The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BOTH Bahamian players on the Ole Miss Rebels men’s basketball roster will be relied on for contributions in the upcoming 2019-20 campaign.

The Southeastern conference hosted media day Wednesday but Miller and Hunter were already frequent topics of conversations as additions expected to contribute immediately.

Miller expects to see the court for the first time after he was sidelined with an injury in his true freshman season while Hunter is a member of a highly touted incoming freshman class.

Last season, Miller came to Oxford with a nagging knee injury that flared up early in the year, resulting in a redshirt.

“I’m good to go. I’m fine. It’s just getting the feel of the offence, understanding what coach wants and a bad shot from a good shot. Understanding when to move the ball and pass the ball into the post. It’s just comprehending everything that’s going on but still being able to play your game,” he told Ben Garrett of OM Spirit.

“I feel very good. Last year, it wasn’t anything I could control. I just wanted to keep a positive mindset and work and work and work to get to where I am now. I really wanted to come in and help coach Davis with what we had going on. I know they could have used me last year. This year, I’m just looking at it as this is my time now to help and show what I can do. I’m really just focused on doing what coach wants me to do and just trying to become the best player I can be. Wherever that takes me is where it takes me.”

Miller was one of the most sought after recruits in Kermit Davis’ first recruiting class at Ole Miss. “Franco’s a really good talent,” Davis said. “He’s the strongest guy on our team. He’s really strong. He’s skilled, he can shoot. Just trying to get him where his pace of play is faster (and) he’s using his strength level all the time defending. But he’s only a freshman. He didn’t get to practice hardly at all last year. He’s healthy, knock on wood, and full speed. With him being a freshman, he’s going to do some really good things.”

Miller said he was also pleasantly surprised by the development of Hunter early on his initial practices with the squad.

“Sammy’s way better than I thought he was,” he said. “I thought he would come in and have to adjust, but he’s been great since he’s been here. Island strong. We’ve got that mutual respect for each other. I look out for him, he looks out for me. He’s a post scorer that can run the floor, set screens, rebound and finish. He can do it all, really.”

Hunter committed to join the Rebels prior to his senior season over the Oklahoma Sooners and Kansas State Wildcats. The Rebels return an experienced backcourt, but Hunter is hopeful to make an immediate impact among the loaded frontcourt group coming in.

“The playing style fits the way I want to play as a four or five. I felt like it was a good opportunity for me. I want to be able to pop and roll, play inside and outside, take advantage of mismatches. He told OM Spirit. “Just play a lot and play a lot to help the team,” Hunter said. “Do what’s best for the team. I don’t care if I score four points. I don’t care if I score two points and get 12 rebounds. I’m still helping the team. I’m still getting the ball to Breein Tyree and Devontae Shuler so they can score. I don’t mind. I don’t mind at all.”

He also noted the adjustment to collegiate life off the floor. “You’ve got something to do every single day — weights, class, practice. Get up in the morning and do it all over again,” he said. “Homework, school. It’s busy. I’m not going to lie, it’s like a job. But coach Davis and all the coaches have done a good job of making sure I’m acclimated and know what we’re doing. I feel at home, to be honest.”

Hunter, a consensus three-star prospect, also joins an incoming class which includes four star prospect Austin Crowley and three star prospects Khadim Sy, Shon Robinson, Antavion Collum and Bryce Williams.

“He’s got a really good skillset, can really shoot it,” Davis said. “He came in and got off to a really great start. What’s impressed me about Sammy is his basketball intellect, which is good. You worry about freshmen who come in and don’t have a chance to go through the summer with you, but he’s picked up on things really easily. He’s very attuned to basketball. He’s watching his iPad all the time, nothing but basketball on it. He looks at playbooks and all those things. It’s important to him. His head’s spinning a little bit right now, we’ve thrown a ton at him in three and-a-half, four weeks. But we’re sure going to play Sammy a lot this year.”