Tuesday, July 28, 2020

#SHAVAUL Butters has begun to garner attention from major Division I basketball programmes and received his first offer of what is expected to be an active recruiting process.

#Butters was officially offered by the Austin Peay State University Governors. The Governors compete in the Ohio Valley Conference and most recently made the NCAA Tournament in 2016.

#Butters, a 6’8” 210-pound “stretch four” power forward, posted impressive numbers for the Aspire Basketball Academy Wizards in Louisville, Kentucky.

#The only member of the roster to compete in all 33 contests last season, he led the team in several statistical categories in his first year with the programme.

#Butters led the team in total points (386 points), field goal percentage (57 per cent, 173-303), three point percentage (40 per cent, 19-48), and total rebounds (323).

#He finished second on the team at 11.7 points per game and averaged a double double with 10 rebounds per game.

#He shot 64 per cent from the free throw line and also finished with 32 total blocks, 28 steals and 35 assists. His season was highlighted with 30 points, 21 rebounds and two blocks against Tennessee Prep last December at the Marshall County Hoopfest in Kentucky.

#In the classroom, Butters has a 3.0 GPA and a score of 20 on his ACT.

#He became the second former St George’s Jaguar within the last three years to attend the Aspire programme following Ahmard Harvey who recently completed his freshman season with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.

#Aspire Academy is a residential, basketball-centred college preparatory programme and training institute on the campus of Holy Cross High School in Louisville.

#The Wizards have produced 20 players who have matriculated to NCAA basketball over the past three years, including 14 at the Division I level.

Deyton Albury and Garreth Edgecombe.

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#The Bahamian talented young duo of Deyton Albury and Garreth Edgecombe continue to shine for the Defenders Elite basketball team at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Tournament in South Carolina.

#Over the weekend, the pair of 18-year-old players wrapped up their third tournament by winning their pool play of the Queen City Showcase at the Rock Hill Convention Centre with a 3-1 win-loss record to advance to the Phenom Challenge this weekend.

#After losing their opening game 78-69 to the Anthony Morrow Elite, the Defenders Elite went on a roll, winning 82-71 over the Capital City Pacers, 83-55 over the Charlotte News 2021 – Gainey and in the finale on Sunday, they defeated the Cobras 2021 78-76.

#The games, according to Bahamian assistant coach Jamal Smith, was played in front of hundreds of college coaches who were able to watch the tournament live streamed as they scouted the talent on the floor.

#“We started off the tournament, losing our first game by 10 points to one of the top-15 ranked teams in the United States,” said Smith, who is reuniting with Albury and Edgecombe, whom he both coached at Temple Christian before he left for the USA about two years ago.

#“After that, we were able to win our last three games. I think the guys are adjusting to the style of play and are performing very well.”

#Albury, fresh off completing his high school tenure at Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel-Aire, Kansas, where he emerged as two-sport star in football and basketball, averaged 16.5 points per game, 8.2 rebounds and 7.3 assists.

#In putting his stamp of approval on their last game of the tournament, the 6-foot, 2-inch combo guard produced a triple double with 11 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.

#He was named the most valuable player of the game, earning the award for the second time in the tournament. “He really established himself on the defensive end of the floor,” Smith said. “He was really crisp on the offensive end as well. He didn’t really turn over the ball. He really had a good performance throughout the tournament.”

#As for Edgecombe, who had moved from Temple Christian to play for Galilee Academy, he ended up with 14.9 points per game with 6.5 rebounds and he shot about 40 per cent from the three-point line.

#In fact, Edgecombe, playing as a 6-3 small forward, canned about five three-pointers in their third game as he finished with 18 points.

#“Some of the coaches who were there were about to give him an assessment of his game, which was pretty good for him,” Smith said.

#On the whole, Smith said the two players are really coming into their own after a week off from participating in their previous two tournaments back-to-back.

#“They showed some fresh legs and they showed that they are getting back to what they are used to doing as far as their basketball skills is concerned,” he said.

#“Their basketball competitiveness that I knew they had when they played for me at Temple Christian is coming back.”

#Prior to this tournament the Defenders Elite reached the semi-finals of the Big Shot Tournament in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where they lost in double overtime 68-64 as Albury was named to the All-Tournament Team because of his performance.

#That came after the Defenders Elite finished third in their pool in the Big Shot Tournament, which was also played in Myrtle Beach, where Albury and Edgecombe were both selected as Player of the Game in two separate contests.

