Friday, November 9, 2018

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#JUST a week into his senior season, Nashad Mackey is already earning conference accolades for the Embry Riddle Eagles men’s basketball programme.

#Mackey earned the first Sunshine State Conference Defensive Player of the Week as the Eagles got off to a 2-1 start to the year.

#He recorded three double-doubles in the Eagles’ first three games, averaging 20.0 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. He also recorded seven steals and turned away a pair of shots for the Eagles over the weekend.

#In the season opener, he posted 18 points, 14 rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots in Embry-Riddle’s 72-69 win over Concordia.

#In game two, he finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and three steals in a 79-70 win over Azusa Pacific.

#In their first loss, Mackey finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and two steals in a 94-81 loss to Lindenwood.

#The Eagles return to the court tonight and look to get back into the win column against Lee University.

#Mackey has 26 double-doubles in 31 career games with Embry-Riddle.

#As a junior, Mackey produced a number of career milestones and postseason awards.

#He was named to the All-Conference second team as well as the All-Newcomer team when the Sunshine State Conference office announced the 2017-18 men’s basketball postseason awards.

#Mackey made school history when he became the first Eagles player to earn an All-Conference selection. He had an immediate impact on the programme as they transitioned to NCAA Division II with his record-breaking junior season.

#He averaged 17.3 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, both team leads. In 28 starts, he also set a new single-season double-doubles record with 23 on the year and ended the season with 13 such consecutive games. He posted a total of 350 rebounds, another school record, ranked second in NCAA Division II.

#He finished with nine 20-point games, including one 20-point, 20-rebound game in an upset of No. 10 Barry University. He also shot 88.8 per cent from the free throw line this season, ranked sixth among single-season totals in programme history.

#The Eagles closed out the 2017-18 season last week with a 104-97 loss to Florida Southern to end the season at 11-17, 5-15 in the conference.

#Mackey ended the campaign strong with his final double-double of the season with 26 points and 14 rebounds. He transferred to the Eagles and NCAA Division II level after he posted stellar individual numbers and garnered postseason awards at the JuCo level.

#During his stint with the Daytona State College Falcons, he was named the Mid-Florida Conference Player of the Year and was also named First team All-State in the conference as a sophomore

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

NASHAD MACKEY

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#NASHAD Mackey has always been heralded for his scoring and rebounding, but we can now add improved defence to his skillset during his first season with the Embry Riddle Eagles.

#The junior forward was named the Sunshine State Conference defensive player of the week when the league announced its weekly honours yesterday.

#Embry Riddle recently got their first Sunshine State Conference win with an 86-77 triumph over No.10 Barry University for their first win over a ranked opponent this season.

#Mackey finished with 26 points and 20 rebounds on 8-10 shooting from the field, including 4-5 from three-point range and 3-4 shooting from the free throw line.

#He became just the second Eagle in school history to record a 20-20 game.

#En route to winning the weekly honour, Mackey led the Eagles to a pair of wins. Mackey scored 10 points and grabbed 14 rebounds while registering three assists, a block and two steals in the Eagles’ first ever conference win over NSU

#On the season, Mackey is averaging 16.1 points and 12.0 rebounds per game.

#He transferred to the Eagles and NCAA Division II level after he posted stellar individual numbers and garnered postseason awards at the JuCo level.

#During his stint with the Daytona State College Falcons, he was named the Mid-Florida Conference Player of the Year and was also named First team All-State in the conference as a sophomore.

#Mackey played in over 850 minutes for the Falcons in his sophomore season, leading his team in time on the court. For the Falcons he averaged 15.1 points per game on the season, and 18.8 points in conference play. Mackey also averaged three times as many boards as his next teammate statistically, averaging 14.4 rebounds per game in conference contests.

#He said the educational opportunities at Embry-Riddle were at the forefront of his decision process.

#“I always valued my education. Being an engineering major, Embry-Riddle is one of the best programmes nationwide. The university and campus is growing rapidly. Also Embry-Riddle is a winning programme under the leadership of Steve Ridder, who is father of the head coach at Daytona State.

