The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER enjoying some good old Bahamian cooking in the company of his family and friends over the Christmas holiday, freshman forward Gregory McKay Jr is rejuvenated to return to Limestone University in Gaffney, South Carolina, to continue his collegiate season with the Saints men’s basketball team.

Having arrived in town on Tuesday, December 21, McKay left town on Monday, December 27 and is looking forward to rejoining his team-mates as they prepare to resume their season on January 2 against the Pfeiffer University Falcons.

“It was a short trip, but it was fun,” said McKay Jr, who couldn’t help indulging in the macaroni and cheese, peas and rice and potato salad. “It’s always good to spend some time home. It’s always good to spend some time with my family because I don’t get to see them that much.”

The trip home was a rewarding one for McKay Jr, who helped the Saints to a 6-6 win-loss record and a two-game winning streak before they took the break for the holidays.

“It’s been a solid season so far for us,” said the 6-foot, 6-inch, 195-pound McKay Jr. “But going into the second half, we are expected to do a whole lot better than we did in the first half of the season.”

Although he has only played in 81 minutes so far, McKay Jr is shooting .478 (11-for-23) from the field, .500 (4-for-8) from behind the three-point arc and .750 (9-for-12) from the free-throw line for a total of 35 points for an average of 7.0 points per game.

He has also pulled down seven offensive and 15 defensive rebounds for a total of 22 and a 4.4 average per game and has committed three personal fouls and as many turnovers with one steal.

It has been a major adjustment for McKay Jr, coming out of Hosanna Prep, but he admitted that he’s working on it.

“I feel my whole game, I can improve on every aspect,” McKay Jr said. “The college game is quicker and stronger and stuff like that, so I have to work on everything.”

McKay Jr had his collegiate career high of 10 points against Tusculum on November 23 with four rebounds in 21 minutes in a 77-69 loss on the road, but against Newberry in the previous game on November 20 in a 62-59 win at home, he pulled down his best of nine rebounds with eight points in 19 minutes.

“I’m just looking forward to just getting back to work,” said McKay Jr of the remaining 17 regular season games ahead of them through February 26 when they host the Lincoln Memorial University Railsplitters. “We just have to get ready for the season half and build on the stuff we have already been doing and getting better every day.”

The Saints, coached by Kyle Perry, play in the South Atlantic Conference where their quarterfinals are slated to begin on Wednesday, March 2 with the semifinals on Saturday, March 6 and the championship - if they advance all the way - will be played on Sunday, March 6. “I feel we have a very good team,” McKay Jr said.

“I feel we can do some really good things this season and be on the top of our league at the end of the season. I feel we have all of the pieces that we need, so I feel good about our team.”

Listed as undecided, McKay Jr said he’s hoping to change his major to business. He stressed that he just wants to get better and better in the classroom and on the court as he controls the things he can and just allow God to take care of the rest.

“I want to say thanks to my family for always showing me a good time when I’m here and always praying for me and looking out for me when I’m not here,” stated McKay of his McKay and Marshall family in Nassau. “They have been a big inspiration to me.”

Hopefully, McKay Jr said he can return the favour by being the best collegiate basketball player he can at Limestone University before he turns his attention on his professional career in the very near future.

McKay is a former player with the Mt Carmel Cavaliers basketball team, who left the Bahamas to complete his high school education in 2016. He went on to graduate from Piper High School in Sunrise, Florida, where he played both basketball and volleyball.

After graduating from Piper High, McKay Jr went on to Hosanna College to prepare for college. He was named the most valuable player for the Warbirds. Just after receiving the award, McKay Jr scored 22 points in his Warbirds’ 118-66 loss to Brunswick Community College in North Carolina.

The 20-year-old is the son of Anishka Taylor and Gregory McKay Sr.