Ladavius Draine, of Calhoun City, had a strong start to his college basketball career playing with Southern Miss in the Bahamas last week in a pre-season tournament.
Draine, a freshman, made an immediate impact in his first collegiate action, scoring eight points in the first quarter by way of two three-pointers.
“I was shooting the ball well,” he said of his first collegiate action.
He finished with 19 points and a team-high nine rebounds in the Golden Eagles’ matchup with IBA Elite – a team of professional players from around the world.
Draine followed that with an 11-point performance in USM’s 96-79 win against the Providence Storms.
The trip concluded with a 96-81 win over the CTG Knights. Draine went 4-for-5 off the bench for nine points in the victory.
“It was a great trip for us. We really came together as a team,” Draine said.
He was pleased with his performance but said defense is where he needs more improvement.
“I thought I played alright, but coaches want me to work on my defensive quickness,” Draine said.
After the basketball, Draine was able to experience a lot more of the Bahamas. The team enjoyed a free day on Paradise Island before returning to the U.S.
“It was an amazing trip. Our coaches took us out on a boat,” Draine said. “We went snorkeling, enjoyed the beaches. Everything was first class. We really had a great time.”
Draine said practice for the 2017-18 season started this week.