Wilmington High School graduate Jarron Cumberland had 11 points in his second collegiate game as the No. 24-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats defeated Albany 74-51 Monday night at Fifth Third Arena.
The 6-5 UC freshman was 4 of 6 shooting from the floor, including 2 of 4 beyond the three-point arc. He also had two rebounds, an assist and took a charge in 19 minutes of action.
“He can score,” UC head coach Mick Cronin said of his first-year player. “He is a great off-the-ball defender. He is a very smart kid and he is going to be a great player here. I mean, a great player. It’s just a matter of time.”
Cumberland had three points in the Bearcats’ season opener Friday against Brown, 84-55.
“He is learning as he goes,” Cronin said. “He is very coachable and his attitude is tremendous and his effort is great. He can make shots and he knows how to play and is an unselfish player. He is a really good ball player.”
Cincinnati will face No. 21 Rhode Island 3 p.m. Saturday as part of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
The UC-URI winner will face either Penn State or No. 1 Duke in Sunday’s championship game. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. The title game will be televised on ESPN.
The losing teams from Saturday will play each other on Sunday as well in the consolation game. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The consolation game will be televised on ESPN2.
Cumberland, the all-time leading single game (52), season and career (2,383 points) scorer in WHS boys basketball history, led the Hurricane to a 27-2 record and an appearance in the Div. I state semifinals. He averaged 29.6 points. 7.4 rebounds, 3.6 steals and 3.2 assists while shooting 57.4 percent from the field.
A two-time first team All-Ohio selection, Cumberland was a finalist for the Ohio Mr. Basketball Award and a McDonald’s All-American nominee. He scored a team-high 15 points and was named most valuable player of the 2016 Ohio-Kentucky All-Star game.