#“I also developed a great relationship with the entire coaching staff through this recruiting process and I believe they had my best interest at heart,” he said.

#In his freshman season with the Falcons, he averaged 9.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while shooting 47 per cent from the field and 26 per cent from three-point range. He led the team in double doubles with several standout performances, including 28 points and 11 rebounds in a 105-78 win over South Georgia Technical College and 18 points and 15 rebounds in a 77-74 loss to Florida Southwestern.

#This season is ERAU’s third and final year of the NCAA II transition process after spending its entire history in NAIA.

#Mackey was a former standout for the CR Walker Knights with before he relocated to the US and the Champagnat Catholic School Lions programme in Hialeah, Florida, along with fellow Bahamians Jaron Cornish and Oswald Parker.

#He was named to the Miami Herald’s All-Dade first-team for 4A-2A schools in Dade County, Florida, and also named to the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches (FABC) and Source Hoops 2014-2015 Boys Class 2A All-State Teams.

#He posted averages of 19 points, nine rebounds and three blocks per game as a high school senior.

NASHAD MACKEY

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#HIS final season at the Junior College fell short of his ultimate team goal of a national championship, but Nashad Mackey’s stellar individual numbers continue to garner postseason awards.

#Mackey, the 6’6” guard/forward for the Daytona State College Falcons, was named the Mid-Florida Conference Player of the Year and was also named First team All-State in the conference.

#Mackey played in over 850 minutes for the Falcons this season, leading his team in time on the court. For the Falcons he averaged 15.1 points per game on the season, and 18.8 points in conference play.

#Mackey also averaged three times as many boards as his next teammate statistically, averaging 14.4 rebounds per game in conference contests.

#Falcons assistant coach Ian Gibson lauded Mackey’s effort this season.

#“Probably the best rebounder in the state. Great kid, great person, does everything right on and off the floor every single day. You can always depend on him to do everything that we ask,” Gibson said.

#Mackey is expected to continue his basketball career at the NCAA Division II level after he signed with the Embry-Riddle Eagles in November.

#He said the educational opportunities at Embry-Riddle was at the forefront of his decision process.

#“I always valued my education. Being an engineering major, Embry-Riddle is one of the best programmes nationwide. The university and campus is growing rapidly. Also Embry-Riddle is a winning programme under the leadership of Steve Ridder, who is father of the head coach at Daytona State. I also developed a great relationship with the entire coaching staff through this recruiting process and I believe they had my best interest at heart,” he said.

#In his freshman season with the Falcons, he averaged 9.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while shooting 47 per cent from the field and 26 per cent from three-point range.

#He led the team in double doubles with several standout performances, including 28 points and 11 rebounds in a 105-78 win over South Georgia Technical College and 18 points and 15 rebounds in a 77-74 loss to Florida Southwestern.

#“My time here at Daytona has been a blast, I’ve spent countless amounts of hours working on my game and making a body transition. It paid off quite fine. I became more athletic and agile, making the game a whole lot better for myself,” he said. “I think I’ll fit into the programme effectively. My skill set is sufficient to make immediate impact and, who knows, maybe an all conference player. At this level division two and with this programme I can play anywhere on the court from 1-5.”

#This season is ERAU’s third and final year of the NCAA II transition process after spending its entire history in NAIA.

#Mackey was a former standout for the CR Walker Knights with head coach Trevor Grant. He relocated to the US and the Champagnat Catholic School Lions programme in Hialeah, Florida, along with fellow Bahamians Jaron Cornish and Oswald Parker.

#Mackey was named to the Miami Herald’s All-Dade first-team for 4A-2A schools in Dade County, Florida, and also named to the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches (FABC) and Source Hoops 2014-2015 Boys Class 2A All-State Teams.

#He posted averages of 19 points, nine rebounds and three blocks per game.

#This offseason his attempt to make the men’s senior national team was seen as a learning experience and motivation to get better.

