The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THIS season with the Embry-Riddle Eagles men’s basketball programme has been a year of transition for Nashad Mackey but he looks for a strong finish in his recent return to the court.

The senior forward has undergone injury, becoming a new father as the Eagles have played below .500 basketball for much of the season.

In his fifth game back on, he finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds in Saturday’s 80-77 loss to Palm Beach Atlantic. It was the 30th double double of his career and his first since November 10.

Just a week into the season, Mackey was already earning conference accolades as the Sunshine State Conference Defensive Player of the Week en route to the Eagles 4-1 start.

He recorded three double-doubles in the Eagles’ first three games, averaging 20.0 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. He also recorded seven steals.

Shortly after, a wrist injury would be the beginning of the struggles for both he and the Eagles.

“My season thus far was nothing I expected to be honest. As a team we got off to a really good start 4-1 out in California and Tennessee against really good teams. Through those five games I was playing at a high-level, averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds,” he said. “A few days later, on Veterans Day (November 11) to be exact, I fractured my left hand and was sidelined for roughly six weeks missing the next few games. I was able to stay in shape and work on my game, even with a cast and I picked up right where I left off, still averaging a double double but not shooting the ball as well.”

Ten days after the injury, however, Mackey experienced a life-altering moment with the birth of his daughter Malayah Rose on November 21.

“Being a new father is a blessing, especially being a senior in college. It’s more motivation to work hard in the classroom and on the court. Being a father, full time student-athlete is challenging but once I prioritise, I handle it well. It’s also all about sacrificing, giving up an extra hour of sleep for an extra hour to get up shots before practice,” he said. “We play in arguably the best league in division two so every night is a challenge. I’m just looking forward to getting better each day and making a run at the national tournament.”

The Eagles are currently 8-11 on the season and have suffered five straight losses.

As a junior, Mackey produced a number of career milestones and postseason awards. He was named to the All-Conference second team as well as the All-Newcomer team when the Sunshine State Conference office announced the 2017-18 men’s basketball postseason awards.

Mackey made school history when he became the first Eagles player to earn an All-Conference selection. He had an immediate impact on the programme as they transitioned to NCAA Division II with his record-breaking junior season.

He averaged 17.3 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, both team leads.

In 28 starts, he also set a new single-season double-doubles record with 23 on the year and ended the season with 13 such consecutive games. He posted a total of 350 rebounds, another school record, ranked second in NCAA Division II.

He finished with nine 20-point games, including one 20-point, 20-rebound game in an upset of No. 10 Barry University. He also shot 88.8 per cent from the free throw line this season, ranked sixth among single-season totals in programme history.

The Eagles finished the season at 11-17, 5-15 in the conference.

As the team’s leading returning scorer and rebounder, he took on a greater leadership role in his senior season.

“Being a senior and captain of the team my roles are more than on the court controlling huddles. They are more of investing in all 17 players - learning about them and their families, what motivates them or how they cope with stress,” he said.

“I try to live in the moment and enjoy every minute of life, so I don’t necessarily have any plans but a few ideas. Some of my ideas beyond basketball this season is to work on my nutrition and working on my game giving myself the best opportunity to play at the next level. Career-wise I am thinking of playing professionally or attending graduate school and pursuing a corporate career.”

Mackey transferred to the Eagles and NCAA Division II level after he posted stellar individual numbers and garnered postseason awards at the JuCo level.

During his stint with the Daytona State College Falcons, he was named the Mid-Florida Conference Player of the Year and was also named First team All-State in the conference as a sophomore.