The comeback kid: Corey Love Jr. returns to finish what he started
HINESVILLE, Ga. — Passionate both on and off the court, Liberty County High School senior guard, Corey Love Jr., is considered the 鈥渕ost coachable player鈥� according to recently hired head coach, Levon Grant, who is looking to make a big impact within region 3-AAA.
With 17 years of coaching experience in the public school system, Grant has implemented competitive athletic programs and plans to continue the tradition at Liberty County.
鈥淢y message to all student athletes has always been the same,鈥� he said. 鈥淢entality – whatever it takes, unity – keep the right people around, and work ethic – put the work in.鈥�
Those attributes certainly apply to 6-foot-1, 180-pound Love Jr., the 2019-20 Liberty County High School Player of the Year, who had 22.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game with a 58% field goal average his junior year.
The 3-AAA All Region team player made himself a big-game player by implementing coaching and training to a 5-on-5 play, both offensively and defensively, against Bradwell Institute. He went 6-for-15 with three rebounds, four assists and five steals.
鈥淗e has the ability to take individual instruction and apply it,鈥� Coach Grant said. 鈥淏ut, most importantly, he is an extremely respectful and humble young man.鈥�
Only participating in five games, Love Jr. sustained an ACL injury in his right knee. Nine months later, the comeback kid is back on the court to finish what he started. Heading into his senior year, Love Jr. is seeking to gain enough exposure to capture the eyes of Division I college recruits. However, according to his support group, his education is held to a higher standard.
鈥淐orey comes from a military family, he has been playing ball since he was young and in different states,鈥� his father, Corey Love Sr., said. 鈥淩ight now, we are focusing on his education.鈥�
Holding a 3.1 GPA, Love Jr. shows interest in studying sports medicine. Not only does he maintain his academics and athletics, he is highly favored within the community and amongst his peers, servicing in programs like Male & Mentors (boys basketball players serving as mentors to at-risk students), Dr. Seuss鈥� Read Across America and Liberty County鈥檚 kids back-to-school rally.
鈥淢y first meeting with him was at a back-to-school rally given聽by the community and schools in聽July,鈥� Liberty County High School counselor, Amanda Whilden, said. 鈥淐orey was very friendly with all the families and students. He knows he loves basketball and wants to continue playing, but his academics are just as important.鈥�
Surely, Liberty County sets a standard for their students excelling in academics by providing 鈥渋ntellectual, cultural and technological resources鈥� for becoming contributing members to society. It is no surprise their key player will uphold this standard and pursue his passion in sports.
鈥淚 believe hard work is the key to success,鈥� Love Jr. said, sharing his thoughts on achieving his goals.
Love Jr. has begun participating in preseason camps and will join his teammates in trainings and team practices in preparation to kick off his senior year facing the Bradwell Institute Lions on Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m.
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