Hammond, America with three years of eligibility remaining after a season at Bryant University. Sanford joins teammates Sims II and Allen after his rookie campaign, appearing in 18 games with the Bulldogs. Sandford posted a season-high seven points against High Point and will look to add length to SLU's backcourt.

"Gio's explosive athleticism allows him to impact the game while his grit and toughness make him a relentless defender every possession," said Kiefer. "He plays with a true winner's mentality, and that competitive edge is exactly what we value in this program."

Allen, a native of Silver Spring, Md., comes to Southeastern for his senior season. The 6-8 guard spent last season at Bryant University alongside Sims II and Sanford before previous stints at Chicago State, James Madison and Colorado. He appeared in 16 games with nine starts for the Bulldogs, averaging 9.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.

Allen stood as the third leading scorer for Bryant and claimed 10 games in double-figures while posting a season-high 20 points versus Dartmouth with six rebounds, four blocks and three steals. Allen earned a feature on SportsCenter Top 10, ranking at No. 2, after a prolific windmill dunk against Virginia Tech before noting a 12 point, 10 rebound double-double at Maine.

"Quincy is the definition of a human highlight reel. He's an elite athlete with rare explosiveness and the ability to make plays that change the momentum of a game in an instant," stated Kiefer. "His combination of athleticism, talent, and versatility gives him tremendous upside, and we're excited to see the impact he'll make."

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

Gio Sanford – 6-4 – G – Glen Dale, Md. – Bryant – Riverdale Baptist

Quincy Allen – 6-8 – G – Silver Spring, Md. – Bryant – Maret School

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.