Now that the men’s basketball program’s record for the longest winning streak has been shattered and is old news, the next watch is upon us as Manny Atkins, R.J. Hunter and Ryan Harrow are all closing in on 1,000 career points.
If each player is able to reach the milestone, they will join senior Devonta White, who reached 1,000 points at the end of the 2012-13 season.
“That’s an incredible stat,” head coach Ron Hunter said. “What it says is that, boy, I wouldn’t want to have to scout this team.”
After scoring 20 points in the Panthers’ 85-65 victory over South Alabama, Atkins tried to say that the milestone was not on his radar, but Hunter, who was sitting to Atkins’ left, coughed, “liar,” making Atkins rephrase his statement.
“My mom, she told me that five or six games ago,” Atkins admitted.
“I told her, ‘Look, that’s a good accomplishment, but at the same time, it’s not in my head when I come into the game that I’ve got to reach 1,000 points,'” Atkins said.
Atkins said he would love to reach 1,000 mark at home but is more concerned about getting the team a win.
Atkins goes into the team’s next game with 958 career points, while Harrow goes in with 969 career points. Both players’ career points include their points scored with other schools: Atkins at Virginia Tech and Harrow at Kentucky.
Sophomore R.J. Hunter may, however, be the first to reach 1,000, needing just 15 points. All of Hunter’s points have been scored at Georgia State.
If Hunter reaches the milestone in the next two games, he will be the second-fastest player in Georgia State history to reach the milestone, only behind Phillip Luckydo in 1992, who did it in 49 games.
Guard Devonta White reached 1,000 points in the final game of the 2012-13 season in the overtime victory against Northeastern. It was his final shot of the season that put him over the mark.
White said it was one of his favorite accomplishments in his career, adding it was a “great feeling” when it happened.
“Don’t worry about the points,” is White’s advice to Atkins, Hunter and Harrow. “Just stay focused on the win, and the points will come.”
The Panthers go on the road Thursday to face Arkansas-Little Rock at 8 p.m., gunning for their 14th consecutive win.
