Joey Haywood brings big talent, great attitude to Saint Mary’s


The Saint Mary’s Huskies are hoping newcomer Joey Haywood can help fill the void left by the loss of four starters from last year’s AUS championship team.

In the final minutes of a Huskies practice Joey Haywood is moving faster than everyone else on the floor, picking up his man full-court and then sprinting ahead of the pack for a fast-break layup.

Coach Ross Quackenbush says the Saint Mary’s guard is "like the Energizer Bunny," which would be a fine nickname for him if Haywood didn’t already have a better one: King Handles.

The Vancouver native made a name for himself on the streetball circuit, first with Canadian crew The Notic and then on the And1 Mixtape Tour. He’s a popular search on Youtube and has played in front of adoring mobs in Japan.

"The fans were just crazy there," Haywood says of his Japan tour in 2005. "People were screaming my name. It was nuts."

But the 24-year-old found himself at a crossroads this year and decided it was time to pursue an education.

"This year I had to make a long-term decision," says Haywood, who spent much of his childhood in Trinidad. "And1’s not going to be there for me when I’m 30 years old. I think this was the best scenario for me."

He ended up at Saint Mary’s almost by coincidence after coming to town in May for the annual Provincial Black Basketball Association tournament. Huskies assistant Jonah Taussig noticed him working out in the gym and pointed him out to Saint Mary’s coach Ross Quackenbush.

A few conversations later, along with some input from Howard Kelsey — an influential figure in the B.C. basketball scene and a friend and former national teammate of Quackenbush’s — and Haywood was sold on Halifax.

He’s been thrown right into a big role with the revamped Huskies, who have lost four key members of last year’s AUS champion squad. Haywood played all 60 minutes of a wild 129-124 quadruple-overtime loss to Windsor in the pre-season, logging a triple-double with 46 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.

That kind of performance shows just how much Haywood brings to the court, says teammate Mark McLaughlin.

"He can really do it all," says McLaughlin, a league all-star last season. "He’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever seen, and he’s got a great attitude and he works really hard. He’s going to be a huge help."

The Huskies will count on Haywood right away as they forge a new identity after losing much of last year’s core. Point guard Mark Ross has graduated and key players Shane Morrison, Aaron Duncan and Derrick Coleman have moved on because of academic issues or life circumstances.

Along with Haywood and returnees McLaughlin and forward Ikeobi Uchegbu, Saint Mary’s will count on second- and third-year players like Mike Poole, Jack Gallinaugh and Luke Reynolds to take on bigger roles this season.

"We’re young, but I would say we have as much talent as anyone," says McLaughlin. "Everybody has a really good attitude, everybody’s really willing to learn. I think we’re going to come a long way from where we are now, and it’s not like we’re starting at the bottom of the barrel. I see a lot of good things for the team."

The Huskies tip off the AUS season tonight against the St. Francis Xavier X-Men.

Wow, awesome to see him getting big numbers in a legit ball setting. Thanks for the article.

nice mayn! Hope to see sum footy...

that's sick

all of a 60 minute game ..46, 11, 10

sick

WHAT'S UP EVERYBODY.JOEY IS AN INCREDIBLE BALLER,AND HE'S A MUCH BETTER PERSON THAN HE IS A BALLER.WORLD CLASS,BALLER AND PERSON.NOTHING ELSE NEED BE SAID .GOD BLESS YOU JOEY,YOUR BROTHER IN CHRIST,THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH,AND 1 FOR LIFE.........

much love to my big bro joey
AYEEE black man doin it
ahahah aka the jokerrr
van city king
im happy for u man finally get the respect u deserve
GOd bless and see u
christmas break 1

yeah another streetballer made it to college.
did they give him a scholarship?
he has alot of skill and great size for a 1/2.
he will do good.

yea full ride !!!
madd props blackman lol hahah

Yeah nice to see hin...
I hope to see him in Olympic games,Ncaa and NBA! hahha...