The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER taking a year off to compete for Believe Prep Academy in Rock Hill, South Carolina, guard Deyton Albury is now settling into his new environment in Marianna, Florida.

Albury, 19, transferred to Chipola Community College where he will suit up for the Indians men’s basketball, coached by Donnie Tyndall.

The Indians are a traditionally strong competitor in the Panhandle Conference of the Florida State College Activities Association, a body of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 8.

“This is just my first week, but we’ve been lifting a lot of weights, a lot of five-on-five pick up games, but this is a different level of competition,” Albury said. “Coming here, I’ve had my eyes opened up to how hard it is to become a real professional basketball player.

“I’m surrounded by a lot of high level division one players every day, working out in the weight room and just going head-to-head with them in five-on-five games. It’s a lot harder for me playing the point guard position, but I’m making the adjustment, locking in on defence and shooting my jump shots and still finishing at the rim.”

After securing a number of offers from a number of schools, including NCAA Division II and III, Albury said he made the decision to go through the junior college ranks where he can get better prepared to make the transition to division one, which is his ultimate goal.

“I feel confident and comfortable,” he said. “This is one of the top two JC schools in the state of Florida. Last year, their top point guard received 19 division one offers and with me coming here and playing his position, I know that the scouts will be here to watch our play.

“Plus, our coach coached at a high level in division one and in the NBA, so he has the experience and connections when it comes to the division one level. So I feel confident that I will only get better by coming here.”

Albury, whose parents Genice and Michael Albury Jr allowed him to leave Temple Christian in grade 10 to attend Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas, where he played in both basketball and football, said the experience gained at Believe Prep Academy will definitely propel him at Chipola.

“Our coach has us competing against each other, so the best man gets what he deserves,” Albury said. “We have to show up everyday and just work hard to earn your spot. I expect to pull through and be able to represent.

“The coach is watching us in practice to see what we look like. Next week, we should be working on our conditioning and getting ready for the pre-season games. The season won’t start until November.”

Although it’s closer in Florida than where he was in South Carolina, Albury said he wants to establish himself as a defensive player, which is one of the key ingredients he was told the division one coaches are looking for.

“I want to become a real defensive threat on guards and just make my open shots and create plays for my team,” said Albury, who is just one of two foreign players on the team, the other being a shooting guard from the Dominican Republic.

As for his classwork, Albury said they spent this week introducing themselves to their teachers.

He said his classes won’t begin until next week and he’s looking forward to majoring in physical therapy. If there’s any concern that Albury has, it’s the fact that the majority of people are not adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols by wearing their masks, although they are practicing social distance.

“They are trying to keep us apart in class, but because we have so many students, we end up with about two students per desk,” he pointed out.

“I’m still wearing my masks. I can’t put myself in that predicament where I mess up and end up sitting out classes or playing on the team.”

His former team-mate, who played with their Temple Christian Academy coach Jamal Smith in AAU basketball during the summer, is currently attending Caldwell Community College in North Carolina.

And Albury’s 16-year-old brother, Michael Albury Jr, is currently holding court as one of the stars at Teleos Christian Academy.

Albury Jr will be entering the 12th grade in September.