Kentucky assistant Mikhail McLean is one win away from making history with Bahamas
You haven’t seen Mikhail McLean in Lexington much since taking the fifth and final assistant coaching spot on Mark Pope’s staff at Kentucky back on June 14. And there’s a pretty darn good reason for that, his extended absence happily excused as he looks to make history with the Bahamas.
McLean, the associate head coach and defensive coordinator for the Bahamas National Team, is currently in Valencia, Spain coaching in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. There, the Bahamas are now just one win away from punching a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics following a victory over Lebanon in the event semifinal.
The significance? A first-ever appearance in the Olympics is on the line after winning three games in five days, potentially ending a 62-year drought for the nation. The Bahamas have won seven FIBA CBC Championships competing against Caribbean teams to go with one FIBA AmeriCup appearance back in 1995, but never a spot in the Olympic Games.
That could change Sunday, the Bahamas set to take on Finland or Spain in the finals with a shot at history, McLean right there on the bench.
The Bahamas are led by NBA veterans Deandre Ayton, Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon while prized freshman and former Kentucky target VJ Edgecombe has looked the part of a future superstar — UK Associate Head Coach Alvin Brooks earning the win on that recruitment at Baylor. It’s been the perfect storm of on-court talent coming together to produce at the highest level with their eyes set on accomplishing something the country has never seen before.
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The latest example is the team’s 89-72 victory over Lebanon on Saturday, Ayton leading the way with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Hield added 19 points and 10 assists while Edgecombe put together an all-around effort of 13 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals in the semifinal win.
All in on making history.
“(One) more,” McLean wrote on social media.
Win this one and the Bahamas will head to Paris and compete in the Olympics from July 27 through August 2 in the Group Phase, followed potentially by the event quarterfinals, semifinals and finals on August 6, 8 and 10.
Point being, it could be a minute before we see McLean back in Lexington leading up to his debut season with the Wildcats. And if it means loading up on coaching experience in the Olympics, so be it.
Mark Pope will certainly take that trade-off.
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