Area guards provide lift for James Madison
BY DAVID DRIVER
Special to the News & Record
BALTIMORE _ When Joey McLean was at High Point Christian and made a recruiting trip to James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., he saw a familiar face. That was Jackson Kent, then a JMU freshman and a former high school teammate.
“It played a big role since we played in high school together,” McLean, who is from Greensboro, said of his decision to attend JMU. “We had good chemistry.”
Now the two guards hope to use that chemistry to help the Dukes gain an automatic bid to the NCAA men’s tournament.
The Dukes are 21-10 overall and were 11-7 in regular-season play in the Colonial Athletic Association, which is rated the ninth-best conference in the RPI rankings. JMU is the No. 4 seed in the CAA tournament and will face No. 5 seed William & Mary at 2:30 p.m.
Saturday in the quarterfinals at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore. With a win JMU would play in the semifinals on Sunday. The CAA title game is Monday night, and both Guilford County natives plan to have family in the stands this weekend.
“We just need to play every game like it is our last,” said Kent, a 6-foot-7 junior who has started 30 of 31games and is averaging 27.2 minutes, 7.7 points and 1.7 assists. “We are definitely capable of (winning the title).We have to stay ready and focused on the game plan and play hard.”
McLean, a 6-foot sophomore, has played in 31 games with 10 starts and is averaging 19.6 minutes, 5.5points and 1.7 assists.
“In the last six weeks of this season Joey has been the most improved player,” Coach Matt Brady said. “He has hit some very big shots for us. He has come on as a defender. He has had a tremendous impact on our season and hopefully will next year.”
McLean said he has adapted to dual roles. “I really don’t have a preference if I start or come off the bench,” McLean said. “I just want to go in and play to my potential and help the team win.”
Kent, who played for two seasons at Page when his father, Robert, was the head coach, averaged 10.3 points and 3.6 rebounds last season while McLean averaged 6.5 points and 2.0 boards.
“He is a signifi cantly improved defender. We would love to see if he can make his shots this weekend,” Brady said of Kent. JMU ended regular season play on Saturday with a 71-65 win at home over William & Mary (11-7, 19-10), which has never advanced to the NCAA tourney.
“They kind of controlled the game. They played the way they wanted to,” said William & Mary coach Tony Shaver, a UNC graduate and High Point native. Looking for its first CAA title since 2013, JMU waspicked to finish second in the conference this season but dealt with several injuries. But the play of McLean and Kent has helped soften that blow
BY DAVID DRIVER
Special to the News & Record
BALTIMORE _ When Joey McLean was at High Point Christian and made a recruiting trip to James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., he saw a familiar face. That was Jackson Kent, then a JMU freshman and a former high school teammate.
“It played a big role since we played in high school together,” McLean, who is from Greensboro, said of his decision to attend JMU. “We had good chemistry.”
Now the two guards hope to use that chemistry to help the Dukes gain an automatic bid to the NCAA men’s tournament.
The Dukes are 21-10 overall and were 11-7 in regular-season play in the Colonial Athletic Association, which is rated the ninth-best conference in the RPI rankings. JMU is the No. 4 seed in the CAA tournament and will face No. 5 seed William & Mary at 2:30 p.m.
Saturday in the quarterfinals at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore. With a win JMU would play in the semifinals on Sunday. The CAA title game is Monday night, and both Guilford County natives plan to have family in the stands this weekend.
“We just need to play every game like it is our last,” said Kent, a 6-foot-7 junior who has started 30 of 31games and is averaging 27.2 minutes, 7.7 points and 1.7 assists. “We are definitely capable of (winning the title).We have to stay ready and focused on the game plan and play hard.”
McLean, a 6-foot sophomore, has played in 31 games with 10 starts and is averaging 19.6 minutes, 5.5points and 1.7 assists.
“In the last six weeks of this season Joey has been the most improved player,” Coach Matt Brady said. “He has hit some very big shots for us. He has come on as a defender. He has had a tremendous impact on our season and hopefully will next year.”
McLean said he has adapted to dual roles. “I really don’t have a preference if I start or come off the bench,” McLean said. “I just want to go in and play to my potential and help the team win.”
Kent, who played for two seasons at Page when his father, Robert, was the head coach, averaged 10.3 points and 3.6 rebounds last season while McLean averaged 6.5 points and 2.0 boards.
“He is a signifi cantly improved defender. We would love to see if he can make his shots this weekend,” Brady said of Kent. JMU ended regular season play on Saturday with a 71-65 win at home over William & Mary (11-7, 19-10), which has never advanced to the NCAA tourney.
“They kind of controlled the game. They played the way they wanted to,” said William & Mary coach Tony Shaver, a UNC graduate and High Point native. Looking for its first CAA title since 2013, JMU waspicked to finish second in the conference this season but dealt with several injuries. But the play of McLean and Kent has helped soften that blow
