The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ANTHONY Burrows Jr, one of the rising young tennis players in the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association, is not just excited that he has secured an athletic scholarship, but he will become the first member of his family to pursue a college degree.

The 17-year-old Burrows Jr signed a letter of intent to play for the Tigers men’s tennis team at the University of Missouri in St Louis in August upon his graduation from St Augustine’s College in May where he is expected to study computer science.

The son of Chilan and Anthony Burrows Sr, who currently coaches him as well, Burrows Jr has three sisters and a brother, but none of them are involved in tennis, which he started after he fell in love with watching it.

At the age of three, Burrows Jr started playing tennis and after winning his first tournament at age six, he went on to represent the Bahamas in four international events through the Caribbean and Central America.

Now, through his hard work and dedication to the sport, Burrows Jr is getting ready to go off to college on a scholarship.

“They are a pretty big school academically and they have a very good tennis programme,” said Burrows Jr about his decision to enrol in the University of Missouri.

“They have great coaching and the facilities are very nice.

“I feel I would excel in that environment and that programme. I think this is also a good way for me to get better and a source to help me to pursue my goal of being a professional tennis player in the future.”

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Burrows Jr was not able to make a visit to the school before he selected it, but he has been in constant contact with the coaching staff online and he’s been quite impressed by what he’s seen.

“I’ve seen the school with the campus tour online, so I can’t wait to get over there to get acquainted with everyone,” he said. “When I go there, I will have to go through the trials, but it’s anticipated that I should be playing either number three or four on the team. That is the goal for now.”

To those Bahamians who he’s leaving behind, Burrows Jr had some words of advice for them.

“Just keep pushing and putting in the work,” he stressed. “It might not show right now, but eventually your hard work will pay off and you will be rewarded for your efforts. It’s easy to get discouraged, but it’s the people who fight through their adversities who end up succeeding.”

While he has the awesome task of being the first in his family to attend college, Burrows Jr said he’s looking forward to the challenge and he hopes that he will go off and make not just his family, but SAC, the BLTA and the Bahamas as a whole proud of his achievement.