Thursday, November 7, 2019

AMRON Sands

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#WHEN Amron ‘Sandman’ Sands steps back into the ring, the bout will be a heavyweight matchup between two former basketball players now turned boxers with undefeated streaks on the line.

#Raphael “The Nigerian Hurricane” Akpejiori of Nigeria was officially announced as Sands’ opponent for “Rumble In The Bay” to be hosted November 23 at the Bryan Glazer JCC Center in Tampa, Florida.

#Akpejiori, a former basketball and football player for the University of Miami Hurricanes, comes into the fight undefeated at 5-0.

#Standing at 6’8 and 240 pounds, Akpejiori set a self imposed timeline to become the world heavyweight champion in four years.

#This will be his second match in a three-month span under Dever Sports Management and DiBella Entertainment following a nearly six-month layoff.

#Currently with a record of 9-0 (8 KOs), Sands last fought on August 23 against American Thomas Hawkins when he scored the knockout one minute and nine seconds into round two at the Bryan Glazer JCC Auditorium in Tampa, Florida.

#“He actually came to fight. It was good. I knocked him out,” Sands told The Tribune after the fight. “As the fight progressed, I saw more opportunities for me to go inside and work on him. I just threw the over-hand left and the right uppercut and he fell.”

#Under Kevin Dever Sports Management, Sands joined DiBella Entertainment as the latest addition to its roster of heavyweight prospects.

#“I signed with DiBella Entertainment because Lou is one of the most trustworthy promoters in boxing and he has great relationships in the business to get my name out there,” said Sands. “I know that, with his guidance, I can become the heavyweight champion of the world. I can box and I can bang and I’m what the heavyweight division needs. I’m very excited about my future and am ready to put in the work.”

#He made his heavyweight debut with a TKO win over Julio Mendoza at the Lakeland Events Center in Lakeland, Florida, on August 5 2017.

#He followed with consecutive knockout wins over Eric Evans (November 18 at the Crossroads Arena in Corinth) and Kendrick Houston (February 17 2018 at the Orlando Live Event Center).

#He spoiled the debut for Darrell Parker with a TKO at the Florida State Fairgrounds Hall in Tampa on May 18.

#Sands made his pro debut at home on the undercard of “The Backyard Rumble” with a unanimous decision over Jerry Butler May 26.

#He returned to the US and scored a knockout win over Cade Rodriguez on July 21. He then defeated American journeyman Francois Russell via second round TKO on the undercard of Friday Night Brawl, hosted at the Bryan Glazer Family JCC Auditorium in Tampa, Florida.

#“I can do it all. I can box, but I favour brawling, because it shows who has the bigger heart. No one has a bigger heart than me,” Sands said. “I just need to listen to my team and let Kevin do his job. I’ll do mine and we can make it to the top.”

Friday, October 18, 2019

AMRON Sands

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#AMRON ‘Sandman’ Sands looks to step back into the ring and continue his undefeated streak next month.

#Sands will be one of the headliners of “Rumble In The Bay” to be hosted November 23 at the JCC Center in Tampa, Florida.

#This will be his second match in a three-month span under Dever Sports Management and DiBella Entertainment following a nearly six-month layoff.

#Currently with a record of 9-0 (8 KOs), Sands last fought on August 23 against American Thomas Hawkins, when he scored the knockout one minute and nine seconds into round two at the Bryan Glazer JCC Auditorium in Tampa, Florida.

#“He actually came to fight. It was good. I knocked him out,” Sands told The Tribune after the fight. “As the fight progressed, I saw more opportunities for me to go inside and work on him. I just threw the over-hand left and the right uppercut and he fell.”

#Under Kevin Dever Sports Management, Sands joined DiBella Entertainment as the latest addition to its roster of heavyweight prospects.

#“I signed with DiBella Entertainment because Lou is one of the most trustworthy promoters in boxing and he has great relationships in the business to get my name out there,” said Sands.

#“I know that, with his guidance, I can become the heavyweight champion of the world. I can box and I can bang and I’m what the heavyweight division needs. I’m very excited about my future and am ready to put in the work.”

