The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ADD another to the list of prep to NCAA Division I basketball success stories in the Bahamas to the Sunrise Christian Academy pipeline.

After completing an additional year of prep school at the storied institution in Bel Aire, Kansas, Travis Munnings signed his national letter of intent to join the University of Louisiana Monroe Warhawks for the Fall 2015 semester.

Munnings is considered a three-star recruit by Yahoo Sports and also received offers from Tennessee and Mississippi State. He was the final member of the ULM recruiting class and will join Prince Cooper, another Bahamian on the Warhawks roster who enters his junior season.

Munnings, a 6’6” wing and Grand Bahama native, spent his early high school years with the St George’s Jaguars under coach Darell Sears.

Keith Richard, head coach of the Warhawks, discussed the impact he felt Munnings will have on the programme.

“Travis is an outstanding signee for us. He is a long, athletic wing that can play multiple positions. I am very excited that he has decided to join our programme. He is coming from one of the top prep school programmes in the country and was a very good player on a very good team. Obviously we are thrilled with signing him,” Richard said.

“Travis completes a great year in recruiting for the Warhawks. When we finally got him it was almost a relief but it’s also an exciting day for us.”

The Warhawks are coming off a 24-14 season where they finished as runners-up for the College Basketball Invitational championship.

When he left the Bahamas, he joined the Sunrise programme under Kyle Linstead who has guided several Bahamians to NCAA programmes across the country.

Munnings helped lead the Buffaloes to a 20-6 record this season against some of the top prep schools when he averaged 11 points and eight rebounds per game.

“Travis is the definition of high motor. He is a high energy guy every time he steps on the court. His will is special, which will allow him to play day one at the next level. Defensively he was the best player in our programme with his ability to guard multiple positions. His offensive skill is developing and he should be an impact guy right away,” said Sunrise Christian coach Luke Barnwell.

Munnings gives ULM two three-stars signees in the class of 2015, which includes Munnings, Fishburne Military School, teammates Ramses Sandifer and Wade Martin and Marcus Washington from Holmes Community College.

In addition to Cooper, the Warhawks have strong Bahamian connections in the past.

Bahamian Ryan Stuart was a mainstay of the programme in the early 1990s and finished as the Southland Conference player of the year and tournament most valuable player.

“Four or five years ago we couldn’t get high school prospects or guys with stars next to their name,” Richard said. “As we’ve built this thing and had some success now it’s starting to open some doors for us. This is another section of our programme that continues to get better and we feel good about that right now.”