The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THERE’S nothing like being home for the holidays.

Just ask Gregory McKay, who took the Christmas break to spend time with his family and friends over the weekend before he returned to school on Monday to continue his season with the Saints men’s basketball team at Limestone University in Gaffney, South Carolina.

“So far the season has been going good,” said McKay, who is now in his sophomore year. “We had a rough start, but our team is getting better over time and we are winning more games, so it’s only going to get better for us.”

McKay, a 21-year-old major in business administration/general business, is also stepping it up playing more minutes and being called upon for some more leadership.

“My coach is expecting more out of me now that I’m not a freshman anymore,” said McKay, a 6-foot, 6-inch forward. “I’m doing a lot more on the court and so I have to be more effective out there.”

As he embraces his new role, McKay said he’s having a lot of fun as well.

“This is what I wanted,” he said. “I am only trying to get better so that I can assist my team as much as possible.”

Compared to his rookie season where he averaged 5.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in 23 games, McKay has started in three of their eight games so far this season with an average of 9.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, three assists and a block per game. And as a team, McKay acknowledged that they are gelling the way they are expected, even though they have a 3-7 win-loss record riding a three-game losing streak.

“We’re gelling much better on and off the court, so it’s good for us,” he pointed out.

“I feel like we are pulling it together. We’re much better as a team than we were at the beginning of the season.”

If they can take advantage of the home games they have on their schedule when they return to play in January, McKay said they will put themselves in contention to be a contender for the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) national title at the end of the season.

“I just want to be one of those guys for us,” McKay said.

“When it’s crunch time and the coach needs me to play or to do something, I want him to be able to look at me and say ‘I can trust Gregory to take the shot or make a defensive play or something.”

When they return to action on December 31, McKay and the Saints will host a home game against Converse before they open the new year on the road in a series of games that start on January 2 at North Greenville.

Home on just a short break, McKay said it was a good time for him to unwind and spend some time with family and friends, enjoy some good ole home cooking and conch salad and even enjoy the return of junkanoo, especially his favourite group, the Saxons.

“My family is important to me. I hear from them just about every day. They keep me motivated and going,” said McKay, whose parents are Gregory McKay Sr and Anishka Taylor.

“Obviously, I can’t do anything without God. He’s the biggest part of my life. But I know how proud my family is of me. They keep me motivated.”

On Friday, McKay joined his former HO Nash classmate and tennis player Sydney Clarke in making her third Christmas food and present giveaway to the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel.

“When I saw the poster she posted about what she was doing, I was happy and excited for her,” McKay said. “Anything she needed to do, I was willing to help. It’s important to give back, especially to the kids. This is something that I take pride in, so I was very happy to help her out.”

The feeling was mutual for Clarke.

“It’s great to know that at least one of my friends saw me post the flyer and he agreed to repost it and come out and help me,” Clarke said.

“It’s always nice to see people who want to help, so I’m very grateful that he took the time out to help.”

Although they parted ways after HO Nash with Clarke going to CR Walker and now at the University of the Alabama at Birmingham, while McKay went to the USA to pursue basketball, playing at the Piper High School before he enrolled at Limestone, Clarke said they were able to remain in contact with each other.

“I’m pleased to see that he’s out there playing basketball and so I’m happy with his achievements,” Clarke said.

“It’s a great feeling to see how he wanted to help, especially being an athlete himself. So, it’s a great feeling for me to have him supporting me in this venture.”