#He made his heavyweight debut with a TKO win over Julio Mendoza at the Lakeland Events Center in Lakeland, Florida, on August 5, 2017. He followed with consecutive knockout wins over Eric Evans (November 18 at the Crossroads Arena in Corinth) and Kendrick Houston (February 17 2018 at the Orlando Live Event Center). He spoiled the debut for Darrell Parker with a TKO at the Florida State Fairgrounds Hall in Tampa on May 18.

#Sands made his pro debut at home on the undercard of “The Backyard Rumble” with a unanimous decision over Jerry Butler May 26. He returned to the US and scored a knockout win over Cade Rodriguez July 21. He then defeated American journeyman Francois Russell via second round TKO on the undercard of Friday Night Brawl, hosted at the Bryan Glazer Family JCC Auditorium in Tampa.

#“I can do it all. I can box, but I favour brawling, because it shows who has the bigger heart. No one has a bigger heart than me,” Sands said. “I just need to listen to my team and let Kevin do his job. I’ll do mine and we can make it to the top.”

Monday, November 25, 2019

Amron Sands

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#New opponent, same result as Bahamian heavyweight Amron “Sandman” Sands continues his undefeated streak.

#Sands defeated Daniel Najera of Mexico via first-round stoppage after a pair of knockdowns brought an abrupt ending to the fight Saturday night on the undercard of “Rumble In The Bay” at the JCC Center in Tampa, Florida.

#After his second consecutive win at the venue, Sands is now 10-0 with 9 KOs.

#The 25-year-old Sands has scored early knockouts this year against Hector Hodge in the opening frame and, most recently, a second-round stoppage of Thomas Hawkins on August 23.

#He made his heavyweight debut with a TKO win over Julio Mendoza at the Lakeland Events Center in Lakeland, Florida, on August 5, 2017.

#He followed with consecutive knockout wins over Eric Evans (November 18 at the Crossroads Arena in Corinth) and Kendrick Houston (February 17, 2018 at the Orlando Live Event Center).

#He spoiled the debut for Darrell Parker with a TKO at the Florida State Fairgrounds Hall in Tampa on May 18.

#Sands made his pro debut at home on the undercard of “The Backyard Rumble” with a unanimous decision over Jerry Butler on May 26 He returned to the US and scored a knockout win over Cade Rodriguez on July 21. He then defeated American journeyman Francois Russell via second round TKO on the undercard of Friday Night Brawl, hosted at the JCC Auditorium.

#Prior to last weekend’s win, Sands was last in the ring when he defeated Thomas Hawkins via knockout one minute and nine seconds into round two, also at the Bryan Glazer JCC Auditorium.

#Under Kevin Dever Sports Management, Sands joined DiBella Entertainment as the latest addition to its roster of heavyweight prospects.

#“We want to close out the year strong with this fight and hopefully going for the first belt in the new year,” Sands told Sidestep Boxing.

#“They have some good stuff in store for me. It shows that you’re moving forward and progressing in your career, knowing that those kinds of people are watching you,” said Sands during his signing with the group.

#Since signing to DiBella, he finished off 2019 with three fights in a four-month span.

#“I signed with DiBella Entertainment because Lou is one of the most trustworthy promoters in boxing and he has great relationships in the business to get my name out there. I know that, with his guidance, I can become the heavyweight champion of the world. I can box and I can bang and I’m what the heavyweight division needs. I’m very excited about my future and am ready to put in the work,” Sands added.

By Renaldo Dorsett

Monday, January 13, 2020

#BAHAMIAN pro boxer Amron Sands had the opportunity of a lifetime – to work closely and learn from the most dominant heavyweight in boxing today.

#Sands participated in training camp alongside WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder as the latter prepares for his upcoming title defense next month against Tyson Fury.

#Sands, the youngest and least experienced fighter in the group, was nicknamed “Young Lion” by Wilder and his team of trainers and staff.

