The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

HE was hoping to become the first of five Bahamians to win the Battle 4 Atlantis title with the Michigan State Spartans. But after falling short of getting into the final, Lourawls ‘Tum Tum’ Nairn Jr made sure that they didn’t leave Paradise Island empty handed.

Nairn, the top ranked junior point guard for the No. 24 ranked Spartans, delighted the crowd in the ballroom at the Atlantis by carting off third place with a 77-72 triumph over the Wichita State Shockers.

While he didn’t score, Nairn went on to dish out a career high 12 assists and pulled down five rebounds. In the three games Michigan played, Nairn averaged six points with four rebounds and 6.3 assists per game.

“It was pretty amazing watching him play here at home,” said his mother Monalisa. “I was more excited for my mom and my great grandmother. This was the first time that they watched him play in person. So I was pretty excited about that for them.”

But as a parent, she said she’s even more proud to know her child is living out a dream of playing college basketball at the highest level in division one.

“I can’t say how proud I am of him,” she stated. “Just the way he demands the court, he knows exactly what it is he is doing. When he gets into the game, the whole momentum switches. So for me, that’s pretty good.”

As for his father Nairn Sr, it was amazing to watch his son perform. He noted that he received a good birthday present on Wednesday when Nairn and the Spartans played their first game in the tournament.

“That was a good birthday present for me,” he said.

Asked how he felt about what he saw from his son, Nairn Sr said it was what he expected and more.

“It was great. I liked what I saw,” he stated.

As his son moves on, Nairn Sr said he is throwing his full support behind him, just as he did when he left the Bahamas to play in the United States.

“I’m going to be 100 per cent behind him,” he said. “Whatever he does is well done for me.”

And with this being his junior year, Nairn Sr said they’re only looking forward to an upside as he gets ready for the next level when his senior year is done a year from now.

“Whatever happens for him is well done,” he said. “I just want him to be him. That’s all, just be him.”

Nairn Sr thanked the Bahamian public, especially those who turned up to watch his son in action at the tournament.

For the 5-foot-10 Nairn Jr, who is averaging 4.5 points, 4.3, assists and 2.7 rebounds per game, the experience here was worth it all. “Most of my family has never seen me play before, except on TV, so I was happy that they finally got the opportunity before I finished college,” he said.

When he enrolled at Michigan four years ago as a rookie, Nairn said he got the news that the Spartans would be coming here to play this year so everything he did was leading up to this opportunity.

“I can’t really explain it, but I thank God for my mommy, my daddy, my grandmother, my great grandmother, my uncle, my aunt, my cousins, my friends and everybody who came out to watch the games,” he said.

“This was a feeling that I can’t explain. I just want to thank God for all of the blessings that he has given to me. I am just blessed. I want to thank God for everything he has done for me.”

As he looks back at his performance, Nairn Jr said he could only leave home knowing that he left his game all on the floor at Atlantis and that should give him the inspiration to prepare for the rest of the season.

“I just want to be able to lead this team as best as I know I can,” he said. “We have a big game on Tuesday against Duke when we get back to the States, so hopefully we can build on this and win that one. “I’m always away from my family, so to finally get this opportunity to play before them, I’m glad what I was able to accomplish. But it’s not over yet. I still believe that the best is yet to come for me and the Spartans.”

The Spartans, now 4-3, will travel to Duke tonight to play the Blue Devils, who are 6-1.