#While the tournaments are all a part of a showcase to display the skills of the players, Smith said in the 28 games they played since they got together at the beginning of July, they have been performing exceptionally well as they progress.

#The Phenom Challenge, which is another showcase tournament featuring the top teams from North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Virginia with more than 200 coaches from division 1-3 and junior colleges all viewing, is on for this weekend in Rock Hill, South Carolina as well.

#In order to participate in the tournaments through the coronavirus pandemic, Smith said they have to be quarantined at their home location and they only come out to workout on the outdoor courts or develop their individual skills.

#“We also have to sign waiver forms, releasing the tournament organisers from any liabilities, we have to do temperature checks and wear masks before we enter the gym,” Smith revealed.

#“The tournament directors are pulling out all measures to ensure that all of the players, the referees and the officials are safe. Going forth, I feel these are some of the measures that all basketball leagues could follow once they have the proper protocols in place.”

#So far, Smith said they have all been COVID-19 free and they have their temperatures checked every day, even if they are not playing. He noted that they even attend a local clinic just to make sure that they are okay.

#“It’s all about social distancing and quarantining,” he said. “We want to be safe, considering the climate that we are living in right now, not only here in the United States, but in the Bahamas.

#“We know what’s going on back home and so we want the public to know that we are taking all of the necessary safety precautions and we hope that the Bahamian people are doing the same because it’s all about saving lives, even though we have to go on with our every day lives, like we are doing with basketball.”

Bahamian shortstop in the Miami Marlins’ organization Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm could have his number called as a promotion to the majors, given the coronavirus outbreak within that major league club over the weekend. FILE

July 28, 2020

Sheldon Longley

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The Miami Marlins, which plays out of one of the most infected states in America as it relates to COVID-19, had a dilemma over the weekend that may result in a Bahamian being called up to the majors earlier than anticipated.

The Major League Baseball (MLB) professional club experienced a significant coronavirus outbreak in which as least 13 members of their travelling party tested positive, a number of which are players. As a result, their opening home series against the Baltimore Orioles has been postponed, and front office personnel is left scrambling for answers in the wake of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

Additionally, the Philadelphia Phillies, who just came out of a weekend set with the Marlins, were also affected. Their home game against the New York Yankees on Monday was postponed and all members of their travelling party underwent COVID-19 tests on Monday.

According to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, this was one of the reasons why the 60-man player pool for each team was created. Bahamian shortstop Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm is a member of that player pool, and it’s likely that he could be called up as a replacement during this time.

When contacted yesterday, Chisholm refused comment, choosing to remain silent and let the chips fall where they may.

The Marlins were left stranded in Philadelphia on Sunday, and the Yankees would have utilized the same clubhouse the Marlins were in on Monday had their game not been postponed. According to reports, a total of nine Marlins players on the 30-man roster tested positive along with two taxi squad players, who are available to immediately replace an injured or infected player, and two staff members.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are still in Philadelphia, awaiting the results of the Phillies tests and pending the decision on the status of their scheduled game this evening.

Should the Marlins’ season continue, they will rely heavily on reinforcements from their training camp in Jupiter, Florida. In other words, Chisholm and others could play a major part in the resumption of their season.

If Chisholm is called up, he would be the seventh Bahamian to be summoned for duty in the majors, following in the footsteps of the late great Andre Rodgers, who was the pacesetter with the New York Giants, now San Francisco Giants in 1957, Anthony “Tony” Curry with the Phillies in 1960, two-time World Series Champion Ed Armbrister with the Cincinnati Reds in 1973, Wenty Ford with the Atlanta Braves in 1973, Wilfred “Sudgy” Culmer with the Cleveland Indians in 1983, and finally Antoan Richardson with the Atlanta Braves in 2011.

With no minor leagues this season, teams were allowed to establish 60-man player pools of which Chisholm was a part for the Marlins. The only other Bahamian to make his team’s 60-man player pool was Lucius Fox, a shortstop in the Tampa Bay Rays’ system.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher David Price, who was one of about a dozen players to opt out of the season this year, hinted on Twitter that he now feels justified in his decision not to play.

“Now, we REALLY get to see if MLB is going to put players’ health first. Remember when Manfred said players’ health was PARAMOUNT?! Part of the reason I’m at home right now is because players’ health wasn’t being put first. I can see that hasn’t changed,” he said on Twitter.

Marlins’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Derek Jeter, who was set to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this year before the coronavirus became widespread, released a statement saying the health of players and staff of his organization remains their primary focus. The former Yankees’ captain is optimistic that the season will continue.

