PEMBROKE – The University of North Carolina at Pembroke men’s basketball team added an impressive local talent to its roster during the early signing period on Thursday when Raeford native and Hoke County product Silas Love inked his named to a National Letter of Intent to continue his academic and athletic career with the Braves.
“I chose Pembroke because I really enjoy the environment and how everybody there is really cool about everything,” Love told The Robesonian.
“The players and coaching staff are great and it’s also a team thing with Pembroke.”
A 6-foot-7 forward, Love averaged a double-double with 17.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game last season for the Bucks. He helped Hoke win the SEC 4A Championship en route to a 23-7 record.
Love said he looks forward to “just challenging myself to see how good I perform” at the next level.
“We are excited to welcome Silas and his family to #BraveNation,” said UNCP head coach Ben Miller. “Silas comes from a great program at Hoke County and has flourished under the leadership of Quame Patterson. He is long, athletic, and skilled, but also rebounds at a very high level and also brings great energy and versatility to the court. Silas is very productive in the paint, but can also step out and play on the perimeter with his ball-handling and passing skills. We are also very excited about his defensive potential and ability to guard multiple positions.”
Love was named The Robesonian’s preseason player of the year for the newly-formed Sandhills Athletic Conference.
“Today is a great day for the Hoke County men’s basketball program,” Patterson said. “Silas is a special talent and will be a player at the next level. The Hoke County family has been spoiled for the last four years and he will truly be missed.”
The son of Maris and Torrey Love, Silas also has a brother, Jalen. He is expecting to major in physical education at UNCP.
