The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

HEADING into his sophomore season, Bahamian point guard Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr is expected to be a leader for the Michigan State Spartans, both on the court and in the locker room.

Nairn was named as one of a trio of team captains for the upcoming 2015-16 campaign.

The sophomore point guard will lead the team alongside seniors Denzel Valentine and Matt Costello.

Nairn’s mother, Monalisa McKinney, took to social media to express her thoughts on the good news through a post on Facebook.

“I’m so thrilled, excited and ecstatic tonight. The reason being is I’ve just learned that my first born was named captain of the Michigan State Spartans basketball team. Although this is just his second year, I’m really proud to say that he has already won several prestigious awards there in his first year and now to be named captain of such a prestigious school and leading them to a National Championship is something I know my son will do with great pride.” she said.

Spartans’ head coach Tom Izzo said the honour was well deserved for the young emerging leader.

“I think that just speaks volumes of what kind of kid he is. Not even what kind of player he is. I just think he’s an infectious kid. He’s infectious in how he works. It’s still 6:30 every morning. You would think that it’d wear off,” he said.

Nairn averaged 2.2 points, 2.4 assists and 1.6 rebounds in just over 19 minutes per game for the Spartans in his freshman season. He shot 32 per cent from the field, 30 per cent from three-point range and 54 per cent from the line while attempting just 2.3 shots per game.

The Spartans finished the year at 27-12 and were runners-up in the Big 10 tournament. They entered the NCAA tournament as the No.7 seed in the East Region and defeated Georgia, Virginia, Oklahoma and Louisville en route to the Final Four.

The dream season came to an end one game short of the national championship game when they suffered an 81-61 loss to the Duke Blue Devils in the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Immediately following the loss last April, Valentine eagerly tabbed himself and Nairn as team captains for the upcoming season.”

“Yeah, me and Tum will be the captains and we’ll be great leaders next year, and we’ll have the experience,” said Valentine. “Yeah, (Nairn) will be a captain. He’s a leader, and he’s just a freshman.”

Nairn asked Izzo to be the first to address the team after the Final Four loss to Duke.

“The way he spoke to Travis and the seniors, it was really cool. It was from the very, very depth of his heart, and that means this programme is in good shape,” Izzo said. “I think it’s going to be Denzel’s team, but I think Tum Tum is going to be Robin to his Batman. He’s infectious. Every day’s a good day. That’s what he starts every practice with - it’s a good day. I have to learn from him because all my days aren’t good days.”

Former Spartan and current Golden State Warrior Draymond Green suggested that Izzo make Narin a team captain at the beginning of his freshman season, before he plays a single minute of NCAA basketball.

Known as a vocal leader on both ends of the floor, he saw similar traits in Nairn while they trained together in the offseason and played in Lansing’s Moneyball Pro-Am. “That’s my guy, I love ‘Tum Tum’ and he’s like a little brother to me. You just see that aura that he carries about himself, you see the confidence that he has and the way he pulls people with him,” Green said. “I didn’t only play in the Pro Am with him, I worked out with him everyday, I lift with him everyday. Just to see the way he pulled the guys together was special. Not only does he do it with his voice but he leads by example.”

Heralded for his leadership since he joined the Spartans in East Lansing, Nairn was recognised for those attributes when the team hosted its 2015 awards banquet.

He collected the Stephen G Scofes Inspirational Player Award, shared the Antonio Smith Glue and Guts Award with Denzel Valentine and shared the John E Benington Best Defensive Player Award with Brandon Dawson. Green, a current All-NBA first team defender, said Nairn’s leadership and defence will be the factors that will make him a better player and give his offence an opportunity to develop.

The Spartans will open the season against Florida Atlantic University November 13.