“Postponing tonight’s home opener was the correct decision to ensure we take a collective pause and try to properly grasp the totality of this situation,” he said on Monday.

At this time, it’s still uncertain if Marlins’ players were the source of the outbreak, but prior to their weekend series with the Phillies, they came off a two-game summer camp set with the Atlanta Braves which reportedly had two players showing symptoms of COVID-19.

For the Marlins, pitcher Jose Urena was scratched from his scheduled start on Sunday, and catcher Jorge Alfaro went on the injured list Friday. No reasons were given.

Team manager Don Mattingly, another Yankees legend, said players are undoubtedly concerned.

“They want how they’re feeling about the situation to be heard. I think it’s fair. We’re talking about health,” he said.

This latest setback, which was quite realistic at the onset of the commencement of the 60-game season affects not just the Marlins, and potentially the Phillies as well, but all of Major League Baseball. The already abbreviated season could certainly be in jeopardy, particularly if more outbreaks occur, and depending on the number of players and staff members of teams exposed.

The “bubble” option has surfaced before, with specific mention to compacting all of the games into three parks, but it never materialized and a decision was reached to have the teams play out of their own home parks.

It remains to be seen how Major League Baseball will handle this latest dilemma.

July 28, 2020

Simba French

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Bahamian junior level basketball players Deyton Albury and Garreth Edgecombe had a respectable showing in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball this past weekend, playing at the Queen City Showcase presented by Phenom Hoops at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Albury and Edgecombe, who were once teammates at Temple Christian (TC) School here in New Providence, suited up for the Defenders 2020 team, which was coached by their former coach at TC Jammal Smith. The trio teamed up for three wins and had one loss.

Over the four games, Edgecombe finished with averages of 14.9 points and 6.6 rebounds to go along with a 39 percent clip shooting from three-point territory. Albury finished the tournament averaging 16.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. On the defensive side, he finished with 2.5 blocks and 3.0 steals per game.

After dropping their first game, the Defenders 2020 regrouped and won their next three games to finish with a 3-1 win/loss record. Their one loss came against the Anthony Morrow Elite, falling 78-61.

“They had a productive weekend playing against NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) prospects for the most part. A lot of coaches were able to see them. They showed strength and had good performances,” Smith said of Edgecombe and Albury.

In their second game, they defeated the Capital City Pacers, 81-72. In the third game, they won 83-55 over the Charlotte Nets. On Sunday, they eked out with a victory over the Cobras, 78-76.

Edgecombe got adjusted to playing small forward for the Defenders 2020 team.

“The tournaments that I have been playing in helped a lot as I transitioned from a big man to a wing player. With me being the three (small forward) on the team, that allowed me to score the ball more efficiently from the three-point line and attack the basket,” Edgecombe said.

Albury had a strong game in their final game of the showcase as he finished with a triple double of 11 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. At the end of regulation with the game tied at 76, Albury hit two free throws to give his team the 78-76 victory.

“It was a good weekend. We had some good competition and played some competitive basketball. It was another weekend to get a feel of the team and to get our legs under us,” the guard said. “I played in a way to impact the team and come out with a win as much as possible, whether scoring, passing, rebounding or playing good defense.”

Albury won the Player of the Game award in two of the four games.

Looking forward to next week, Albury hopes to continue to play his role on the team and help them to come away with a winning record.

For Edgecombe, he knows that there is still a lot more work to be done but feels he is improving with every tournament and showcase.

It has been a challenge playing during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Smith.

“Most teams are not allowed in the gym until your game is actually happening, maybe 15-20 minutes prior. You have to wear a mask when you are coaching and before a player checks into a game they have to use hand sanitizers. They also disinfect everything, and it is a different process. When you leave and come back to the gym, they check your temperature. There are also a lot of waiver forms to sign, protecting the tournament directors from any liability for COVID-19. It has been a lot of adjustment off the court with the logistics but on the court you do not see a major drop off in how the teams compete, and how the coaches prepare for each game,” Smith said.

Smith hopes that basketball leagues in The Bahamas have the proper protocols in place before resuming their respective seasons, especially the school leagues.

The trio returns to the court this coming weekend when they play at the same location in the Phenom Challenge.

Chavano “Buddy” Hield

July 28, 2020

Sheldon Longley

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For the third straight scrimmage game, Bahamian professional basketball player with the Sacramento Kings Chavano “Buddy” Hield shot 3-for-10 from behind the three-point line, going 30 percent. However, this time it came in a winning effort as he and the Kings came from 21 points down in the second half to storm past the Los Angeles Clippers, 106-102, on Monday.

