Three L.C. Bird boys’ basketball players, along with coach Troy Manns and his staff, celebrated three new scholarship offers this past week
Center Keyontae Lewis and forward Arbriel Winfield were given offers by Division I Bryant University, while guard Promyse Ferguson was extended a scholarship by Bluefield State.
Lewis, a 6-8 junior, represents what could be the Skyhawks’ best true big man in some time. At 250 pounds, he provides both a big body and strength, along with athleticism. His game is quickly growing into his giant frame.
Here’s an excerpt from a scouting report on Phenom Hoop Report (www.phenomhoopreport.com):
“He has very good offensive skills both facing the rim and with his back to the basket. When he posts you, there’s no bumping him off his spot. You’re at his mercy and he’s pretty much automatic when he catches the ball inside. He sheds bodies on his powerful and quick drop step move, and he has a feathery touch around the rim. Very good facing the rim as well. Keyontae can hit the jumper out to the 3 point arc at a respectable rate, he’s very good inside fifteen feet, and he can get his shot off the bounce simply out-muscling defenders or showing some creativity, including a pretty quick and effective spin move.”
Lewis picking up a Division I offer at this stage in the game all but assures more are to follow.
Of a similar height at 6-7, Wingfield and Lewis could be teammates at Bryant, as they both received offers. Wingfield’s name partially describes more of the rising junior’s position: a wing. Of course, over the coming years Wingfield could grow, but right now, he can provide L.C. Bird with a little bit of everything- length, scoring and defense.
Bryant University posted a respectable 15 wins and play in the Northeastern Conference, squaring off against such teams as Sacred Heart and Central Connecticut State and St. Francis in league play. Their mascot is the Bulldogs.
Ferguson, a rising senior, picked up the Bluefield State offer. The guard’s shooting ability was on display all season long for the Skyhawks, including a 24-point outburst in a victory over Monacan, a game in which he hit eight three-pointers.
Another snippet from a scouting report from Phenom Hoop Report:
“Promyse is considered by many to be among the best shooters in Virginia! If you poll coaches who coach him and compete against him regularly, many would contend no one is a more feared shot-maker than the long, court-savvy L.C. Bird junior.”
These three athletes helped lead L.C. Bird to a 17-win record, and they are a significant part of what was one of the youngest teams that Manns has had in his tenure at the school. After winning a game in the postseason and falling to Varina, the team loses just one senior, Tyler Henderson, and it will be fully reloaded this coming winter.
