Millers Pull Away to Take Tipoff Classic Crown

LEESBURG, FL – John Melvin (LA) led from start to finish in putting away Southeast Christian 99-49 and winning the NSAC Tipoff Classic Wednesday night.

The Millers (2-1 overall, 1-0 NSAC) led 40-20 at the half and continued to gain momentum throughout the game.

“It’s an honor to be a part of the first conference win in school history,” JMU coach Romel Bryant said after the game. “Seeing these players win the Tipoff Classic and develop as players is very humbling.”

Kaimauri Hodges led the Millers with 21 points. Tayshaun Colomb added 15 points and Kyle Roach contributed 12.

It was the first NSAC game for both teams who joined the league this year.

“We had a rough time tonight,” said Eagles coach Dwayne Walker. “We were missing a big, and we also had a lack of aggressive play on both sides of the ball. Way too many turnovers. I know our men will turn this around this upcoming week in Miami.”

Southeast (0-2, 0-1) travels back to South Florida for a rematch against UIC on November 8 and a conference matchup with Atlantis the following day. John Melvin continues its road trip with a game at Florida College on Thursday.

Eagles, Millers to Open NSAC Play Wednesday Night

LEESBURG, FL – New South Athletic Conference men’s basketball sees its first conference game of the year Wednesday night, October 30, as new members Southeast Christian and John Melvin (LA) meet in the 2024 NSAC Tipoff Classic.

The SECC Eagles, in their first year of action, open home play after falling to UIC 82-48 on the road last Friday.

The JMU Millers picked up their first win of the season against Louisiana Community Christian 83-79 last Thursday before falling at Southern University of New Orleans 98-90 on Saturday.

The game will be livestreamed on Baller TV.

Graphic courtesy Southeast Christian College

Builders Picked to Three-Peat

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

In spite of the addition of five new teams to the men’s basketball race, two-time defending NSAC champion Apprentice was picked by the league coaches to take home the crown in 2024-25. The Builders claimed first-place votes from all participating coaches in the NSAC Preseason Poll.

The Builders will have a new head coach as former assistant Michael Gainey, Jr. takes the reins from the departed Evan Kee. But the 2024 USCAA champs return all five starters, including All-American Karree Smith and All-NSAC teammate Adrion Wall.

Mid-Atlantic Christian propelled to second place in the voting behind the strength of its incoming transfers. One coach commented, “On paper, they have one heck of a recruiting class.”

Lighthouse Christian, the 2024 regular season winner, was picked third. The Makos lost the Culpepper brothers to transfer but picked up three impact players in the portal from former NSAC power Blue Lights. Defending conference MVP Eddie Brown also returns to the LCC backcourt.

Newcomer John Melvin Christian (Florida) was a surprising fourth under first-time head coach Colin Doss. “Looks like JMCC has a lot of talent from some upper-level basketball (NAIA, NCAA D2, etc.) coming in,” opined one of the voters.

Atlantis rounds out the top five behind the strength of incoming transfers. “They look like they will be ready to compete every night,” wrote one league coach.

Beacon College, another NSAC newbie, checks in at sixth. The Blazers, led by former NBA great Sam Vincent, return an experienced squad.

John Melvin (Louisiana), Southeast Christian, Central International, and South Carolina Central Christian complete the lineup.

The season opens on October 24 when Southeast travels to Miami to take on the Atlantis JV squad and JMU (LA) hosts Louisiana Community Christian. The Eagles will return home to host the conference-opening NSAC Tipoff Class against the Millers on October 30.

  1. Apprentice – 54 votes (6 first place)
  2. MACU – 38
  3. Lighthouse Christian – 32
  4. John Melvin Christian (Florida) – 30
  5. Atlantis – 27
  6. Beacon – 26
  7. John Melvin (Louisiana) – 18
  8. Southeast Christian – 16
  9. CIC – 12
  10. SC Central – 10

Gainey Promoted to Apprentice Head Men’s Basketball Coach

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Apprentice School Director of Athletics Jeff Egnot has announced the promotion of Michael Gainey, Jr., to the position of Head Men’s Basketball Coach, effective immediately.