Sunday, March 15, 2020

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#FRANCO Miller Jr’s tenure with the Ole Miss Rebels men’s basketball programme has come to an end.

#Miller announced his intention to enter the NCAA’s transfer portal and will have three years of eligibility remaining when he signs to a new programme.

#“To the University of Mississippi. I have greatly enjoyed my time here at Ole Miss. I’d like to thank the coaching staff for giving me the opportunity, my teammates and friends that I have made on and off the court. The support here at Ole Miss was tremendous.

#“I’ll cherish the amount of memories and friendships I made in Oxford,” he said in a message posted to social media. “However, after constant conversations with my family, I feel like now is in my best interest to enter my name into the transfer portal.”

#Miller played sparingly last season as a redshirt freshman and appeared in just 13 games. In those few appearances, he reached double figures in minutes just three times.

#He scored four points in his season debut against Alabama State, but would go scoreless for the remainder of the season.

#Prior to the NCAA’s cancellation of winter and spring sports due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Rebels’ season ended with a 81-63 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in the first round of the SEC Tournament.

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Franco Miller

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#FRANCO Miller continues to bolster his recruiting stock in his lone season of prep basketball with the Crestwood Prep Academy Lions.

#Miller opened up session two of the The National Preparatory Association’s Prep League yesterday with a game-high 30 points in the Lions’ 111-88 win over Beast Basketball.

#The tournament which began yesterday continues through January 6 and is hosted at the Lions’ campus in Toronto, Canada.

#The Vice Principal and Director of Athletics at Crestwood Prep, Lisa Newton, said northpolehoops.com is a vital platform to showcase prep basketball in the country.

#“Crestwood is excited to be hosting the NPA New Year Challenge this January 3-6, 2018. We are thrilled to have so many elite Canadian basketball players coming to Crestwood to show their talents and participate in some great basketball.

#“We hope many people will come join us at Crestwood to watch and celebrate these excellent high school athletes,” said Newton.

#Players on the competing post-grad prep programmes bye for opportunities at receiving scholarship offers from various NCAA, USports and Junior College programmes.

#NCAA Division I programmes at the event include Purdue, Illinois, VCU, Toledo, SMU, Rhode Island, Kansas State, Jacksonville State, Canisius and Central Michigan. Local Canadian teams from U Sports programs include the University of Toronto, Brock, McMaster, Queen’s, Guelph and Western and George Brown from the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association. The National junior college champions Hutchinson complete the list of programmes scouting players.

#Miller, a highly sought after recruit for the class of 2018, is spending this season at the prep school in Toronto, Canada before he makes the leap and has made an immediate impact since the first preseason tournament.

#Miller averaged over 20 points per game and led Crestwood to a 3-1 finish at the Father Henry Carr Early Bird Classic in November.

#The 6’2″ guard spent much of the summer playing under coach Ro Russell for the Grass Roots Elite Club where his performance on the AAU circuit garnered offers from several Division I programmes.

#Russell was hired to head the programme at Crestwood in 2016 and Miller followed suit.

#Crestwood makes its transition this year into the National Preparatory Association for the 2017-18 season.

#The programme will be tested right away as Crestwood will be competing in the Southeast Division against powerhouse programmes such as St Michael’s College, Toronto Basketball Academy, and Central Tech Prep.

#Miller’s play on the AAU circuit last summer has attracted official offers from Montana State University, the University of Wyoming, St Bonaventure University and the University of Illinois at Chicago. There are also several other programmes that have expressed interest.

#His most noteworthy performance came at the Fab 48 Invitational in Las Vegas, Nevada, in July where he averaged over 20 points per game with Russell’s Grass Roots Elite Club.

Thursday, July 2, 2020

Franco Miller Jr

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#FRANCO Miller Jr ended his time in the transfer portal and committed to join the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles to continue his collegiate basketball career.

