The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN players continue progress to NCAA men's basketball programmes following productive seasons at the Junior College level.

Radshad Davis and Kaleel Solomon were the latest additions to this expanding list and recently announced their intentions to transfer this offseason.

Davis will join a Division I programme, the University of Texas - Arlington Mavericks.

"I would like to thank my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for blessing me with this opportunity to play division one basketball. In addition, I would like to thank my family, friends and coaches for the endless support," he announced on social media.

"After many sleepless nights, I've made my decision to continue my studies and basketball career at the University of Texas Arlington. A huge thanks to everyone who assisted me in this process.

Davis recently completed a successful tenure with the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzlies.

At the end of year awards banquet, the 6'4" redshirt freshman guard received the team-elected Most Valuable Player and Team Captain awards, as well as Defensive Player of the Year.

He averaged 16.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game against all opponents. Against region opponents, however, he has averaged 20.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He finished second in the region in both scoring and rebounding. He also received All-Region 16 first team.

Davis starred locally for the CC Sweeting Cobras where he won the Hugh Campbell MVP before making the transition to Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas.

The Mavericks compete in the Sun Belt Conference and Davis joins the programme in its first year under Chris Ogden.

Ogden was named the eighth head coach in the programme's history. Ogden played for head coach Rick Barnes and served on his staff for 13 seasons at both the University of Texas and the University of Tennessee. He spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach under head coach Chris Beard at Texas Tech.

UTA concluded last season with a 21-13 record, its third-straight 20-win season and a fourth place regular season finish in the Sun Belt. They lost in the conference championship game to Georgia State.

Solomon signed to NCAA Division II powerhouse, the Montevallo Falcons.

As a freshman with the Eastern Florida State Titans, Solomon averaged 5.7 points per game and shot 39 per cent from three-point range in 36 games. He reached double figures in seven games last season, including a season high 19 points in a February matchup against ASA Miami.

The Titans suffered an 84-58 loss to Hutchinson in the NJCAA Division I Tournament finale.

He chose to redshirt this season but was still active in the recruitment process.

The Falcons finished last season 15-15 and fell on the road at nationally-ranked University of West Florida 83-74 in the quarter-final round of the Gulf South Conference tournament.Locally, Solomon was a member of the Sunland Stingers programme where he led the team to the Hugh Campbell finals.

He was also named the Grand Bahama High School Player of the Year.