FAMU Sports Information Intern
The Florida A & M University men’s basketball team traveled into rival territory this past Thursday for the last game of the season. After an earlier loss to Bethune-Cookman University at home in the Lawson Center, the resilient young men had a point to prove.
The Rattlers were able to defeat the Wildcats 64- 56 in the hostile environment of historic Moore Gymnasium. This upset over B-CU was not the only victory the Rattlers were able to obtain.
Senior sharp-shooter Justin Ravenel earned a spot on the 2019 First Team All Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) team, announced the following day. In the previous meeting between FAMU and B-CU, Ravenel surpassed FAMU great Terrence Woods as the leading three-point holder for FAMU.
In the pre-season it was predicted that Ravenel would make the MEAC list of stars, but was ranked as a third team selection. After receiving the call from Head Coach Robert McCullum, he realized that he had been placed on the first team.
“I had set a goal to make the All-MEAC team, but I did not set out to make first team. I just tried to perform every night and the rest would take care of itself,” Ravenel said.
McCullum could not be prouder of his senior captain and all of his accomplishments. When he first got the news of Ravenel being chosen for the First Team All MEAC his reaction was “ Just elation. Anytime a player who is such a team player gets an individual award it means even more.”
“To see someone who works as hard as he does on and off the court to become better each and every day at a craft they love makes me happy. Justin deserves this and I’m happy to have been apart of his legacy at FAMU,” said teammate DJ Jones when asked about his sentiment towards the MEAC’s selection of Ravenel.
The hard work, dedication, and love that Justin has for the game of basketball can be seen every time he steps on to the court as well as his humility.
“Justin understands that his teammates aide him in his success by getting the ball to him in a timely manner, and setting up the shots for him to knock down. What impresses me the most is Justin’s unselfishness. He never presses to score, but has his success in the flow of the game,” McCullum said.
“I’m honored to be apart of the selection. I’m just glad to have been recognized and it is a credit to the work that was put in practice every day and the wonderful teammates I played with,” Ravenel concluded.