Hield scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half, including all three of his three-pointers, to lead the Kings’ comeback. He played a little over 27 minutes off the bench, adding eight rebounds and four assists to go along with his 17 points. The Bahamian sharp shooter shot 7-for-16 from the floor.

It was the third straight respectable outing for Hield as the Kings prepare to begin their NBA restart on Friday against the San Antonio Spurs. That game is set for an 8 pm start. Hield and the Kings are battling for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). They sport a 28-36 win/loss record, three and a half games behind the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies (32-33) with only eight games remaining. The season will resume on Thursday.

On Monday, after the Clippers took 79-58 lead on a three-point shot from Marcus Morris Sr., the Kings went on a 13-2 scoring run to get within 10 points. Hield started the run with a pair of three-point shots. The Clippers held on to a 83-73 lead at the end of three, but it didn’t take long for Hield and the Kings to pull even and surge ahead in the fourth.

A 12-0 run to open the fourth, in which Hield buried another three-point shot, gave the Kings their first lead since the 10:39 mark of the second quarter. The game went back and forth from this point. A clutch three-point shot from starting power forward Nemanja Bjelica with just 27.4 seconds remaining on the clock gave the Kings the lead for good, 102-100. Bogdan Bogdanovic, who took Hield’s starting two-guard position back in January, hit two free shots with 13.5 seconds remaining, and back-up point guard Cory Joseph added two more with 8.7 seconds remaining to seal the win for the Kings.

Despite coming off the bench in each of their three scrimmage games, Hield turned in respectable, consistent performances, striking for 19, 19 and 17 points. He played a little over 24 minutes against the Miami Heat in a loss for the Kings last week Wednesday, and stepped on the court for almost 26 minutes in a 131-123 loss for the Kings to the Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. He averages 32 minutes per game on the season, while dropping in 19.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists. The 6’4” 27-year-old guard is shooting 42.9 from the field on the season and 39.5 percent from distance.

On Monday, Bogdanovic led the charge against the Clippers, connecting for a game-high 21 points on 7-for-15 shooting. He added four rebounds and three assists and went 4-for-10 from distance. Hield contributed 17, and De’Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes and Harry Giles III contributed a dozen points apiece. DaQuan Jeffries came off the bench to score 11.

Paul George paced the Clippers with 19 points. Morris added 18, Kawhi Leonard helped out with 17 and Terance Mann came off the bench to score 12. Reggie Jackson contributed 11 points, four rebounds and five assists.

Before the season was halted in March, Hield was on pace to break the franchise record of 278 three-point shots that he set a season ago. He was second in the league with 244 made three-point shots, trailing just James Harden of the Houston Rockets who had 271. Hield is also the NBA’s Mountain Dew Three-Point Champion this season.

As mentioned, he and the Kings will begin their NBA restart on Friday against the Spurs. As for the other Bahamian in the NBA, DeAndre Ayton, he and the Phoenix Suns will also restart their season on Friday when they take on the Washington Wizards at 4 p.m.

The Kings and the Suns were two of 22 teams chosen for the NBA restart after the regular season was stopped back on March 11 because of the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic. All the teams are housed at a single-site complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, under strict COVID-19 conditions and protocols.

WORKING – Ritchie Adderley (with ball) working with HOYTES players at the Gladstone “Moon” McPhee Park.  (PHOTO: TFN FILES)Sports  June 18, 2020  FN Sports Reporter Shayne Stubbs

Legendary point guard Richie Adderley is now a coaching fixture in the HOYTES program.

The Helping Our Youth Through Education and Sports (HOYTES) program, founded by the great Gladstone “Moon” McPhee, is documented as one of the island’s fundamental pillars in developing young men and women through basketball, also with a strong focus on education. 

Many renowned figures, like Sacramento Kings’ guard Chavano “Buddy” Hield, Connecticut Sun center Jonquel Jones, and Stephen F. Austin University’s Nathan Bain, have spent weekends developing their basketball skills during the adolescent years, in the HOYTES program.

Quite a number of current local executives have also spent weekends training under Moon McPhee and in the HOYTES program. McPhee’s coaching resume is a lengthy one, earning him the recognition as a pioneer of Bahamian basketball. The HOYTES Founder spent years as the head coach of the Grand Bahama Catholic Academy (GBCA) Crusaders, and played a role in the creation of the Hugh Campbell Basketball Tournament, founded the Crusaders’ Christmas Basketball Invitational, and the Geneva Rutherford Girls’ Basketball Tournament.  