#Miller’s tenure with the Ole Miss Rebels came to an end in March when he announced he would be leaving the programme. He will have three years of eligibility remaining in his NCAA career. “We are excited to add a student and player of Franco’s calibre to our programme. He is an experienced guard who can play the point guard position or slide over to the wing as a scorer,” said Eagles head coach Michael Fly.

#“The coaching staff at Ole Miss was extremely complimentary of Franco on and off the court. With three years of eligibility, his addition should strengthen our backcourt for the foreseeable future in combination with our other newcomers and young players.”

#According to the Eagles, Miller becomes the sixth newcomer for the Eagles roster heading into the 2020-21 season, joining four early signees and one graduate transfer. The Eagles will return 70-per cent of its scoring back in the line-up along with seven players who saw significant action in 25-or-more games during the 2019-20 season.

#FGCU competes in the Atlantic Sun Conference. They come off a 10-22 season that concluded with a loss in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. FGCU is best known for their run in the 2013 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament, their first since moving up to Division I. They became the first 15th seed to advance to the Sweet 16.

#Miller’s tenure with the Ole Miss Rebels came this offseason when he announced his intention to enter the NCAA’s transfer portal.

#Miller played sparingly last season as a redshirt freshman and appeared in just 13 games. In those few appearances, he reached double figures in minutes just three times.

#He scored four points in his season debut against Alabama State, but would go scoreless for the remainder of the season.

#Despite falling out of the rotation, Miller made an impact off the court and was named to the 2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Community Service Team. The only freshman to receive the recognition. His community service résumé participated in Adopt-a-Basket, which gives food items to families in need during the Thanksgiving season. As part of Reading with the Rebels, he has visited several local schools to promote the importance of reading while sharing some of his favourite books. His biggest activity was coordinating a campus-wide Hurricane Dorian relief drive to help those affected by the devastating hurricane that hit his native country of the Bahamas.”

#He also joined a team visit to LeBonheur Children’s Hospital and helped raise more than $10,000 as part of the first #SinkCancer event at Ole Miss.

#Miller had his true freshman season cut short due to a stress fracture in his kneecap that eventually led to surgery. He was granted a medical redshirt.

#While sidelined he was one of eight Rebels that silently protested by kneeling during the American national anthem in response to Confederacy rallies hosted near the stadium in February 2019. Minutes before the Rebels’ tipped off against the Bulldogs he joined teammates KJ Buffen, DC Davis, Brian Halums, Luis Rodriguez, Devontae Shuler, Bruce Stevens and Breein Tyree by taking a knee during the “Star Spangled Banner.”

#Miller chose the Rebels over the Oklahoma Sooners, Oregon Ducks, Minnesota Golden Gophers and Towson Tigers.

#The 6’3”, 200-pound guard previously received offers from Hofstra, Montana State, Wyoming, St Bonaventure and Illinois at Chicago.

#Following his tenure for the Tabernacle Baptist Academy Falcons, Miller played at Crestwood Prep in Ontario, Canada. He led the Lions to the National Preparatory Association playoffs.

#While there, he averaged 25.8 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game, 5.2 assists per game and 3.3 steals per game. He broke the 40-point threshold twice throughout the year, tallying a game-high 42 points versus Thetford Academy and scoring 40 points against the Toronto Basketball Club.

#While north of the border, Miller earned first-team All-Canada NPA honours, first team All-CISAA accolades and Universal Hoops First Team All-Canada recognition.

#His play also earned him a spot in the prestigious Allen Iverson Roundball Classic as well as the Signature All-Canadian Showcase.

#At the local level with the Tabernacle Baptist Falcons, Miller had a senior season filled with accolades highlighted when he was named as the Most Valuable Player of the 34th Annual Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic.

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#THE Florida Gulf Coast Eagles are excited to add Franco Miller Jr to their programme and look forward to the incoming transfer combo guard to have an impact whenever he steps on the floor.

