By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

LOURAWLS “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr will return to his prep alma mater for the first head coaching appointment of his young career.

Nairn will head the post graduate basketball programme at Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas.

“I’m excited to announce that I will be the head coach of the prep basketball team at Sunrise Christian Academy. It is such a blessing to be able to start my coaching career at my high school alma mater, a place that is so close to my heart,” Nairn said. “Like being a graduate manager the past two seasons for Coach Izzo and the Michigan State men’s basketball team (my college alma mater). This opportunity is another depiction of the grace of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I’m ready to learn, lead, motivate, inspire, and most importantly serve. Thank you Dr Lindsted and Coach Luke for believing in me and giving me such an amazing opportunity! Here we go!”

Nairn played four seasons at Michigan State and was part of two Big Ten championship teams while reaching the Final Four in his freshman season of 2015.

Nairn spent the last two seasons with his collegiate alma mater, the Michigan State Spartans, as a member coaching staff as a graduate manager.

He spent the 2018 season in a role with the Phoenix Suns as a member of the coaching staff with a focus on player development and also made his debut as an author with an autobiography entitled “Purpose Driven.”

During his playing days at Sunrise, Nairn rose from a little known recruit to a highly sought after Division I prospect.

As a senior, he averaged 17.6 points, 5.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game to lead the Buffaloes to a 16-3 record. He shot 52.4 percent from the field, including 38.9 percent from three-point range. He started every game over his final two seasons.

Nairn was one of several players in the pipeline from The Bahamas to Sunrise Christian that also included Division I talents Nathan Bain (Stephen F Austin), Travis Munnings (Louisiana-Monroe), and Radshad Davis (UT-Arlington/FIU) among others.

Before he decided on the Spartans, Nairn received offers from Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Iowa and Arkansas and becomes the first MSU commit for the 2014 class.

His stock rose to the 61st ranked basketball player in America for the class of 2014 by Rivals.com and 72nd by ESPN.com.

Once at Michigan State, Spartans legendary head coach Tom Izzo has heralded Nairn’s leadership abilities as something that could not be simply measured on a stat sheet.

He awarded Nairn the title of team captain for three consecutive years and often called him an extension of the coaches on the floor.

He was also awarded the Stephen G Scofes Inspirational Player Award for three of his four seasons with the Spartans.

A former CR Walker Knight, Nairn was also a member of the Bahamian national team at both the junior and senior levels.