Brite starts out right for Trojans
Published 7:45 pm Saturday, November 29, 2014
It is hard to argue with the results that former Nansemond River High School point guard Dontrell Brite has been helping his team achieve at the University of Mount Olive to start the 2014-15 season.
The Trojans won games in the 49th Annual University of Mount Olive Pickle Classic on Nov. 21 and 22 and most recently defeated Limestone College 79-59 on Tuesday to begin the year with a 6-0 overall record.
![Dontrell Brite has begun well in his junior season with the University of Mount Olive Trojans, earning accolades while helping his team earn an historic 6-0 start. (Photo submitted by David Shulimson/University of Mount Olive Athletics)](https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2014/11/IMG_0095.jpg)
Dontrell Brite has begun well in his junior season with the University of Mount Olive Trojans, earning accolades while helping his team earn an historic 6-0 start. (Photo submitted by David Shulimson/University of Mount Olive Athletics)
“It’s the best in school history,” Brite said of the start.
And he has experienced a fair amount of recognition for his role in that start.
In addition to being selected as the Most Valuable Player of the Pickle Classic, he was named this past week’s Conference Carolinas Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for helping lead the Trojans to a perfect 3-0 record during the week prior.
“That was big for me,” Brite said, noting it served as a confidence booster.
It is the first time he has ever won the conference Player of the Week honor.
During the week of Nov. 16, he averaged 16 points and 7 assists. The Trojans opened the week on Nov. 19 at Pfeiffer University, and he produced 17 points and eight assists in his team’s 96-58 conference win.
In Mount Olive’s first game of the Pickle Classic on Nov. 21, he led his team with 19 points and hit five of six free throws in the final minute to put away late-rallying Virginia State University, 74-69.
“I’m always ready for those types of situations,” he said of the pressure-packed final minute.
He contributed 12 points and seven assists against Bluefield State College on Nov. 22. He broke open the close game with a three-pointer from just inside half court at the end of the first half.
It spurred on a flurry of Trojan three-pointers as they hit nine of their 11 baskets from behind the arc in the second half, defeating Bluefield State 87-60.
Recalling his big three-pointer, Brite said it bounced up off the rim and he thought it hit the top of the backboard and would not count even if it went in. He turned around, headed for the locker room, “and then I just heard everybody going crazy.”
Brite said he is aiming to be more of a facilitator this year, putting less emphasis on scoring.
“One of my main goals was actually to get 10 assists, and I can never get it,” he said.
He currently is averaging seven assists per game.
Mount Olive (6-0, 2-0) will host an important matchup against Georgia Regents University Augusta this afternoon.
“That will really show us where we stand as far as regional play,” Brite said.