Kansas forward David McCormack is enjoying a strong showing during his overseas exhibition tour with Global Sports Academy in Belgium.
In five games this week — all victories — McCormack has posted averages of 11 points and 9 rebounds per game, three times reaching double figures in scoring and recording a double-double of 10 points and 15 rebounds in the team’s 92-60 debut victory over the Antwerp Giants last Sunday.
McCormack, the 6-foot-10, 265-pound freshman from Oak Hill Academy, followed up his overseas debut with a 12-point, 8-rebound effort in a 13-point Game 2 victory over Team Solingen and combined for 18 points and 13 rebounds in Games 3 and 4, a 91-84 victory over Team Sijsele on Monday and a 91-81 victory over Team Almere on Tuesday.
In the team’s latest victory, a 114-71 win on Wednesday, McCormack was one of nine players to reach double figures.
Global Sports Academy coach Kerry Keating, formerly the head coach at Santa Clara and the son of current KU administrator Larry Keating has provided some feedback and a few updates on Twitter following each game.
“Lot of fun with this crew this week, and also found out some of the offensive sets work,” Keating wrote with enthusiasm on social media. “Guys have been very coachable and made the (after timeout situations) fun to give them something simple and challenge their execution. They have been very good in that and bodes well for their teams when they return to school next week.”
McCormack and Global Sports Academy will look to improve to 6-0 today, with an exhibition finale in Bruges, and will return to the United States later this week. He is expected to report to KU’s campus on time for the start of the fall semester and preseason workouts next week.
McCormack is one of two current Jayhawks who spent time overseas this summer, joining Charlie Moore, who two weeks ago played four games in Italy under Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown with the USA East Coast squad.
Moore’s team finished 4-0 and the KU guard played roughly 15 minutes per game while coming off the bench as the team’s secondary point guard. Moore was among the team’s assist leaders.
Global Sports Academy was founded in 1991, with its goal being to create and arrange athletic competition between equally matched teams at all levels internationally.
Promoting goodwill and a better understanding between nations through sports is the organization’s main point of emphasis.
Here’s a quick look at Keating’s thoughts from what clearly has been a good experience for the KU freshman thus far.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmYG4s1Dxja/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=tg9yluq4z8gn
Great effort from the jump today! Long flight and a short prep but guys were locked in and encouraging each other. Executed ATO well and committed to effort on D! They’ll all get better… https://t.co/ap4BKcbA8v
— Kerry Keating (@kerrykeating3) August 12, 2018
Here’s a video of McCormack (No. 33 in white) in live game action.
#GSA Keating 1st D Set turns into a shot clock TO. ???? to the Coaches back home. “What are you doing when no one is watching.” @KUHoops @RiderMBB @NovaMBB @WCU_Coach_Blair @BelmontMBB @SMUBasketball pic.twitter.com/gmY6ZwWyj9
— GlobalSportsAcademy (@GlobalSports_US) August 12, 2018
#gsakeating team wins 84-71. Down most of the game good D 4 th quarter leads to easy buckets . Balance scoring the key. @KUHoops @SMUBasketball @WCU_Coach_Blair @RiderMBB @NovaMBB pic.twitter.com/kgbdRtwEED
— GlobalSportsAcademy (@GlobalSports_US) August 12, 2018
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmaiJKiDHbD/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=1hn6r2dhr7o3q
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmbugBkDatG/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=jhftez3x037j
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