#Eagles head coach Michael Fly discussed several issues, including Miller’s recruitment process amid the COVID-19 pandemic

#“There’s a recruiting ban on guys right now and for the foreseeable future. We weren’t able to truly scout [Franco] in a traditional way. We watched all the high school tape we could. Actually, coach Davis’ staff at Ole Miss sent us practice tape of him so we could evaluate him more. They were extremely complimentary of him on and off the court. We do a lot of our recruiting based on connections we have made and continue to make and we have a great relationship with his prep school and Coach Davis‘ staff,” Fly told Screecher Report in their Summer Flyer/Fresh Faces Series.

#“We are excited to add a student and player of Franco’s calibre to our programme. He is an experienced guard who can play the point guard position or slide over to the wing as a scorer.”

#Miller’s tenure with the Ole Miss Rebels came in March when he announced he would be leaving the programme. He will have three years of eligibility remaining in his NCAA career. “The three years of eligibility was huge for us. We were looking at other transfers who had one year as well but Franco having three was a factor. We think it gives him time to join the programme and get his feet wet and really contribute in big ways over the course of his time with us. His addition should strengthen our backcourt for the foreseeable future in combination with our other newcomers and young players.” Fly said.

#“We think he can play both positions (PG & SG/Wing). In high school he was a scoring combo guard and we think he can get back to that. He’s got a pure shooting form. We’ll see, when we get the guys back [on campus], how he does with the ball in his hands and taking charge of the offence vs how he does without it.”

#According to the Eagles, Miller becomes the 6th newcomer for the Eagles roster heading into the 2020-21 season, joining four early signees and one graduate transfer. Eagles will return 70 per cent of its scoring back in the line-up along with seven players who saw significant action in 25-or-more games during the 2019-20 season.

#“We’re finally at a place, from a roster standpoint, where we could have Jalen [Warren], Caleb [Catto], Cyrus [Largie], Sam [Gagliardi] and Justus [Rainwater] start for us and they would all be starters from last year. But we like what our newcomers bring to the table,” Fly said. “We think Eli [Abaev] can contribute right away for us and we like the new guys we got coming in and we like our returning players. It’s safe to say that there will be a lot of competition in a lot of different areas.”

Friday, July 31, 2020

NASHAD Mackey

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#NASHAD Mackey will return to the Embry-Riddle Eagles men’s basketball programme, but will transition to the sidelines in a new role as a member of the coaching staff.

#Mackey will re-join the team this fall as a graduate assistant coach.

#“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to be back in the Embry-Riddle environment, surrounded by all these amazing people, the staff and this wonderful group of guys,” Mackey said in a statement to ERAU Athletics. “I am truly grateful to be an Eagle again and work side-by-side with a talented coaching staff and do big things for this university.”

#The Eagles are coming off their best NCAA II season in 2019-20, finishing 20-10 overall while earning a berth to the NCAA National Tournament before the season prematurely ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

#Mackey concluded his collegiate basketball playing career as one of the programme’s all-time leaders.

#In his two-year run with the Eagles, he was a two-time Sunshine State Conference All-Conference performer.

#He registered 39 double-doubles in 50 career games in an Eagle uniform, averaging 17.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 blocks per game – the only Eagle to average a double-double for his Embry-Riddle career.

#Mackey’s scoring average ranks fourth all-time in Eagle history, while his 12.2 boards per outing is easily the top mark in 31 seasons of ERAU basketball. His career totals also include second all-time in free throw percentage (.870) and eighth in blocked shot average (1.1). “We are extremely excited to add one of our all-time great players in Nashad to our coaching staff. From the very first day he committed to our university and basketball programme, Nashad earned the utmost respect and trust from his coaches and teammates in his leadership ability at the very highest level.”

#Head Coach Steve Ridder said to ERAU Athletics: “Nashad is a born leader who has a tremendously high basketball IQ, relentless work ethic, discipline, great communication skills and a burning desire to impact other people’s lives as a servant-leader. He is a tremendous example of what Embry-Riddle University, and specifically our athletic programme, is all about. I know he is both passionate and grateful to have this opportunity for him, his wife Simone and their children Noah and Malayah.”