#“It was a very good learning experience to be in such a huge camp so early in my career. It speaks volumes of the road I’m headed on. It was a really good camp, a lot of work, great sparring, got to spar with the heavyweight champion of the world so it’s a major step forward,” he said.

#“I learned alot from it fighting wise, even out of the ring, he mentored me, gave me a little info on what to look forward to – in this game you have to always be 100 per cent ready. His trainers showed me different moves in the ring, being the bigger man in the ring and what they expect from you, things like that.”

#Wilder is currently 42-0-1 with 41 KOs, the highest knockout rate in the sport.

#“I really became a Wilder fan until I met him…very humble dude. For a dude who makes what he makes and who he is, he’s a very humble dude and down to earth. It was great hospitality the whole time. You might expect a different attitude from somebody of that magnitude,” Sands said.

#“He was very open and showed me a lot of great stuff in the ring and that’s something I can carry with me the rest of my career.”

#In his last ring appearance, Sands defeated Daniel Najera of Mexico via first-round stoppage on the undercard of “Rumble In The Bay” at the JCC Center in Tampa, Florida.

#Sands remained undefeated after a pair of knockdowns brought an abrupt ending to the fight as he improved to 10-0.

#Under Kevin Dever Sports Management, Sands joined DiBella Entertainment and finished off 2019 with three fights in a four-month span.

#“I signed with DiBella Entertainment because Lou is one of the most trustworthy promoters in boxing and he has great relationships in the business to get my name out there. I know that, with his guidance, I can become the heavyweight champion of the world.

#“I can box and I can bang and I’m what the heavyweight division needs. I’m very excited about my future and am ready to put in the work,” Sands said.

#“He told me I was the biggest prospect he signed last year. If they keep up their work with the pace we are on I should be the first major title holder for a Bahamian heavyweight.”

#Looking ahead to the promise of future prospects, Sands said his team plans to seek more opportunities and his next fight is scheduled to be in New York in February.

#He fought the first two years of his pro career throughout Florida.

#The 25-year-old Sands has scored early knockouts against Hector Hodge in the opening frame and, most recently, a second-round stoppage of Thomas Hawkins on August 23.

#Prior to his last win, Sands defeated Thomas Hawkins via knockout one minute and nine seconds into round two, also at the Bryan Glazer JCC Auditorium.

#He made his heavyweight debut with a TKO win over Julio Mendoza at the Lakeland Events Center in Lakeland, Florida, on August 5 2017.

#He followed with consecutive knockout wins over Eric Evans (November 18 at the Crossroads Arena in Corinth) and Kendrick Houston (February 17 2018 at the Orlando Live Event Center).

#He spoiled the debut for Darrell Parker with a TKO at the Florida State Fairgrounds Hall in Tampa on May 18.

#Sands made his pro debut at home on the undercard of “The Backyard Rumble” with a unanimous decision over Jerry Butler on May 26. He returned to the US and scored a knockout win over Cade Rodriguez on July 21. He then defeated American journeyman Francois Russell via 2nd-round TKO on the undercard of Friday Night Brawl, hosted at the JCC Auditorium

Amron Sands

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#Amron Sands is now listed at No.15 among contenders for the North American Boxing Federation heavyweight title.

#The organisation recently released its August 2020 rankings and the undefeated Sands progressed several spots from the previous update.

#The NABF is one of nine regional sanctioning bodies under the World Boxing Council (WBC).

#Canada’s Arslanbek Makmudov is the current NABF heavyweight champion while Tyson Fury of Great Britain is the WBC champion.

#The list of contenders features several former champions, including Deontay Wilder (No.1), Andy Ruiz (No.5), and Michael Hunter (No.3).

#In his last match Sands improved to 11-0 (nine KOs) via unanimous decision over Cristian Galvez on February 20 at Club Deportivo Calero in Santo Domingo, The Dominican Republic.

#Earlier this year, Sands also participated in training camp alongside former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder.

#Under Kevin Dever Sports Management, Sands joined DiBella Entertainment and finished off 2019 with three fights in a four-month span.