“I could not be happier for MJ,” said Egnot. “He is a product of this program that has gone on to great things for our company and our program. His dedication to and his love for Builder athletics has helped maintain a level of excellence that has come to be expected with our basketball program. I know that the program is in good hands, and it will continue to be a catalyst in which we continue to attract future leaders of this company.”

Gainey has spent the last seven seasons as an assistant under former head coach Evan Kee. Most recently, he held the position of Director of Player Development where he has developed numerous players to USCAA All-American status. He helped lead the team to the national semifinals two seasons ago before winning the USCAA Division I National Championship this past season.

“I feel truly blessed to have been appointed as the new head coach here at my alma mater,” said Gainey. “It gives me great pleasure to serve the future leaders of The Apprentice School. I am excited to embark on this journey and work towards achieving the continuous success and growth of this program.”

Gainey first played for the Builders for two seasons prior to joining the coaching staff. He was named Most Improved Player as a freshman after helping lead the Builders to the USCAA National Tournament where he set a USCAA record for most blocks in a tournament game.

Gainey graduated from AS in 2018 and is a production planner for Newport News Shipbuilding.

Prior to coming to The Apprentice School, Gainey, a native of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, played basketball at Rocky Mount High School, where he was part of the 3A State Championship team in 2012 before falling to the eventual champions in 2013.

Story and image courtesy Apprentice Athletics

Kee Resigns from Apprentice, Accepts Job at Randolph

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Apprentice School Department of Athletics has announced the resignation of head men’s basketball coach Evan Kee as he accepts a position at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia. Kee will remain with the Apprentice School in admissions until the transition period has concluded.

Kee went 81-61 as head coach of The Apprentice School, including winning back-to-back New South Athletic Conference Tournament Championships in 2023 and 2024 as well as the 2024 USCAA Division I National Championship in his final game on the sidelines at AS.

Kee will be just the third head coach in the history of Randolph’s men’s basketball program that has existed since the 2007-08 season.

“I’m thankful for my time the last seven years at The Apprentice School” said Kee. “We were able to build a program up and get it to a championship level. I want to thank all of the players, coaches and staff members that I worked with over the years.”

The Apprentice School Department of Athletics wishes Kee the best in his future endeavors as he moves on to coach the Wildcats.

A search for the next head men’s basketball coach is now underway. Interested applicants should email their resume with references to jeffrey.egnot@as.edu.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics; image courtesy Kaitlyn Olson/Apprentice Athletics

Apprentice Takes Down Lyon to Win USCAA Title

PETERSBURG, Va. – For the first time since the 2002-03 season, the Apprentice School men’s basketball team cut down the nets at the USCAA Small College National Championship with a 73-68 win over Lyon Wednesday afternoon.

Donovan Means was named Tournament MVP after leading the team with 19 points. Adrion Wall and Karree Smith were also named to the All-Tournament Team after finishing with 15 and 10 points, respectively. Senior Avin Hawkins added 15 off the bench.

The Scots and Builders were in a battle from the opening tip with Apprentice trailing for a majority of the first half, but with the final five points of the first half, the Builders took a 33-30 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Apprentice, the back-to-back NSAC champion, extended their lead to seven early in the second half, but the Scots hit big shots, going on a 7-0 run to tie the game up at 43-43. From there, the lead switched hands multiple times before the game settled in with the Builders holding a small margin. Lyon cut the lead down to two late, but three free throws down the stretch, coupled with defensive stops, put the Builders on the ladder to cut down the nets and hoist the national championship trophy.

It’s the third national championship for the Builders’ basketball program in school history and the first since going back-to-back in the 2001-02 and 02-03 seasons.

Story and image courtesy Apprentice Athletics

Survive and Advance! Apprentice Holds On to Clinch Spot in National Championship

PETERSBURG, Va. – The Apprentice School men’s basketball team is potentially just 40 minutes away from the first men’s basketball national title in more than two decades after knocking off Bryant & Stratton-Albany Tuesday afternoon 69-60.

The game was nip-and-tuck all the way through as the Bobcats held a one-point lead at halftime, 32-31. The Builders answered, however, going on an 8-0 run to take the lead, 42-38. Albany eventually brought the game back to a 55-55 tie, but the Builders never surrendered the lead again, scoring the next four points and then the final six of the day to clinch their spot in the national championship game.

