Tipping off in big time
Former Norfolk Academy star highlights locals ready to play key roles
The college basketball season begins this week, and some athletes from Hampton Roads are expected to play key roles, including a trio of players on teams among the men’s Associated Press Top 25: David McCormack at No. 6 Kansas, Mark Williams at No. 9 Duke and Matt Coleman III at No. 19 Texas.
The season was originally scheduled to start Nov. 10 but was pushed back because of the coronavirus pandemic. The players realize this season wasn’t promised, and it’s hard to predict how the season will go.
“I am excited just to have the opportunity to step on the floor again, and to be able to play the game I love,” said McCormack, a junior. “COVID has really shown me not to take anything for granted and it all can be gone in no time.”
McCormack played t wo seasons for Norfolk Academy before he transferred to national powerhouse Oak Hill, located in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, where he was a McDonald’s All-American
The Jayhawks plan to begin the season against top-ranked Gonzaga on Thanksgiving night. They also are scheduled to play No. 10 Kentucky on Dec. 1 and No. 11 Creighton on Dec. 8.
Kansas coach Bill Self has praised McCormack for coming into this season ready to play.
“I think David has separated himself as far as the quality of play maybe from anybody in the gym,” Self told 247Sports. “I think David has been our best performer up to this point more so than anybody in our gym. That’s not putting anybody down. That’s just saying I think he’s doing really well right now.”
McCormack, a 6-foot-10 power forward, averaged seven points and four rebounds and blocked 12 shots last season. He also earned Academic All-Big 12 honors.
“I’m not predicting anything crazy,” Self said. “But I’m just saying from what we’ve seen so far, I think he’s going to be a big source of our offensive output, based on how I see us playing and playing through our bigs as much as we’d like to.”
At Duke, Williams arrives for his much-anticipated freshman season. The versatile 7-footer also played for Norfolk Academy before he transferred to IMG Academy, a national powerhouse program in Bradenton, Florida.
“I’m very excited because this season will be unlike any other,” said Williams, a two-time All-Tidewater selection with Norfolk Academy. “I believe we are a great team and we want to be able to show that.”
Other impact players from the area
LSU guard Cameron Thomas is another freshman hoping to make an immediate impact.
The former Oscar Smith standout was first-team All-Tidewater as a freshman in 2017.
But he transferred to Oak Hill and became one of the nation’s top scorers.
“I’m excited for the season because it’s my first time playing college basketball,” he said. “I just want to enjoy the experience.”
Florida junior Keyontae Johnson, who starred for Norview High in Norfolk before he transferred to IMG Academy and finished at Oak Hill, was voted the Southeastern Conference Preseason Player of the Year and a unanimous All-SEC selection.
Johnson, who averaged 14 points and seven rebounds last season, also was named to the preseason watch list for the Naismith Trophy, the most prestigious individual award given in college basketball.
Guard Matt Coleman III returns to steer Texas as a senior. The two-time first-team All-Tidewater guard played for Maury and
finished his high school career at Oak Hill.
Last season, he was named third-team All-Big 12 and led the Longhorns in scoring (12.7 points per game), assists (102), steals (40), 3-point percentage (39.5) and freethrow percentage (79.7).
This season, Coleman was named preseason All-Big 12 and
was named to the watch list for the 2021 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award, given to the top point guard in Division I men’s college basketball.
In women’s basketball, junior Xaria Wiggins, a Princess Anne High product, leads No. 6 Mississippi State, now coached by former Old Dominion coach Nikki McCray-Penson. Wiggins was recently ranked the No. 4 shooting guard in the SEC.
Several other former Princess
Anne players also hope to make an impact, including Boston College junior Makayla Dickens, Minnesota senior Gadiva Hubbard, Miami sophomore Brianna Jackson and Temple freshman Jasha Clinton.
If you know of any former local athletes who have big games or receive an award this season, email larry.rubama@pilotonline.com