WSSU's Jay Maynard Selected To Virgin Islands' National Team

Winston-Salem, NC - Winston-Salem State University basketball player Jay Maynard (Jacksonville, NC) has been named to the Virgin Islands' national basketball team.

Maynard, a 6'1", 185 lb. shooting guard for the Rams led the team in scoring this season, averaging 13.0 points per game, while pulling down over three rebounds per game. He also shot nearly 40% from behind the three-point arch as he drilled a team-high 124 three-point field goals during the 2002-03 season.

In addition to being one of the Rams' leading performers on the court, he was also a standout performer in the classroom this past year, as he will graduate at the end of June 2003 with a degree in psychology, finishing his studies in four-years after coming to WSSU as a partial-qualifier out of High School. Although a senior in the classroom, Maynard is a junior on the court, and will return to WSSU for the 2003-04 academic year as he will pursue a second degree in Sport Management. He will return to the court for the Rams during the 2003-04 season but will be deeply entrenched in an internship in the WSSU Office of Sports Information, as while carrying a full course load of academic work.

Maynard will finish the requirements on his first degree in mid-June, just before he is scheduled to play with the Virgin Islands' National Basketball Team to compete in a qualifying tournament August 2nd-14th, 2003. With a good team showing in the Qualifiers, he and he national team will compete in the Pan-Am Games August 20th-31st, 2003 which will feature the U.S. National Team, and an assortment of the best teams from throughout entire world.

Although the humble Maynard downplays the achievement, WSSU men's head basketball coach Philip Stitt had the following comment: "We are extremely proud that Jay has been selected to represent Winston-Salem State University as he competes internationally. I feel that the Virgin Islands are getting not only a quality basketball player, but a quality individual. We here at WSSU are behind him and support him 100% and look for Jay to turn in a solid performance while wearing the colors of the Virgin Islands."