Donovan Means led Apprentice with 17 points, while Adrion Wall had 14 points. Karree Smith put up 13 as well.

With the win, the Builders will play for the USCAA Division I National Championship tomorrow at 12 p.m. at Virginia State University’s Multipurpose Center against third-seeded Lyon. Tickets are still available at basketball.theuscaa.com, while a live stream and stats will be available as well.

Story and image courtesy Apprentice Athletics

Builders Advance to Final Four with Win over UMFK

PETERSBURG, Va. – The No. 1 Apprentice School men’s basketball team earned their second straight USCAA semifinal appearance Sunday as they knocked off eighth-seeded Maine-Fort Kent, 96-79.

“We’re thankful to have pulled off the win and that we’re advancing to our second straight USCAA Final Four,” said head coach Evan Kee. “This was also win No. 23, which ties the record for most wins in school history. We had big performances from a number of guys, and we’re going to need continued production from the entire roster on Tuesday against Bryant & Stratton-Albany.”

The Builders and Bengals traded baskets early, but with the score in favor of Apprentice at 18-15, the Builders went on a 21-0 run to stretch the lead to 24. The lead ballooned to as many as 26, but the Bengals never went away, cutting it to as few as 14 with six minutes to play before the Builders put the game away.

Adrion Wall continued his stretch of hot play, finishing with a game-high 26 points. Kurij Harrell added 16 off the bench, while Karree Smith had 14. Donovan Means put up 11.

The NSAC champion Builders will take on B&S-Albany Tuesday at 12 p.m. at Virginia State University for a spot in the national championship game.

Story and image courtesy Apprentice Athletics

Apprentice tabbed as USCAA Top Seed

PITTSBURGH – The Apprentice School men’s basketball team, fresh off a New South Athletic Conference Tournament championship, has been named the No. 1 seed in the 2024 USCAA National Championship Tournament.

The Builders will be making their fourth straight appearance in the tournament and their first as the top seed since winning the tournament in the 2002-03 season.

Apprentice will take on eighth-seeded Maine-Fort Kent in the opening round to take place Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m. at Virginia State University. Tickets can be purchased through the tournament website as well as links to live statistics and video, once available, will also be on the site.

Apprentice is 22-5 headed into the tournament. Bryant & Stratton-Buffalo was tagged the No. 2 seed, while Lyon was the third team in. Bryant & Stratton-Albany and Southeastern Illinois will battle in the No. 4 vs. No. 5 game on the opening day of the tournament. Bryant & Stratton-Syracuse was the sixth seed, and Manor grabbed the No. 7 spot.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics

Apprentice Defends NSAC Title, Downing Lighthouse 58-55

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Apprentice School men’s basketball team captured its second straight New South Athletic Conference Tournament Championship after holding off the top-seeded Lighthouse Christian Makos 58-55 Sunday afternoon.

The Builders and Makos traded buckets through the first 10 minutes before Apprentice went on a 10-2 run to stretch a one-point lead into a nine-point lead with just under eight minutes to go in the first half. The Builder lead went to as many as 12 before the Makos started chipping away, trailing by just eight at halftime.

LCC came out in the second half and caused Apprentice to turn the ball over several times, trimming the lead down to as few as two with eight minutes to go after trailing by as many as 14 early in the second half. The Makos could never get over the proverbial hump, however, as the Builders answered each run with a basket to stretch the lead back out.

Lighthouse got the lead down to one point with under 10 seconds to go, but Avin Hawkins hit both ends of a 1-and-1 to seal the win.

Adrion Wall led all scorers with 24 points, including four three pointers. Donovan Means was a rebound short of a double-double with 11 points and nine boards.

The Makos were led by Chayse Culpepper and Daniel Poole with 18 points each, while NSAC Player of the Year Eddie Brown was held to just 11 points on the day, going 5-for-20 from the floor.

With the win, Apprentice improves to 22-5 on the season as they look ahead to the USCAA National Tournament set to begin in one week in Petersburg, Virginia. The Builders have been the No. 1 team in the national coach’s poll since the start of the calendar year.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics