Three Storm Players Sign to Play for the University of Northwestern Ohio

Sadeeq Bello, Daniel Page and Corbin Pierce to Remain Teammates

A trio of Davidson-Davie Community College basketball players will remain teammates next season as members of the University of Northwestern Ohio basketball squad. Sadeeq Bello, Daniel Page and Corbin Pierce signed Letters of Intent to play for the UNOH Racers during a ceremony Friday afternoon in Brinkley Gym.

“I expect Sadeeq, Daniel and Corbin to do great things at the University of Northwestern Ohio,” Storm Head Coach Matt Ridge says of the three players who helped lead Davidson-Davie to a trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III tournament during the 2015-2016 season.

Bello, the Storm’s starting point guard, was named to the All-Region X Team during his sophomore season in which he averaged 13.1 points per game. His 7 assists per game ranked sixth best in the nation for Division III players. He finished the season with 246 assists and only 84 turnovers.

“Without question, Sadeeq was the engine that made us go this past season, “Ridge says. “His speed makes him a difficult match-up for opponents to defend.”

Bello, a Greensboro resident, graduated from Westchester Country Day School. He was named to the All-Academic Team for Region X and received his associate in arts degree from Davidson-Davie this spring.

“I’ve been blessed playing under great coaches and with really good players at Davidson-Davie. We accomplished a lot this year,” Bello says. “I just want to thank God, my family and Coach Adams for the opportunity to further my basketball career for these next two years.”

Page, a sophomore center, was one of three Storm captains during the past season and averaged 3.2 rebounds per game. The Sneads Ferry resident and graduate of Dixon High School in Holly Ridge was also named to the All-Academic Team. He is a 2016 spring graduate, receiving the associate in arts degree.

“Daniel has been an incredible teammate for the past two years and is a great example of what we expect out of our student athletes,” Ridge says.

“It’s been a great experience,” says Page. “Coach Ridge really pushed us hard and it actually paid off because we made it to nationals this year.”

Pierce, the starting power forward for the past two seasons, averaged 14.1 points and 5.2 rebounds as a sophomore. The Reagan High School graduate also earned All-Academic team honors and was named First Team All-Region.

“Corbin’s ability to make threes at 6 feet, 6 inches really helped us stretch the floor,” Ridge says. “He made 44 three pointers for us this season while shooting 37 percent from the three-point line. He also caught numerous alley-oop dunks for us in almost every game.

“I have enjoyed my time here at Davidson, and I’m eager to continue my college career at the next level,” says Pierce, who will major in business administration at UNOH.

University of Northwestern Ohio head coach and athletic director Chris Adams attended the signing event. UNOH, located in Lima, Ohio, competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics as members of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.

“They’re not only good players, they are the kind of people we like to have in our program,” says Adams. “We’re elated to have three Davidson-Davie Community College players on our team. I’ve been a big fan of Coach Ridge ever since deciding to recruit in North Carolina. He’s one of the premier junior college coaches in the state.”

Five Davidson-Davie basketball players from the 2015-2016 Region X and District H championship teams have now signed to play for four-year colleges next year. Tre Williams will suit up for Claflin University while Isiah Gill will play for Bluefield College.

Photo: (Top left) Matt Ridge, Davidson-Davie head coach, and Chris Adams, UNOH head coach and athletic director, (bottom and top, left to right) Sadeeq Bello with his mother, Bummy Bello; Daniel Page with his mother and sister, Paulanne Cagle Page and Lani Page; Corbin Pierce with his parents, Camille and Kelley Pierce. (Top right) Ken Mcham, Davidson-Davie assistant coach