Now, McPhee has begun the phase of handing over the HOYTES program to a trusted source. That source is one of the many players McPhee coached over the years. He’s none other than Adderley. Locally, Adderley is revered as a “living legend” among basketball enthusiasts.

Arguably the country’s best point guard during his playing years, Adderley has been described by many of his peers as one who easily could have made it to the National Basketball Association. 

Adderley made it as far as the collegiate ranks playing Division-I Basketball at Indiana State University. Later, he transitioned to coaching girls high school basketball at Terre Haute South in Indiana. He was the school’s first black coach.

After spending years coaching high school basketball in Indiana, Adderley returned home last year and began assisting with HOYTES. He shared with The Freeport News that teaching is something he loves and finds great joy in helping young people progress. 

“This is a blessing. This is what keeps me going. I love teaching and I wouldn’t trade it for nothing. Just to see the improvement in the kids from when you first start working with them- not that I want credit – you just want to make sure when you work with a kid that he/she gets better. “

Adderley returned to The Bahamas back in April, 2019. Since that time he admitted that it has been difficult landing a job but working with the young talent here on the island has helped to keep his mind at ease.

Chief among the knowledge Adderley wants to share is the dedication to hard work, and he pointed out that work ethic will be what separates some players from others around them. 

“Nonetheless, this is home. There is nothing like it. I’ve been away for 33 years and a lot has changed since I came back. I have skills I know that could be an asset to somebody. Any opportunity I can get, they (prospective employers) would not be disappointed.

“I want these kids to understand work ethic. I know what it takes to get to that next level and it’s the fundamentals. We try to gloss over the small things and I always tell players the small things will show you whether they’ll make it or not.

“They may think they have it down pat, but just keep repeating to the point where you react naturally, opposed to a coach always having to say when to do it.”

Growing up playing basketball in his era, Adderley credited a number of players for making him elevate his skills. He admitted he always had talent but it was not until he began playing for McPhee, that he started to see his truest potential. 

“Playing against guys like Basil “The Kid” Sands, Derek “Bookie” Nesbitt, Denzil “Inch” McGuire, those are some of the players that made me a better player. I knew if I wanted to take my talents to another level I had to do it against those guys,” he said.

He then shared that the experiences he had playing Division-I basketball and coaching in America made him an even better person.

“Those guys pushed me to where I had to get. Even in high school against Milo Greene, Duncan Hines, “Cheese” Pinder, those individuals pushed me to a point where I had to compete hard. I’m a competitor. I’m not the type to get embarrassed so I always stepped my game up.

“Playing under coach McPhee was a blessing. I had talent when I went to Catholic High, but he helped me to take my talent to another level. A lot of people don’t understand that. He’s an excellent coach and he didn’t take it easy on me because he knew if I wanted to get to the next level I would have to be tough.

“That helped with college, playing at Indiana State University, which was where the great Larry Bird played college ball. I got to play with this brother, Eddie, but getting the exposure at the Division-I level was a blessing.

“My experiences from all those different programs not only helped me to be a better coach, but a better person,” Adderley concluded. 

FOREGOING THE SEASON – Grand Bahamian center for the Connecticut Sun Jonquel Jones (second left), announced that she has opted to forego her fifth season in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).Sports, Top Gallery  June 22, 2020  FN Sports Reporter Shayne Stubbs

Grand Bahamian center for the Connecticut Sun Jonquel Jones, recently announced (Monday, June 22) that she will be foregoing her fifth season in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).

The league announced last week the intent to begin the 2020 season at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The academy would serve as the bubble location for the players to compete in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

However, the 6´6´´ center announced in a social media post that she had given heavy consideration to the “resurgence and unknown aspects,” of the virus leading to her surprising decision. 

“After careful thought and consideration, I’ve decided to forego the upcoming WNBA season and use this time to focus on personal, social, and familial growth.

“This was one of the toughest decisions I’ve made, but the resurgence and unknown aspects of COVID-19, have raised serious health concerns that I do not feel comfortable competing in. 

“I’d like to thank the Connecticut Sun organization, my teammates and fans for their unwavering support and understanding.

“While I won’t be competing this year, I’m looking forward to lacing up with my teammates in 2021 and continuing the pursuit for a WNBA championship. Wishing the entire league and everyone involved a healthy and enjoyable season. Go Sun!” 