#As a junior, Mackey produced a number of career milestones and postseason awards. He was named to the All-Conference second team as well as the All-Newcomer team when the Sunshine State Conference office announced the 2017-18 men’s basketball postseason awards.

#Mackey made school history when he became the first Eagles player to earn an All-Conference selection. He had an immediate impact on the programme as they transitioned to NCAA Division II with his record-breaking junior season.

#He averaged 17.3 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, both team leads. In 28 starts, he also set a new single-season double-doubles record with 23 on the year and ended the season with 13 such consecutive games. He posted a total of 350 rebounds, another school record, ranked second in NCAA Division II.

#Mackey transferred to the Eagles and NCAA Division II level after he posted stellar individual numbers and garnered postseason awards at the JuCo level. During his stint with the Daytona State College Falcons, he was named the Mid-Florida Conference Player of the Year and was also named First team All-State in the conference as a sophomore.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

FRANCO Miller Jr

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#WHEN the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles take to the court for the 2021 season, Franco Miller Jr could have an immediate impact with the programme.

#Miller has been granted an NCAA waiver for immediate eligibility and will not have to sit out a season after he transferred from Ole Miss to FGCU in June.

#“Having Franco be immediately eligible is a big boost to our line-up this season and adds another veteran player who has experience in high-level competition,” said Eagles head coach Michael Fly.

#“As a mature player, this announcement helps Franco stay in his basketball timeline without being away from game competition for a year and strengthens our backcourt for the foreseeable future when you look at our roster make-up.”

#Miller’s tenure with the Rebels came in March when he announced he would be leaving the programme. He will have three years of eligibility remaining in his NCAA career.

#“The three years of eligibility was huge for us. We were looking at other transfers who had one year as well but Franco having three was a factor. We think it gives him time to join the programme and get his feet wet and really contribute in big ways over the course of his time with us. His addition should strengthen our backcourt for the foreseeable future in combination with our other newcomers and young players.”

#Fly told Screecher Report in their Summer Flyer/Fresh Faces Series: “We think he can play both positions (PG and SG/Wing). In high school he was a scoring combo guard and we think he can get back to that. He’s got a pure shooting form. We’ll see, when we get the guys back [on campus], how he does with the ball in his hands and taking charge of the offence vs how he does without it.”

#According to the Eagles, Miller becomes the sixth newcomer for the Eagles roster heading into the 2020-21 season, joining four early signees and one graduate transfer. The Eagles will return 70 per cent of its scoring back in the line-up along with seven players who saw significant action in 25-or-more games during the 2019-20 season.

#“There’s a recruiting ban on guys right now and for the foreseeable future. We weren’t able to truly scout [Franco] in a traditional way. We watched all the high school tape we could. Actually, coach Davis’ staff at Ole Miss sent us practice tape of him so we could evaluate him more. They were extremely complimentary of him on and off the court. We do a lot of our recruiting based on connections we have made and continue to make and we have a great relationship with his prep school and coach Davis’ staff. We are excited to add a student and player of Franco’s calibre to our programme. He is an experienced guard who can play the point guard position or slide over to the wing as a scorer.”

#FGCU competes in the Atlantic Sun Conference. They come off a 10-22 season that concluded with a loss in the quarter-finals of the conference tournament. FGCU is best known for their run in the 2013 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament, their first since moving up to Division I. They became the first 15th seed to advance to the Sweet 16.

#Miller had his true freshman season in 2018-19 cut short due to a stress fracture in his kneecap that eventually led to surgery. He was granted a medical redshirt. In 2019-20 campaign, he played sparingly as a redshirt freshman and appeared in just 13 games.

#In those few appearances, he reached double figures in minutes just three times.He scored four points in his season debut against Alabama State, but would go scoreless for the remainder of the season.

#Despite falling out of the rotation, Miller made an impact off the court and was named to the 2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Community Service Team.

Samuel Hunter shoots during a training session.

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#After spending time here at home since March during the suspension of school because of the coronavirus pandemic, Samuel Hunter has returned to the University of Mississippi for his sophomore year as a member of the Rebels men’s basketball team.

