From UM Media Relations:
Ole Miss Adds JUCO Standout Finley
Earned Big West Sixth Man of the Year Honors as a Freshman
OXFORD, Miss. - Former Big West Conference Sixth Man of the Year Sam Finley has signed a national letter of intent Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy announced Wednesday. Finely will join the Rebels for the 2015-16 season.
Finley averaged 12.5 ppg as a freshman at UC Riverside and led the team in scoring during Big West play at 15.2 ppg en route to league Sixth Man of the Year honors. He finished second on the team in scoring, second in made 3-pointers (27) and third in free throw percentage (.788) as a freshman. Finley scored in double figures 17 times, including a career-best 27 points versus Cal State Northridge.
"We are very excited to announce the signing of Sam to our program," Kennedy said. "Sam is a combo guard who, like Stefan Moody last year, not only excelled at the junior college level earning all-conference honors, but he also has Division I experience after earning Big West Sixth Man of the Year honors as a freshman at Riverside. We believe Sam can be equally as effective on or off the ball with his explosive play-making abilities. With the loss of three quality back-court players from last season's NCAA Tournament team, Sam will definitely have the opportunity to make an immediate impact next season."
After transferring to Howard (Tex.) College for his sophomore season, the 6-2 guard averaged 17.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists a game to help lead the Hawks to a 24-8 record, a share of the WJCAC regular-season championship and the finals of the NJCAA Region V Tournament. Finley earned first team all-conference and all-region honors after shooting 43.7 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from behind the arc and 70.2 percent from the line for coach Scott Raines.
A team captain at Centennial High School in Riverside, California for coach Josh Giles, Finley averaged a team-best 21.4 ppg for the Huskies as a senior and helped lead the team to a 23-6 record and the Big VIII league playoffs. He chose the Rebels over interest from Long Beach State, TCU, Texas Tech and USC.
Ole Miss Adds JUCO Standout Finley
Earned Big West Sixth Man of the Year Honors as a Freshman
OXFORD, Miss. - Former Big West Conference Sixth Man of the Year Sam Finley has signed a national letter of intent Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy announced Wednesday. Finely will join the Rebels for the 2015-16 season.
Finley averaged 12.5 ppg as a freshman at UC Riverside and led the team in scoring during Big West play at 15.2 ppg en route to league Sixth Man of the Year honors. He finished second on the team in scoring, second in made 3-pointers (27) and third in free throw percentage (.788) as a freshman. Finley scored in double figures 17 times, including a career-best 27 points versus Cal State Northridge.
"We are very excited to announce the signing of Sam to our program," Kennedy said. "Sam is a combo guard who, like Stefan Moody last year, not only excelled at the junior college level earning all-conference honors, but he also has Division I experience after earning Big West Sixth Man of the Year honors as a freshman at Riverside. We believe Sam can be equally as effective on or off the ball with his explosive play-making abilities. With the loss of three quality back-court players from last season's NCAA Tournament team, Sam will definitely have the opportunity to make an immediate impact next season."
After transferring to Howard (Tex.) College for his sophomore season, the 6-2 guard averaged 17.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists a game to help lead the Hawks to a 24-8 record, a share of the WJCAC regular-season championship and the finals of the NJCAA Region V Tournament. Finley earned first team all-conference and all-region honors after shooting 43.7 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from behind the arc and 70.2 percent from the line for coach Scott Raines.
A team captain at Centennial High School in Riverside, California for coach Josh Giles, Finley averaged a team-best 21.4 ppg for the Huskies as a senior and helped lead the team to a 23-6 record and the Big VIII league playoffs. He chose the Rebels over interest from Long Beach State, TCU, Texas Tech and USC.