Likewise, Sun General Manager and head coach Curt Miller came out in full support of his star center. 

“On behalf of our entire organization, we fully support JJ’s difficult decision to sit out the 2020 WNBA season during these unprecedented times. We recognize the amount of unique challenges, sacrifices, and unknowns, this season presents, and from the top down, there is an unwavering commitment to support each player’s respective decision. We look forward to having JJ back leading us next summer.”

On June 15, the WNBA announced plans to tip off the 2020 Season which included the single site location for a 22-game regular season and traditional playoff format. Much like their counterparts in the National Basketball Association, leagues have been formatting ways for a return-to-play with proper safety protocols in place. 

The Sun team is coming off one of their most successful seasons. The team made it to the WNBA Finals and was one win away from a championship. Ultimately, the Sun lost the series in five games, 3-2, to the Washington Mystics back in October. 

Nonetheless, “JJ” was in rare form and on the verge of her first title and possible Finals Most Valuable Player Award. Jones averaged 19.2 points and 11 rebounds per game in the series and posted double doubles in both wins for the Sun.

The team went 23-11, the second best record in the league behind the Mystics (26-8). “The Bahamian Beast” finished the regular season averaging 17.9 points per game. She led the league in rebounding averaging 9.7 per contest and finished tied for first in blocks (2.0 per contest) with the Phoenix Mercury’s Britney Griner. It was the second time in her four-year career that she led the league in rebounds.

Jones was named to the All-WNBA Second Team, the WNBA All-Defensive Team for the first time, finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, was a WNBA All-Star and was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week four times. 

Jones re-signed with the Sun in free agency back in February on a multi-year deal.

TRANSITIONING TO FRENCH LEAGUE – Willis Mackey Jr. (left) officially announced the signing of his second professional contract. The Grand Bahama native will be taking his talents to the French Basketball League (FBL).Basketball, Sports  June 23, 2020  FN Sports Reporter Shayne Stubbs

Following a successful debut as a professional basketball player in the Spanish Eurobasket Association (EBA), Willis Mackey Jr. officially announced the signing of his second professional contract. 

The Grand Bahama native will be taking his talents to the French Basketball League (FBL). The EBA’s 2020 Player of the year will be playing in Bordeaux, France as a member of the JSA Bordeaux Metropole Basket team, of the National Men’s One (NM1) League of the FBL.

The Freeport News reached out to the 6’8’’ forward, who disclosed the decision to join the French League to improve his skills and benefit from the league’s competitiveness. 

“I decided to switch leagues because I am trying to constantly improve myself, and also challenge myself. The league that I was in, was a good place for me to start my career, however, I am looking to go higher in the ranks and eventually work my way to the top of European basketball. 

“I heard that it is really competitive (NM1), and with Pro B only one level higher in French basketball, I feel like everyone will be competing with hopes to get there. I’m excited because I get to play at a high level, and showcase my skills in front of a big city in Bordeaux, and of course compete for a championship.

“The league that I was in was no doubt competitive, but it was nothing compared to where I am going. I was fortunate to be on a team with full-time players. Some of the players on other teams were part-time, and didn’t practice as much as we did as a team. It definitely prepared me for this moment, and to be ready to take on this responsibility of leading a team in a higher division,” said Mackey.

The former Aquimisa Carbajosa Basketball Club standout won other top awards during his time in the EBA, inclusive of, Forward of the Year, Import Player of the Year and being named to the league’s All-First Team. He averaged 16.4 points per game on 58.4 percent shooting from the field, and shot an average of 42.6 percent from the three-point arch. The former Northwestern Ohio University Racer, also pulled down 7.6 rebounds, and finished the season with an average of 1.2 blocks per game. 

Mackey Jr., who is currently back home in The Bahamas, admitted in his most recent video blog (Vlog), where he officially announced the signing that he has only been playing organized basketball for five years. He earned his degree in Forensic Accounting but decided to seek a professional basketball career after realizing he had a legitimate chance of earning a contract. 

“I knew I had the possibility of making it overseas and I wanted to try my hand and see if it would work out. I can’t even begin to put into words how blessed I feel to say that my first season was such a success for me, in that it brought more opportunities.

“A lot of people know that as a professional basketball player, your second contract is harder. Your first year is very important and it helps push your career in the right direction. I hope that’s what I’m doing with my career and I feel pretty confident that’s what’s happening after five years of playing organized basketball. It feels good to be in this position,” he said.