#“It’s been good. We’ve been working out, but I have to get used to breathing in the masks that we have to wear,” said Hunter, who went back to Mississippi in July to prepare for the upcoming season.

#“I think we have a good team. I think we have a good chance to win a lot of games and hopefully get to the NCAA Championships. It’s going to be a lot of fun playing with these games.”

#In preparation for his return to the Rebels’ line-up where he hopes to move from the bench to the starting line-up, Hunter spent some considerable time working out here at home with some top Bahamian players like Zane Kmowles, Michael ‘Furly’ Bain, Detarrio Thompson, Jeffery Henfield and Adam Johnson to sharpen his game.

#“I know the work will pay off,” said Hunter, a 6-foot, 6-inch forward.

#“I am just glad to be back here. Hopefully everything will go full stream ahead from here.

#“I just have to continue working on my game and hopefully I can get to start this year. I just have to be ready for whatever happens this year.”

#If all goes well, the Rebels, coached by Kermit Davis, are scheduled to open their season on November 10 against New Orleans in the first of three home games.

#That will be followed by North Carolina A&T on November 15 and Charleston Southern on November 18 before they play their first game on the road in Niceville, Florida against La Salle on November 23.

#Having started classes on Monday, Hunter said he’s looking forward to duplicating or surpassing the 3.8 grade point average he maintained as an honour roll student last year as he continues his studies towards a degree in sport and recreation administration or sports management.

#“They gave us a lot of help with our tutors and stuff, but you just have to stay focused,” said Hunter, who graduated from British Columbia Christian Prep in Canada. “I just have to stay focused on basketball and school and still have some fun.”

#While there is still a lot of concern about the coronavirus, Hunter said he’s taking it in stride.

#“You only can control what you can control, so you just have to put your mask on, do your hand sanitising and so I want to encourage everyone in Nassau to put their masks on,” Hunter said.

#“You can’t save everyone, but you can try. Just stay safe and mask up. That’s all I have to say. We have our protocols to follow over here and I’m trying to follow them. So I want to encourage the Bahamian people to do the same over there.”

#Hunter, who turns 20 on November 28, is coming off a freshman year with the Rebels, having played in 27 games, primarily off the bench, averaging 12.1 minutes per game. In his only start versus Butler, he logged a career-high 31 minutes with 12 points and three rebounds.

#He finished the season with a tally of 2.9 ppg and 1.4 rpg. He shot 40.8 per cent (29 of 71) from the field, 12.5 per cent (1 of 8) from beyond the arc and 70.4 per cent (19 of 27) from the free throw line.

#Additionally, Hunter scored a career-high eight points in the win over Western Michigan (11/15). He also helped Ole Miss earn a victory over Vanderbilt (2/29) with seven points and a career-high three blocks, tying for the most blocks by a Rebel in a game throughout the season. And he recorded a career-high three steals in a win over Missouri (3/4).

#The son of Andrew and Sophia Hunter was ranked as the No. 184 prospect, according to 247Sports, averaging 27.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 3.0 apg as a senior at British Columbia Christian Prep.

#He was named the MVP of the Signature All-Canadian Showcase, competing among the top seniors in Canada, by scoring 18 points to go along with five rebounds and two blocks. He also recorded 13 points, four rebounds and two steals in the BioSteel All-Canadian Game, featuring the top 24 male Canadian high school basketball players who are either Canadian-born or enrolled in a Canadian institution.

#Also, he averaged 18.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg for the Bahamas in a pair of exhibitions against ACC teams, including an 18-point output versus North Carolina and he earned a spot on the Caribbean Tip-Off Classic All-Tournament Team by averaging 33 ppg throughout the tournament that included a 40-point outburst.

#Hunter also competed in the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games for the Bahamas senior national team and he averaged 14.6 ppg and 6.8 rpg for the Bahamas junior national team at the 2017 Centrobasket Under-17 Championship. He was also a member of the Bahamas 2016 CBC U-16 Championship team.