Bahamian March Madness!

We Give You A List of Hometown Heroes To Watch In The College Postseason

Sammy Hunter – University of Akron

The 6’9” senior big man from Nassau with occasional deep range started 20 of a possible 29 games for the Zips in his senior season, averaging about 7 points and 3 rebounds per game, including a 25-point, 6 rebound night that featured 6 made 3s last night to help Akron beat Ball State by 2. 

Big🇧🇸🏹…🎱corner pocket‼️ #1Akron 🦘 #GoZips

📺 ESPN+: https://t.co/wuagGnCwp1 pic.twitter.com/fJ2nVY3uJ6

— Akron Zips MBB (@ZipsMBB) March 1, 2023

Akron went 21 and 9 this season, good for 3rd in the Mid-American Conference and a dominant 13-4 league record. The Zips dominated MACtion but their final test of the regular season comes Friday night against a tough Kent State team that went 14 and 3 in the conference. If they can make a deep run, or even win in the conference tournament, which begins on March 9, they can make it in the NCAA tournament.  

Franco Miller Jr.  – Florida Gulf Coast University 

Grand Bahama’s Franco Miller Jr., a 6’3” senior averaged about 2 points a game in a bench role for the Eagles. 

Franco Miller Jr. scoops and scores for ⁦@FGCU_MBB⁩. Eagles shooting scorching 72% from field and lead Austin Peay 49-32 with 3:41 left in first half. pic.twitter.com/YX6cDmhvkP

— Dan DeLuca (@NewsPressDan) February 25, 2023

It feels like yesterday when FGCU was tearing through the NCAA tournament knocking off powerhouses en route to making the Sweet Sixteen, believe it or not, that was a decade ago. This year’s iteration of dunk city went 17-15, good for 9th in the Atlantic Sun Conference. He had 5 and 5 in his team’s last game, a loss to Queen’s University Charlotte, eliminating them from the first round of the Atlantic Sun Tournament.

This may be the end of the line for the Eagles but with the proliferation of Division I college postseason tournaments, don’t be shocked if FGCU doesn’t turn up in one. 

Frederick King – Creighton University

The Andros born 6’10” freshman has played himself into a contributing bench player for a Blue Jays team with an 18-11 record. Surprisingly Enough, the Jays performed better in the conference going 12-6.

Last ride at CHI tomorrow 🥲

Lets get it rockin! #GoJays pic.twitter.com/BaHWMtUqSP

— Creighton Men’s Basketball (@BluejayMBB) March 1, 2023

They have as fair a shot as anyone to win the Big East tournament, which starts on March 9.

A good showing in the big east may give Creighton a puncher’s chance to land in the NCAA tournament. King will get minutes on national TV so check him out. 

Deyton Albury – Chipola College 

The 6’2” guard from Nassau put in work all season for the number 6 ranked Junior College athlete in the country, averaging 11 points and 3 assists. 

Deyton Albury firing up the Chipola bench pic.twitter.com/IwbCvmCukg

— RegionVIIIHoops (@RegionVIIIHoops) March 6, 2022

They now head to their conference tournament next week. If they can win it or make a deep run, look for Albury and Chipola to be in the NJCAA tournament where they have just as good a shot as anyone to make it to win it. 

Yolette McPhee McCuin – University of Mississippi

This time we talk about a women’s basketball coach with a chance to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Grand Bahama-born Coach “Yo” led her Ole Miss Rebels to a historic season, going 22-7 and winning a program record 11 games in-conference. 

Rooted in Love ❤️ pic.twitter.com/qzMuEa0pRJ

— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) February 27, 2023

They head to the SEC tournament this weekend as one of the better teams in the conference. They may not be viewed on the level of undefeated South Carolina, the best team in the nation, but they gave them all they could handle last week, taking Carolina to overtime before losing.

Anything can happen in a single-elimination tournament.