Recruiting Report: Albany 2017 G Sean Sykes (Video)
Albany’s Sean Sykes was a top producer for the Hornets last season as a junior. The 2017 guard averaged right at 16.0 points per game and was a First-Team All-District selection in 7-3A. He helped the Hornets to a 21-12…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingAlbany’s Sean Sykes was a top producer for the Hornets last season as a junior. The 2017 guard averaged right at 16.0 points per game and was a First-Team All-District selection in 7-3A.
He helped the Hornets to a 21-12 record that included a district title and Albany also earned a trip to the second round of the Class 3A playoffs. Sykes wasn’t alone, though, with three key seniors by his side, one of which included older cousin Quincy Sykes, who accepted a scholarship to play at Belhaven University.
All three will be gone in 2016-17, though, and Sykes is the lone returning starter from last season. The 5-foot-10 combo guard will be surrounded by a host of young players in the lineup who will surely need his guidance and Sykes has accepted the role of being a mentor with open arms.
“I know we lost three starters and they were huge and really helped us but it’s not all about just me this year,” Sykes said at Southeastern’s Team Camp on June 3 after leading the Hornets to a win over Bethany.
“It’s about us getting better and helping these freshman develop and get ready so we can be a better team. I try to build up my attitude and keep things (positive). I figure if you build them up, that’s going to make them do better so I try to encourage them instead of tearing them down. I just try to make my game inspire them to play better and harder.”
And even if Sykes hadn’t been making it a point to galvanize his teammates with his play, he likely would have done so anyway with his innate enthusiasm for the game. Sykes is a fiery competitor that has no problem expressing himself on the court but hasn’t been able to spend much time on the hardwood as of late.
During Albany’s trip to New Orleans for the Tulane Team Camp, Sykes injured his ankle in the first game of the day. He was hoping the injury would heal on its own but later found out he had suffered a fracture that required a cast. Sykes doesn’t plan to be out for too long, though, with the cast set to come off July 21 and he’s anxious to get back in the gym.
“I’m not going to lie it’s been killing me. I’ve been wanting to be out there so bad,” Sykes said last week of the time he’s missed this summer. “Just sitting on the bench and watching them at practices and in games, I see them getting better and improving but at the same time, I just wish I was out there getting better with them.”
Sykes is sure to be back on the court soon and will be working to regain his explosive form. The 5-foot-10 guard has a scorers mentality with a knack for finishing around the rim and knocking down shots from behind the arc.
Those are certainly the traits that have garnered interest from the likes of Southeastern, the University of New Orleans, Tulane, the University of Dallas, the University of Mobile, Mississippi State, Louisiana Tech and Louisiana-Lafayette, according to Sykes, who’s still working towards earning his first offer.
You can read more about Sykes here, including what head coach Chris Carter had to say, and here’s a look at what he brought to the court during the 2015-16 season:
https://youtu.be/y2WWMTlqoZE?list=PL7FBv0zQJmuPYbPeOamP6fSOkIxTJlyYq