#“I signed with DiBella Entertainment because Lou is one of the most trustworthy promoters in boxing and he has great relationships in the business to get my name out there. I know that, with his guidance, I can become the heavyweight champion of the world. I can box and I can bang and I’m what the heavyweight division needs. I’m very excited about my future and am ready to put in the work,” Sands said.

#“He told me I was the biggest prospect he signed last year. If they keep up their work with the pace we are on I should be the first major title holder for a Bahamian heavyweight.”

#Once the calendar shifted to 2020, Sands scored several knockouts – in February against Hector Hodge in the opening frame, a second-round stoppage of Thomas Hawkins in August and and a win over Daniel Najera of Mexico via first-round stoppage in November on the undercard of “Rumble In The Bay” at the JCC Center in Tampa, Florida.

#During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sands told The Tribune that like all athletes in their respective disciplines, his progression has been halted by the restrictions.

#“I know for sure that this year I was supposed to be in the top 20 in the world, but hopefully we will get over this soon and we can resume what we were doing. We just need everybody to stay safe and clean so that we can get over this. We need to get sports back to where it was even though we know that it won’t be the same with some of the things that they did before,” he said. “I’m good. I am in shape. If they say Amron we have a fight for you tomorrow, I’ll take that because I’m ready. It’s hard to get ready, but when you stay ready, it’s so much easier. I’m good. I am in shape and ready to go whenever the calls come.”

#Combat sports have returned with several boxing and mixed martial arts promotions hosting events

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Sydney Clarke

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE country’s former top junior female tennis player Sydney Clarke is now making the transition to the collegiate level.

#The 18-year-old left town on August 10 and has now settled in her dormitory at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for her freshman year with the Blazers women’s tennis team.

#“Everything is fine. I had to take a COVID-19 test before I could come on campus and to use the courts,” Clarke said. “I started practicing with the team on Friday.

#“Once I took the test, I moved in and I went right on to the court to interact with my new team-mates. It was quite interesting, but everything is going fine right now.”

#As a new venture for Clarke, who graduated from Windsor School on June 13, the experience has been all that the former CR Walker Secondary High student-athlete expected and more when she arrived on her new campus in Birmingham.

#“They have all the safety measures in place for COVID-19 and the members of the team, who have been here before, are doing all they can to assist us, who are coming in for the first time,” said Clarke, who is one of three incoming freshmen on the team.

#Having dreamt about this opportunity since she signed her letter of intent, Clarke said she’s excited to finally be in a position to accomplish her goal of attending college.

#“I think it’s going to be more intense for me playing with a team like this for the first time,” said Clarke, who has had some experience playing in a team atmosphere with the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s Fed Cup team.

#“So it’s really going to be different when we start playing next year against different schools and just having a role on the team to help out. There’s no role for me to be selfish, so I’m looking forward to making my contribution.”

#Before she left home, Clarke said she got a chance to work on her game at the National Tennis Centre prior to the Bahamas Government putting a halt to all sporting activities due to the spread of the coronavirus.

#When that opportunity was taken away from her, Clarke said she was able to work out at home where she had the use of a wall to hit the balls as she worked on certain aspects of her game and stayed fit at the same time.

#“So it made a difference when I started working out with the team,” pointed out Clarke, who has returning team-mates from Germany, Spain, Poland and Bulgaria. “We have about 10 weeks to practice before school closes in November and I got to return home.”

#Appreciative of all the support she’s gotten from her parents, Bernard and Shayvon Clarke, Clarke said she’s eager to make them proud and to set the stage for her younger sister, Sarai, whom she has inspired to play tennis and is one of the top young players in the BLTA.

#“I miss them already, but I’m adjusting to being away from them,” she said.

#“I know that whenever I get a chance, I will head back home. It’s a big adjustment, but I’m keeping in contact with my family daily, so it’s good.”

#Should she get a chance to come home for Christmas, Clarke said she would like to play in the BLTA’s Giorgio Baldacci National Tennis Tournament because she hasn’t played in a competitive tournament since December.

#The Blazers’ season doesn’t officially get underway until January, so Clarke said it would be good to test her skills against some of the top female players at home before she gets prepared for the collegiate circuit.

