The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS his season came to a close at Faith Christian Academy, Theo Knowles wracked up another pair of awards over the weekend as he was named the Most Valuable Player and selected to the All-Tournament 1st Team at the Texas Christian Athletic League All-Star Classic.

The event, which featured a mixture of basketball players from the 1A, 2A and 3A divisions, was held on Saturday in San Antonio, Texas. Knowles produced a game high 20 points in the Still Creek’s 70-56 rout over the Town East team.

“It was more competitive. It was kind of different from what we did all season long,” Knowles said.

“I didn’t know their style of play, so it was good.”

In winning the MVP honours, Knowles said he wasn’t surprised because he went into the game with the right frame of mind to play at a high level.

“It was the All-Star game, so I came to have fun, but at the same time, I wanted to dominate,” Knowles stressed. “I came through. I enjoyed it.”

It was the last game for Knowles representing Faith Christian Academy and he wanted to go out in a bang.

“I just told myself that I was going to go out there and put it all in my high school game,” he said. “Even though it was something to have fun with, I still wanted to win.”

Knowles, a 19-year-old, 5-foot, 11-inch point guard, is hoping that by June he should make a decision on where he will be heading for college in August. He has already received offers from division II and NAIA schools.

He is expected to return home on Sunday when he will sit down with his parents, Charlene and Harvey Knowles, and hopefully make a definitive decision on his future.

Knowles, a former student of Temple Christian, spent the past two years at Faith Christian Academy where he said he thoroughly enjoyed the exposure he got in the United States.

“The first year I had to adapt to a new team and their playing style,” said Knowles, who eventually adjusted, helping Faith Christian Academy cart off the state championship title.

“The second year, I had more confidence in my game than the first year. Although we didn’t win the championship, I felt we played much better,” he said.

Faith Christian Academy, playing in the 2021 Texas A1-State Championships in Dallas, Texas, finished fourth after losing the last two of their three games to get eliminated from the prestigious tournament for high school basketball players.

Looking back at the decision to leave the Bahamas and Temple Christian to complete his high school at Faith Christian Academy, Knowles said he has no regrets.

“I feel it’s a good decision because I was able to take advantage of all the opportunities that were afforded me in the sport,” he pointed out. “It all worked out in my favour.”

To those players who are home and contemplating doing the same thing, Knowles advised that if it’s where God wants them to be, they will make the right choice to follow their heart.