18 SPORTS GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM Cam Reddish is proving naysayers wrong THREE BIG THINGS February was the best month of his season — What’s next? UNIVERSITY Reddish took the game’s most important shot. points, 3.4 rebounds and two three-pointers made. ANDREW FREEDMAN With 9.7 seconds lef, and the Hawks trailing Tose do not remind people of the 5.2 points he Te Elian Merejo Sports Editor 99-96, Vince Carter beat his man to the basket. As averaged during the second month in the league. show a result, the defensive help switched of Reddish Reddish talked about his improvement following Yet, again, it is Eilian (in the corner) to double-team the future Hall of Atlanta’s 111-107 win over the Mavericks at State Marejo’s world and he revival of the Atlanta Hawks as of late Famer. Carter saw this and found Reddish in the Farm Arena on Feb. 22. everyone else lives in it. is no fuke, but rather a step in the right corner, but the shot was far to the lef. “Just staying consistent in my work, as well as my Following a week where the direction. Sitting near the bottom of the Te Lakers went on to win that game, but faith. Just staying grounded, just staying humble,” Panthers went 2-1, Marejo Tstandings for much of the season, the team has Atlanta’s head coach Lloyd Pierce praised his young Reddish said. “And, obviously, just becoming more had a feld day. He is batting learned to deal with adversity. Everything from player for stepping up and having the courage to comfortable as the season goes on. So, it all kind of .440 this year, which leads losing close games to injuries has led to a season full take the shot. comes together afer that.” the Sun Belt Conference of patience. “It’s kind of like a rite of passage,” Pierce said He scored 20 points and was one of three through 13 games. But the While a many things are still not clicking for following the loss on Dec. 15. “It’s one of those Hawks players to record 39 or more minutes that week was incredible for the them, many bright spots have highlighted the things where you come into the NBA, and you’re night. senior catcher. Marejo hit season. Second-year player Trae Young is an looking to make these plays and the burden of not In a recent game against the Brooklyn Nets home runs against both All-Star guard and is one of the best scorers and making it is what propels you to get in the gym and on Feb. 28, Reddish had the best scoring game Eastern Tennessee State passers in the league. Tird-year forward John look for that moment and do it with that intensity of his career. He scored a season-high 26 and North Alabama. Aside Collins continues to expand his game and added a and that type of pressure every day.” points, drilling six threes and finding his spots from the home runs, he three-point shot to his arsenal since coming into the Cam Reddish fnished that game with 10 points on the court all night long. was efcient at the plate. league three years ago. on 3-10 shooting and missing all but one of his six Earlier this season when the Hawks played in He went 6-13 (.462) in the But one player continues to provide light at the three-point attempts, including that potential game- Brooklyn, Reddish scored 25 points and had six Panthers three games last end of the tunnel. Te Atlanta Hawks may have tying one. rebounds. Maybe he loves playing them. Maybe week. found someone special in Cam Reddish. His growth has been instrumental to the Hawks he loves playing the game in general. Reddish began his journey at Duke University since that game. In February, he scored in double Whatever it is, Reddish is improving fast. STATE when he was part of the Brotherhood for a fgures in each of the seven of the team’s eight With his tough work ethic and drive for season with New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion games. Tis does not include the Hawks’ Feb. 1 success, the Hawks are looking at a player Atlanta United Williamson (the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 matchup in Dallas against the Mavericks when he who could help them get closer to that ever so victorious NBA Draf) and New York Knicks’ guard RJ Barrett lef just seven minutes in due to a concussion. elusive NBA Championship the city of Atlanta Atlanta United opened (the No. 2 overall pick). In his lone season In his last fve games, Reddish has averaged 15.6 has not seen since 1958. up their frst game at home with the Blue Devils, Reddish gained valuable Saturday, March 9th vs experience from one of the greatest coaches in F.C. Cincinnati. Just one the history of sports, Duke head coach Mike week afer losing star Krzyzewski. striker, Josef Martinez, they Reddish’s college career was one of patience. picked up a 2-1 victory. Despite being on such an iconic team — With goals from the Williamson and Barrett are both beloved fgures rising star Ezequiel Barco by the Duke basketball team’s die-hard fans, and Emerson Hyndman, the Cameron Crazies — Reddish received the United enter frst place in unwanted attention. the Eastern Conference. Te former No. 10 overall pick in the 2019 Barco and Hyndman both NBA Draf, Reddish began his rookie campaign found the net against with much scrutiny and criticism. It was Nashville the week prior, deserved: He averaged 7.9 points per game in establishing themselves as November, the frst full month of his rookie serious goal threats going season. In February, he averaged 13.4 points per forward. Atlanta travels game on 44.1% shooting, including 35% from to Mexico City to face of three on 4.8 attempts per game. against Club América in the Te improvement of his game could not be CONCACAF Champions an accident. Instead, the hard work Reddish League quarter-fnals on puts in and growing confdence from his Wednesday, March 11th. teammates and coaches are on full display each night. NATIONAL Ofen, the media uses the term “casual fan.” Casual fans may not notice these improvements Te coronavirus of Reddish, but frequent watchers of Hawks impacts sports games do. From the NBA to college Almost nightly, Reddish can swipe the ball sports, the coronavirus has away from defenders or intercept passes in made its way into sports-- the air. If he has a path to the hoop, his ability and for the wrong reasons. to drive to the basket allows for easy and Te NBA released a memo impressive dunks. If a teammate runs with him, that advised all 30 teams Reddish will make the best play. to take precautions and Beginning in January, the team ran plays prepare to play games specifcally designed for Reddish pretty without fans in attendance regularly. However, he had his number called and identifying “essential in the biggest game of his young career. In a staf” present for these December home game against LeBron James, games. Future NBA Hall of Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers, Famer LeBron James spoke out over the weekend afer a game and made it clear that he had no intention to “Just staying consistent do this saying, Tat’s who I play for. I play for my in my work, as well as teammates, I play for the my faith. Just staying fans that’s what it’s all about. If I show up to an arena and grounded, just staying there ain’t no fans in there, I humble.” ain’t playing.” — CAM REDDISH Atlanta Hawks guard Cam Reddish reviews gameplay before the Hawks PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL matchup against the Phoenix Suns..