Mackey Jr. disclosed that he signed his new contract a week ago and it felt good to finally share the news in an official capacity. One of the terms he disclosed was that he would receive 30-35 minutes of playing time per night. He’ll also receive living and transportation accommodations. 

Mackey Jr. further credited his time playing at Northwestern Ohio University, which strengthened his work ethic and urgency as a player. After conversations with the coaching staff of JSA Bordeaux Metropole he is incredibly confident about the upcoming journey.   

“I come from such a small school. You had to prove yourself more than others and I’m fine with that because I like to compete. That’s what I do. So, if I have to prove myself at a higher level, that’s just what I have to do.

“Of course, talking to the coaches and some of the former players from the team, I feel that put me in a really good situation to succeed. I’m going there to win games, not to be mediocre. I want the team to know that’s what I’m bringing to the table. I feel we can do that together.”

With a grateful heart, Mackey Jr. paid special tribute to his former EBA organization and teammates. He and the club went undefeated for the 2019-2020 season, leading up to the league’s suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“From the day we got there we never had any problems. I feel like I was family to them. They made me feel so comfortable being in Spain for my first time. They made that season so amazing and I feel as a group we couldn’t achieve what we achieved without each other. 

“My coach was a huge part of my success – the constant practices, him pushing us and wanting us to be better because I know he saw the potential in us as a group and he didn’t want us to settle. I’m glad he was there to push and make us better every day. I think that’s going to help me so much in my future and career.”

He concluded his comments by expressing appreciation for the growing support from persons here in The Bahamas. 

JONQUEL JONES

Basketball, Sports 

 June 23, 2020 

 FN Sports Reporter Shayne Stubbs

Women’s National Basketball Association All-Star and Grand Bahama native Jonquel Jones looks forward to her time off from the WNBA this season.

The two-time all-star made the surprising decision to not play the 2020 season this past Monday, June 22. The association is getting ready to begin the 2020 season at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, the bubble location to play out the 22-game season and play-offs. 

Recently, the 6´6´´ center for the Connecticut Sun voiced that the resurgence of the COVID-19 virus, particularly in the state of Florida, played a chief role in her decision to forego this season, with full intentions of returning for the 2021 season. Jones signed a multi-year deal with the Sun during free agency back in February. 

The Freeport News was able to get in touch with the star center/forward. Along with the surge in COVID cases, there were some aspects of the WNBA’s proposal to begin the season that led to her sitting out the season.

Jones expressed the view that the league’s proposal was not worth the risk of her personal health and safety. She further explained that she felt the proposal could have been much clearer to give the Women’s National Basketball Players’ Association (WNBPA) a better understanding on what they were voting for. 

“It (the proposal) wasn’t really bad but I needed more specifics. One of the things they said was that if we played all 22 of the games, we’d get 100 percent of our salary. But, for some reason if we couldn’t play all 22 games – for instance if a hurricane hit or if players tested positive for COVID, then we would come back and negotiate in good faith. 

“That was one of the things I didn’t like. In good faith is cool and all, but it’s not a definite number. If something happens, we don’t know how much of our salary we’re going to get.

“I would have liked to see a scale where if we play 1-10 games then we get a certain amount of money. If we play one to five games then you get a certain amount of money, make it more solid whereby we as players coming in, could understand what’s going on,” Jones said.

“They were also talking about high-risk players and that they would be able to get their full salary and opt out, but they didn’t really explain what high-risk meant until players started asking around. Then they finally explained that (they are) the ones who are more susceptible to catching COVID-19 would be able to get their full salary after testing and finding out their bodies are at a higher risk. 

“It’s just things like that, I wanted in writing. The proposal was not bad, but I felt we could have voted no as a Players’ Association and gotten the league to give us more specifics and be a bit more accurate with some of the things they wrote about.

“At the end of the day the biggest factor for me, was my health. You can’t spend a check if you’re not alive. Yeah, you’re out there playing and the money may be important for your livelihood, but at the end of the day your health should be the most important thing,” she pointed out.

Jones shared that the WNBPA held a meeting after the proposal was voted on, to which 70 percent of the players voted yes. In that meeting some players then admitted to not reading the proposal “in-depth.” Jones then stated she advised her Sun teammates to vote no before voting in an effort to get the league to provide more information. 

“We had a conversation about it. I’m not saying everyone voted that way because I don’t know how everyone voted, but most players around the league said yes because they saw full salary would be paid. 

