Donaldmetric Blue will be wearing the red and blue uniform ofSouthwest Mississippi Community College next basketball season. TheBrookhaven standout has signed a scholarship to play basketball forCoach Bill Wallace’s Southwest Bears.

Blue, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard/forward, averaged 7.3 points,4.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game for the Panthers who finished12-16. The Panthers competed in Division 6-4A and played some ofthe best teams in the state, losing 7 games by 5 points orless.

“I’m looking forward to playing college ball at Southwest,” saidBlue. “Coach Bill Wallace is a good coach and he made me feelcomfortable when I tried out for his team.”

Blue said he would be either a shooting guard or forward atSouthwest. “Shooting is my game. I like 3-point shooting.”

Asked about his favorite NBA player and team, Blue said he likedKobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. On the college level, Bluelikes the national champion North Carolina Tar Heels.

Ole Brook head coach Ronald Hines said Blue has a bright futureahead of him. He played well during tryouts.

“Donaldmetric did a good job with the tryouts at Hinds, Co-Linand Pearl River,” said Hines. “He chose Southwest because he wantedto stay close to home. He has grown a lot.”

Hines praised Blue’s work ethic. “He is still working hard toget better. He lifts weights and shoots with our team. He’s one ofour better shooters.

“Donaldmetric has basketball sense,” Hines added. “He knows thegame. He’s a big guard who can rebound the basketball.”

Blue is the 18-year-old son of Wanda Blue and Anthony Rancifer.His grandmother, Mary Blue, is his favorite fan.