The Sporting News put out its preseason rankings for National Junior College Athletic Association Division I basketball, and Northwest Florida State College is the top team.
Why is that significant for this area?
A former Sacred Heart big man is on the squad, and his name is Malik Petteway. Petteway got a mention in the Sporting News comment about NWF.
“Other talented returnees include 6-4 guard Teehjay Bogan and 6-7 forward Malik Petteway.”
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| Malik Petteway (Photo courtesy of Northwest Florida State College athletics) |
Petteway, a part of state championship teams at Sacred Heart under head coach Jon Carroll, played in 28 games as a freshman for NWF. In 12.9 minutes per game, Petteway averaged 4.2 points and an impressive 4.9 rebounds.
This season, Petteway is part of yet another talented NWF team. Petteway isn’t the only Connecticut player on the roster.
There’s also Jared Wilson-Frame, the former Windsor High School standout. Wilson-Frame is listed as a star player by the Sporting News.
NWF is looking to return to its lofty perch of 2015, when it claimed a national championship. The Raiders went 27-6, but probably have the bitter taste of a blowout loss in the Elite Eight in their mouths.
Petteway is one player NWF will count on this season.