“But then we came back as a Players’ Association and a lot of people said if we had this meeting before they would have said no to get more specifics. Hindsight is 20/20, but it was just some things the players felt could have been discussed before a vote,” she further explained. 

Jones made it known that she spoke with the Sun organization and her teammates to let them know first that she would sit out.

Since announcing the decision, the Sun organization has indicated that it fully understood Jones’ stance and acknowledged that she and her teammates have had positive communications.

“All of us are bouncing ideas off of each other, along with feelings and thoughts. We have an idea of who is going to play and who is thinking of not playing. At the end of the day, when I decided, my mind was made up. I reached out to them and let them know. I didn’t want them to feel blind-sided because at the end of the day, my teammates are the most important thing and the whole organization as well, because without them we can’t do anything.

“A lot of people may feel they agree with the decision but financially they can’t really make that choice right now. I’m actually lucky where I am right now with the team I play for overseas, where I could actually make this choice for my health. It’s definitely a privilege.”

In the meantime, Jones looks forward to spending time with her family and working out. She stated that working on different aspects of her game is something players like her in the WNBA do not get a real chance of doing. Most WNBA players spend summers playing professionally in European/Asian basketball leagues.  

“WNBA players, we never get an offseason and just add skills to our game without worrying about the next game that’s coming up. Basically, I’m looking forward to the freedom to move how I want to move, and, become a better person and player.”

Since Jones’ decision to opt out, two other WNBA players made the same decision. Washington Mystics’ Natasha Cloud and LaToya Sanders also decided on Monday they would sit out, according to a Bleacher Report article. While Cloud will be focusing on her social activism, Sanders believed sitting out is in the best interest of her health and family. 

SHORT SEASON – The West Grand Bahama (WGB) Community Basketball League will commence its now shortened season, beginning Tuesday

(June 30).Sports  June 29, 2020  FN Sports Reporter Shayne Stubbs

With the recent announcement for re-openings of parks by the Prime Minister Dr. Hubert A. Minnis, the West Grand Bahama (WGB) Community Basketball League will commence its now shortened season, beginning Tuesday. 

Moving into its 12th year of ‘Summer League’ action, the WGB League’s schedule will run from Tuesday, June 30 until August 8, at the Fritz Forbes Community Park in Pinedale, Eight Mile Rock. 

League President Ross Burrows spoke with The Freeport News and informed that this year’s games were almost cancelled due to the global pandemic known as COVID-19. The summer basketball season is no doubt a fixture for residents of West Grand Bahama and Burrows expressed gratification that the season could resume. 

“With the sporting world shut down due to the global pandemic we were considering not having the league on this year. But, with the kids asking about the league every day, that lets you know that you were doing a good thing and they anticipate the league every year.

“Going into our 12th season of hosting this league, we decided to play this season after the prime minister announced that parks are to. This keeps the kids off the streets and keeps something positive going in the community,” Burrows shared.

With the season shortened, Burrows disclosed that games will have to be played daily, Monday – Saturday, weather permitting. Safety protocols and social distancing will also be enforced for players and fans. 

“We’re going to try and control the crowds, whereby only the teams that are playing at the time will be allowed to be on the court. For the fans we will use the bleachers to keep the six-feet social distancing enforced,” he said. 

Teams have already committed to playing in the Under 13, Under 15, Under 17 and Open Divisions. Four teams will be featured in the Under 13 Division; six teams each are registered for both the Under 15 and Under 17 Divisions; and eight teams are expected to compete in the Open Division.

The teams, likely, would also travel throughout the community of EMR. Burrows disclosed that plans are in motion to play games on the various parks in EMR.

“It’s a relief for us (executives) as well as the players and fans. Everyone’s been asking about it and everyone’s been anticipating doing something for the summer months.

“The community is very excited. We were thinking of going from park-to-park on Saturdays. Hopefully, we can still use that avenue. Once we can get some commitment from the communities where the parks are located, we’ll bring the games to them.”

Parks anticipated to be used along with the Fritz Forbes Park are, the ones in Hannah Hill, Sea Grape and Jones Town.

With players already choosing which teams they are joining and teams having equal time away from practicing, Burrows predicted that this season will be very competitive. 

“We expect a very competitive league, because players have the option to leave one team and enhance another. We’ve already seen where some players have switched teams, but we’re going to keep the league as competitive as possible, whereby one team won’t dominate by having all the good players.

“In the end, the team in the best shape, or which has the best chemistry, will probably win. Anything can happen because rosters on paper don’t determine whether you win or lose,” he concluded.