PALATINE, Ill. – The Harper College men's basketball program will honor its three sophomores in their final regular season home game on Wednesday, February 17.
Sophomores
Marcus Gatlin (Chicago, Ill./Curie),
Abdul Mushtaq (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling), and
Allias Burnett (Joliet, Ill. /Joliet West) will be honored prior to the start of the Hawks' 7 PM game against Milwaukee Area Technical College. Gatlin and Mushtaq have played for head coach
Justin Welke for two years, while Burnett is in his first season with Harper College after transferring from Illinois Valley Community College.
"It has been an absolute joy coaching Marcus, Abdul, and Allias over the last two years. Watching these three young men grow and improve themselves in all facets of life has been an inspiration to me and many others," Welke said. "They are the heart and soul of our basketball program here at Harper, and I can't thank them enough for all of the sacrifices they have made over the last two years."
The trio has carried the scoring load for the Hawks for much of the 2015-16 season. They scored 67 of the team's 74 points in a
74-64 N4C win over Wilbur Wright College on Jan. 13. Perhaps the group's signature win came on Nov. 19,
a dominating 79-58 win over Waubonsee Community College at home. Another impressive win from the group was an 89-82 triumph over Elgin Community College on Jan. 4. The Hawks shot nearly 60 percent from 3-point range, and the sophomores combined for 56 points, 17 rebounds, 17 assists, and four steals. The three sophomores have piled up accolades from the region and on the national level, and those will be shared on Sophomore Night.
"It's bittersweet having to say goodbye to them, but I know that they are prepared to face the next challenge in life. All three of them have had academic success here at Harper and will be attending four-year colleges next year; for that I am incredibly happy and proud," Welke said.
Finally, the Harper men's basketball program will also honor videographer Andrew Gray. Gray has filmed over 100 men's basketball games in his time at Harper and nearly 200 Hawks sporting events.
