Miller, Cleare, Headline Battle 4 Atlantis 2015 Field

by RENALDO DORSETT
For the second consecutive year, the Bahamian public will have an opportunity to watch local players in action at the Battle 4 Atlantis when the 2015 edition of the tournament tips off next Thanksgiving.
Another strong field for the tournament, which continues to grow in prestige each year, will include the Syracuse University Orangemen, the Michigan Wolverines, The University of Texas Longhorns, The Gonzaga University Bulldogs, The Univerisy of Washington Huskies, The Texas A&M Aggies, University of Charlotte 49ers and the University of Connecticut Huskies, who are making their second appearance at the tournament.
A strong Bahamian prescence will again be on display at next year’s event with the Aggies Tavario Miller and the Longhorns’ Shaquille Cleare.
After a pair of disappointing seasons, the 6’9″ 270 pound Cleare transferred from the Maryland Terrapins in the Atlantic Coast Conference to join the Longhorns in the Big 12.
Cleare joined the Terrapins’ programme as a highly touted recruit out of the Village School in Houston, Texas, where he averaged 26.5 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks per game.
Shaquille Cleare in action at Maryland
Shaquille Cleare in action at Maryland
He was listed as the No.30 overall prospect by ESPN and No.53 by Rivals.com for the Class of 2012.
Following his stellar high school career, Cleare appeared in 37 of 38 games for the Terps, including eight starts. He averaged 3.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 12 minutes per game as the team finished 25-13, 8-10 in the ACC.
The Androsian native is the son of Brian and and Agatha Cleare.
Miller, a 6’7″ sophomore forward is currently averaging 4.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.
In his season debut just 18 minutes, Miller set a new career-high with 15 points on 6-6 shooting from the field and also added six rebounds.
 It was the first time he reached double-figures in his career, surpassing his previous high of nine points against LSU last season.

Miller began his sophomore campaign with a career high
Miller began his sophomore campaign with a career high scoring performance
In his freshman season he averaged 1.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in just under 10 minutes per game.
Originally from North Long Island, Miller is the son on Miss Patrica Bain and Gregory Miller and grandson of Mrs Rossie Knowles.
The 2015 field will offer an opportunity to renew some of the most noteable conference rivalries that have been sidetracked by conference re alignment.
Syracuse and UConn had one of the most heated rivalries in the Big East before the Huskies moved to the American Athletic Conference.
Texas and Texas Aand M, are another pair of former rivals (Big 12) that have not met on the hardwood since the Aggies left the Big 12 for the SEC.
Gonzaga and Washington had a popular rivalry in the 1980s and 1990s but recently, have not played since 2006.
They planned to renew the rivalry with a home and away series in 2016, but the Battle 4 Atlantis will provide a preview a year early.
Michigan could possibly play Syracuse for the second straight season if the two were to meet at the B4A after they face each other next week in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
Charlotte has had recent success in nonconference tournaments, winning the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in 2013 and reaching the Charleston Classic final last week.
Conference USA is the host league of the event and must have a representative in the field each year.

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