Navy gets a point guard

Here's an article on a 2005 committment to Navy. More news on committments is on the message board.

The Miami Herald
September 23, 2004 Thursday

Cypress Bay's Avant makes oral commitment to Navy;

BY FABIAN LYON
flyon@herald.com

The Navy men's basketball team is looking for a point guard who knows how to win, and Cypress Bay senior Cecil Avant should fit the bill.

Lightning boys' basketball coach Jason Looky announced Wednesday that Avant -- one of Florida's top returning point guards, has made an oral commitment to play for the Midshipmen.

Avant, whose verbal commitment is non-binding until he signs a letter-of-intent, chose Navy over Appalachian State, Wofford, Florida Gulfcoast and Florida Southern.

''This is huge for our program because Cecil would be the first Lightning player to sign a Division I college basketball scholarship,'' Looky said. ''He is going to one the best academic institutions and will take with him a lot of the energy and leadership skills he has shown with us. We're real proud of him.''

In Avant, the Midshipmen would get a true floor leader that plays bigger than 5-7. Last season, Avant averaged 11 points, 6.8 assists, 5.7 steals to earn honorable mention on the Herald's All-Broward team.

Success has followed Avant throughout his prep career.

After starting his career at Westminster Academy, he transferred to Cypress Bay, where he has helped the Lightning improve from a 7-12 record in its inaugural season to 20-7.

Avant and Eni Cuka -- an All-Broward shooting guard -- enter the 2004-05 season as one of Broward's top backcourts. Cuka, who is mulling offers from a number of colleges, is scheduled to visit Niagara today.  @ 3:18 PM