Golladay headed to ‘The Mount’

Ron Bailey, Publisher

March 4, 2008 – Wise High School’s (MD) David Golladay will be taking his competitive, athletic and multi-faceted game to the Northeast Conference in 2009, as the 6’2”, 180 pound swingman orally committed to Mount St. Mary’s close to two weeks ago. The fit between Golladay and ‘The Mount’, coached by Milan Brown (), seems a good one.

“I visited a couple of times unofficially” shared Golladay yesterday, of his exposure to the storied Mount St. Mary’s program late last evening. “I really liked the coaches and players, and what they have planned for the future”.

Of Golladay's (right) receipt of a college scholarship, his father James said "I love it" as it represents not only a continuation of his son's dream, but no tuition bill.

Picking ‘The Mount’ over St. Francis (PA), Towson and UMBC – who all tendered scholarship offers - as well as Howard, Navy and others showed serious interest, Golladay expects to “major in business” during his tenure at the Emmitsburg, MD located institution.

As David does with both Wise, where averages of 11 points, four rebounds, one assists, .5 blocks and .5 steals have been achieved this season, and Triple Threat AAU (his travel team home), expect Golladay to bring his trademark competitiveness and athleticism, allowing him to defend multiple backcourt positions, run the floor, finish, slash to the cup effectively and provide leadership. Just ask his Triple Threat coach, Ken Johnson.

“I think he’s going to be the heart and soul of any team he’s on. He’s ours at Triple Threat” opined Johnson, of what Golladay brings to the table. “He is the type of player that leads by example”.

That competitiveness is something David gets honest, maybe through DNA. “I think it runs in my family. We’re all pretty competitive. Aunts, cousins, everybody” joked David. This includes his father, James, who played collegiately at the University of St. Mary’s (Canada) after competing locally at McNamara (MD), mother Sheraetta, and sister Michaylin, a current track athlete at Clemson.

Where does Golladay get his athletic prowess? It is a point of debate. “My wife would probably say her” good naturedly joked James, “but I think it was me. I was the one who played after all”.

Wherever it stems from, expect David to once again display his game for Triple Threat’s 17 and under team, a squad that according to Johnson went 33-2 between July and August last year, winning four of five tournaments in the process. Then, as now, Golladay was a chief ingredient in that success, many times battling players much bigger, and with larger basketball pedigrees then he, to a standstill.

Johnson and Golladay, late last summer.

All involved think the young man has benefited immeasurably from the experience.

“I think it has helped a lot. I think if I didn’t play with them, I wouldn’t have had any of the offers”, noted David of what Triple Threat has done for him, thoughts James mirrored, saying “I think Triple Threat really opened up the opportunity to receive a Division I scholarship for him”.

Johnson, who has worked with David for three years and also is also an assistant coach at Paul VI (VA), took a more coach-esque take: “Triple Threat helped him with the level of guard play in the program, the style of play – which is four guards on the floor, balance, and guards being guards – and the practices, which are legendary; being matched up with Jason Clark (Georgetown commit), Mo Creek (high major prospect) and Kevon Moore (solid mid major prospect), will advance your game very quickly”.

In terms of improving his skill set, which David readily admits includes increasing his ball handling capacity and the consistency of his outside shot, the Upper Marlboro, MD resident shared “I’m trying to work this summer on both of them”. This will include not only Triple Threat’s practices, which also offer skill development, but individual sessions as well.

In doing so, Golladay will further cement his reputation as a player that backs down from no one, a guy you want on your side in battle, a teammate that makes it happen in whatever fashion necessary.

That’s something Mountaineer fans young and old can rejoice. Congrats go out to not only David, but his family and Triple Threat as well. Based upon all of their efforts, it got done.