#In the meantime, Clarke said she’s trying to get prepared for her classes towards her degree in business and her experience on the court as a collegiate player.

#“They have things in place on campus to make sure that we are safe,” Clarke said.

#“We have a lot of shops nearby so we don’t have to venture too far from the campus, which is good. So I’m just taking the precautions to stay safe.”

Steven Gardiner (file photo)

Monday, August 17, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#LIKE his Bahamian On Track Management, Inc. counterpart Shaunae Miller-Uibo, World Championship men’s 400 meter champion Steven Gardiner showed his versatility and speed over the weekend by competing in a pair of meets in Mariette, Georgia. 

#On Saturday night at the Atlanta 150m Challenge at the Life University in Mariette, Georgia, Gardiner erased Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown’s Bahamian national 150m time of 15.10 seconds that he ran in Manchester, England on May 17, 2014 when he clocked 15.07 to pull away from his nearest rival Christopher Belcher of Nike, who did 15.58 for second. Alonzo Edward of Adidas was third in 16.08.

#Earlier in the day at the American Track League Meet #6 at the same facility in Georgia, Gardiner raced to victory in the second of six heats of the century in 11.19. However, that was only good enough for 10th place overall.

#Edward had the fastest time overall in 10.37 as he took heat six. Another quarter-miler Fred Kerley of Nike won heat three in 11.05 for eighth place overall.

#Gardiner, who improved from the men’s 400m silver medal at the 2017 World Championships in London, England to gold in Doha, Qatar last year, is now the national record holder in the 150m, 200m (19.75), 200m straight (19.88), 300m (31.83) and 400m (43.47). His name is also on the indoor 300m record with a time of 32.24.

#Claude Bryan, the chief executive officer of On Track Management, Inc., the management group for Gardiner and Miller-Uibo, simply stated that they were “quite pleaded with his run.”

#Gardiner, the 24-year-old sprinter from Murphy Town, Abaco, who started his international journey as a 200m competitor under coach Anthony Williams, adds his 100m time to his season’s best of 19.96 in the 200m and 31.83 in the 300m.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo pictured in July.

#As for Miller-Uibo, who had to withdraw from the finals of the women’s 100m last week at the Star Athletics Sprint Showcase in Florida where she ran 13.56 seconds in the first round of the event, was back in action as she contested the women’s 150m in the same meet Saturday night.

#Still not at full strength from her unconfirmed condition, Miller-Uibo had to settle for sixth place in 20.35. American Jessica Beard, also representing Adidas, was the overall winner in 18.02 with Chrisann Gordon-Powell second in 18.18. Hannah Cunliff was third in 19.32.

#Before her final two races, 26-year-old Miller-Uibo was the world leader up to August 9 with 10.98 before Jamaica’s 1-2 punch of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.87) and Elaine Thompson-Herah (10.88) surpassed her in a meet last weekend as well in Kingston.

#Miller-Uibo, however, remains the world leader in the 200m at 21.98 and 400m with 50.52. She also holds the Bahamian national records in the 150m straight (16.23), 200m (21.74), 200m straight (21.76), 300m (34.41) and 400m (48.37). The 2014 World Indoor Championships’ bronze medallist also holds the national indoor 300m record (34.35).

#Both Gardiner and Miller-Uibo have opted from competing in the 400m this year. Last year, Gardiner ascended to the top of the podium at the World Championships with the gold in the men’s 400m, just a day after Miller-Uibo had to settle for the silver in a sterling run in the women’s event behind Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser in Doha, Qatar.

#Naser, who rocked the championships by producing the third fastest time of 48.14 to become the first woman athlete from Asia to win the 400m gold, is under investigation by World Athletics for a doping violation.

#If she is proven guilty, Miller-Uibo could be elevated to the gold after her Central American and Caribbean and Bahamian national record breaking silver medal feat of 48.37, adding to her title in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

#The results could also determine whether or not there will be a rematch at the 2020 Olympic Games, which have been postponed to 2021 in Tokyo, Japan because of the coronavirus pandemic as Naser could face a suspension for the violation.

Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton, left, talks with Buddy Hield during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers on August 13 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Kevin C Cox/Pool Photo via AP)

Monday, August 17, 2020

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#A POSSIBLY tenuous situation between Chavano “Buddy” Hield and the Sacramento Kings front office this offseason has already begun.

#Following the Kings’ regular season finale, Hield spoke with reporters on several topics, most noteworthy was his reply when asked whether he would be content to continue his role off the bench next season.

#“Y’all know me, y’all know how I talk, y’all know how I feel with a lot of stuff, y’all can read me well, so I’ll let y’all answer that for yourselves,” Hield said.

#Hield played sparingly in several of Sacramento’s seeding games, including a season low 11 minutes in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans. He averaged just 14.3 points per game on 43 per cent field goal shooting in Orlando.

#“I just have to work on my game, stay locked in, focused on what I got to do and just remember where I came from what got me here in the league and how I can stick around for a long time,” Hield said.

#Just days after Hield’s comments, both Kings general manager – Vlade Divac and assistant general manager – Peja Stojakovic resigned from their roles in the organisation. Joe Dumars will take over as interim executive vice president of basketball operations.

#Hield’s development was one of the many issues Divac discussed with the Sacramento Bee following his resignation.

#“He didnt like the role he was in. I support his feeling…he has to look in the mirror and see what he does right and does wrong,” Divac said. “He is an elite shooter….but he has to provide that (more consistently). He has to do a better job defensively.”

#In 72 games this season, Hield averaged 19.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and three assists per game. He shot 43 per cent from the field and 39 per cent from three-point range. He started 44 games this season before he was moved to bench in favour of Bogdan Bogdanovic on January 24. The Kings went 13-7 once Hield moved to the bench, prior to the league’s hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March.

#Last November, Hield concluded his contract negotiations with the Kings and reached the most lucrative deal ever signed by any Bahamian athlete when he agreed to a four-year, $94 million contract extension. Had the sides not reached the deal, Hield could have become a restricted free agent next summer.

#During the negotiations, Hield was very vocal on his situation in the national media and discussed his role in the team’s future.

#“If it [the contract extension] don’t get done, me and my team will look somewhere else, probably look for another home. Until then, we’ll see what happens here. That’s the goal, to be here, and I love Sacramento. But if they don’t want me here, they don’t feel like I’m part of the core — I like respect and loyalty and I feel like I’m part of the group that’s been getting the team back to where it needs to be. So like I said I want to be here, but if they don’t want me here I’ll find somewhere else to be.”

#During the same time period, the Kings offered Bogdanovic a four-year $51 million deal which remains unsigned. Third year point guard De’Aaron Fox will be eligible for his max extension next year and 2018’s second overall pick, Bagley, the following year.

#In April, the Athletic reported that Sacramento considered retaining Bogdanovic a priority and would match any offer sheet toward the veteran guard.

Connecticut Sun’s Jonquel Jones, left, shoots as Chicago Sky’s Cheyenne Parker, right, defends in the first half of last night’s WNBA game in Uncasville, Connecticut. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Thursday, May 5, 2016

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Sports Reporter

#rdorset@tribunemedia.net

#Jonquel Jones said her aim was to provide the Connecticut Sun with rebounding, defence and three-point shooting in her rookie season.

#It took just one game for Jones to pay immediate dividends for the franchise in her preseason debut.

#Last night, she finished with eight points, four rebounds and two blocks while playing 16 minutes in the Sun’s 84-81 win over the Chicago Sky at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

#Jones shot 3-5 from the field and 2-3 from beyond the three-point arch.

#Selected at No.6 overall by the Los Angeles Sparks, they immediately traded Jones to the Sun in exchange for Chelsea Gray and the Suns’ first round pick in 2017.

#“I just want to be able to bring some defensive intensity, help the team out with my versatility by being able to step out and knock the three ball down every now and again as well. I would say defence is definitely something I feel the coaching staff expects me to bring and I want to bring to the team as well,” she said last week at the team’s media day.

