Hield putting Bahamas on map

NORMAN, Okla. — Buddy Hield’s rise from a raw talent in the Bahamas one of the top scorers in college basketball has lifted everyone he has touched on his journey.

He has lifted Oklahoma. His 46-point scoring binge at Kansas made him the talk of college basketball, then he led the Sooners to their first No. 1 ranking since 1990.

He helped his prep school, Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kan., emerge on a national scale. And as he has lifted his draft potential, he has become a role model back home for those who aspire to play at a higher level. Hield likely will become the third Bahamas-born player drafted to the NBA, following Mychal Thompson in 1978 and Magnum Rolle in 2010.

Sunrise increased its recruiting in the Bahamas after Hield’s success as one of the first players from the archipelago to attend the school. Now, the school has six alumni from the country playing Division I basketball: Hield, Lourawls Nairn Jr. at Michigan State, Leon Cooper at Utah State, Nathan Bain at Stephen F. Austin, Andre Sands at Sam Houston State and Travis Munnings at Louisiana-Monroe.

In 2009-10, there were six players from the Bahamas playing Division I basketball. This season, there are 13.

“Coaches now are paying attention a little bit more,” said Darrell Sears, who runs the event in the Bahamas where Hield was discovered.

“It’s kind of funny. I used to tell guys about Buddy, and people didn’t want to listen,” Sears said. “Now, everybody’s asking me, ‘ Do you got any Buddy Hields over there?’ ”

Hield, who ranks second nationally with 26.1 points per game, said being a role model is most important.

“That’s why I know I’ve got to be focused and locked in every time,” he said. “I know a lot of people are watching me, especially the kids back home.”

Another triple-double:

Senior Kyle Collinsworth had 10 points, 13 rebounds and 15 assists in BYU’s win over Loyola Marymount on Thursday. It was his fourth triple-double this season and 10th of his career.