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UNO men’s basketball program made as optimistic of an announcement as it could have made on Wednesday in the face of being tied to an NCAA sports betting investigation involving four players.
UNO acknowledged four players — James White, Jah Short, Dae Dae Hunter and Jamond Vincent — were suspended because of an ongoing gambling investigation.
UNO looked to put a positive light on the situation with a news conference at Lakefront Arena announcing New Orleans native Percy “Master P” Miller as president of basketball operations. Miller is most known as a rap artist, Master P, but has deep ties to basketball having played and coached.
Miller was referred to as “Coach P” at Wednesday’s news conference and laid out a plan for UNO’s return to being a successful mid-major program, which included getting area businesses on board to help in the ongoing name, image and likeness battle.
“I feel like we have to get out of the traditional culture,” Miller said. “We know that NIL has changed the game, and we’re prepared to work under those guidelines to make sure our student-athletes here get what they need and get what they deserve.
“We’re going to get the community involved. I’ve got a bunch of people that are business people in this community that want this team to win. Our kids should be driving nice cars, especially with all the business people that we have. I’m going to be challenging them to work with us.”
UNO men’s basketball team is 4-25 overall and 2-16 in the Southland Conference in Stacy Hollowell’s first season. The Privateers have two games remaining.
Building a roster has proved challenging for Hollowell after taking over the program with the transfer portal window closed and having four players, including its leading scorer, suspended earlier this season.
The hiring of Miller will be a boost in the offseason, he said.
“(Miller) has deep roots to basketball,” Hollowell said. “He’s well connected in the basketball circle, and that will benefit us as well. We’ve been talking about this for some months now. We’re excited to work together.”
“We’ll be able to overcome this,” Miller said. “I feel like with me being here, being able to communicate with Under Armour, talk to (NBA star Stephen) Curry, showing him where we’re at. We’ll be able to put the pieces to the puzzle to create a winning atmosphere. It’s well overdue.”
Miller played basketball at the University of Houston before making the Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors training camp rosters. He coached an AAU team that featured NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan. Miller also had three sons, Romeo, Hercy and Mercy, each play Division I basketball.
“This is bigger than basketball,” Miller said. “This is my heart, this is what I love doing, and I love now that people call me Coach P. This is my greatest accomplishment to be a servant, and I want to be able to serve my city.”
UNO has gotten an extended look at freshmen MJ Thomas, Kohen Rowbatham and Leland Coleman as Hollowell looks toward the future.
“I think Coach P said it well,” Hollowell said. “We’re looking for guys who are hungry, want to get out there, defend and put in the hard work to be great.”
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