After winning this years Arizona Community College Athletic Conference's (ACCAC) 2012 Player of the Year award, superstar 6-foot-5, 225-pound sophomore forward Michael Craig (Texas-Southern commit) would blow up in a big 92-82 win over Phoenix College in the championship game of this year's ACCAC Division-II Championship game.
In the big victory, on the home floor of South Mountain and in front of a large crowd, Craig absolutely went off. Craig would ignite the South Mountain crowd with a game-high 40 points, 12 rebounds and 10 big assists - a rare triple-double in junior college basketball
Craig would knock down shot after shot in front of some angry Phoenix College fans. Even while being contested fr0om long range distances on the floor, Craig would find some way to create scoring opportunities for himself. A big time-performance for the young man who has had his best season in his young career.
Craig chose to attend Texas-Southern University during the fall semester of this season - after taking an official visit to the school . Craig was recruited by assistant coach Marc Hsu to the mid-major program. Hsu wanted Craig when no other schools were showing interest in the talented prospect. This season, Craig lived up to the billing and reached his potential as a player - actually becoming a star by season's end.
In the Conference semi-finals, a 91-81 victory by South Mountain over Chandler-Gilbert JC, Craig poured in 40+ points as well.
After such a troubled past and not living up to the hype surrounding him, Craig has more than made up for it with such a strong 2011-2012 basketball season. I am very proud of him and his accomplishments.
South is the District-I Champion and advances to the National Tournament at Danville Area CC in Danville, IL March 20-24th.