#“I just want to always be a positive force on the team, no matter what situation I’m in, just understanding what coach needs from me and being able to fulfil it.”

#The Sun acquired the third, fourth and sixth pick on draft night last month but it was Jones who had the better game of the trio of talented rookies.

#Third pick Morgan Tuck finished with seven points and four rebounds but shot 1-8 from the field in 27 minutes while fourth pick Rachel Banham scored three points on 1-5 shooting.

#The Sun will complete the second game of a back-to-back tonight against the San Antonio Stars.

#They will open the 2016 regular season against the Chicago Sky on May 14 and play their first home game against the Washington Mystics.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Jonquel Jones

#GEORGE Washington Colonials senior forward Jonquel Jones has been invited to attend the 2016 WNBA Draft on Thursday evening.

#Jones is one of 12 prospects scheduled to attend the event, which will take place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. ESPN2 will televise the first round beginning at 7pm and ESPNU will air coverage of the second and third rounds starting at 8pm. In addition, the draft will be available through the WatchESPN app.

#Jones will become the sixth player in GW women’s basketball history chosen in the WNBA Draft and first since Jessica Adair was taken 34th overall by the Phoenix Mercury in 2009.

#Jones, who is projected to be a top-8 pick by several draft prognosticators, is in line to become the programme’s first-ever first round selection. Ugo Oha is currently the highest Colonial ever drafted, as she was taken 26th overall by the Connecticut Sun in 2004. Other former Colonials chosen in the WNBA Draft include Tajama Abraham Ngongba in 1997 (31st overall, Sacramento Monarchs), Cathy Joens in 2004 (30th overall, New York Liberty) and Kimberly Beck in 2008 (36th overall, Seattle Storm).

#The Seattle Storm holds the top pick in the draft for the second consecutive season. The San Antonio Stars will choose second, followed by two selections from the Connecticut Sun. The fifth pick belongs to the Dallas Wings, while the Los Angeles Sparks will pick sixth.

#The Washington Mystics, who play their home games at Verizon Center, just two miles from GW’s Foggy Bottom campus, hold the seventh overall pick, followed by the Phoenix Mercury at No. 8 and the Indiana Fever at No. 9. The Chicago Sky (10th), Atlanta Dream (11th) and New York Liberty (12th) round out the first round.

#Despite missing the final 10 games of the regular season, Jones was named honourable mention All-American for the second year in a row. The Freeport, Bahamas, native led the nation in rebounding (14.6 rpg) and ranked fourth in the Atlantic 10 in scoring (16.2 ppg) and second in blocked shots (3.3 bpg). The only player in the conference to average a double-double for the third straight season, she registered 18 double-doubles in 23 games played in finished her career with 54 in 84 games.

#The 6-foot-6 forward finished her career ranking third all-time at GW in rebounds (961), fourth in scoring (15.4 ppg) and fifth in blocked shots. Including her time at Clemson as a freshman, Jones topped both the 1,000-point and 1,000-rebound marks, tallying 1,249 and 1,041, respectively. She also owns GW’s single-game and single-season rebounding records and boasts a pair of 20-point/20-rebound efforts.

#Following the draft, Jones will begin training camp in preparation for the WNBA’s 20th season, which begins on May 14.

#Other prospects invited to attend the draft include Rachel Banham (Minnesota), Imani Boyette (Texas), Kahleah Copper (Rutgers), Moriah Jefferson (Connecticut), Tiffany Mitchell (South Carolina), Aerial Powers (Michigan State), Breanna Stewart (Connecticut), Morgan Tuck (Connecticut), Courtney Walker (Texas A&M), Talia Walton (Washington) and Courtney Williams (South Florida).

#The draft, hosted by Mohegan Sun Arena for the third year in a row, is open to the public. Fans will be admitted with the donation of a canned food item at the door, which will benefit the New London Community Meal Center.

#WNBA.com will provide complete draft-day coverage and serve as the web destination for fans who want to track the top college seniors in advance of the draft.