University of Massachusets Athletics
JC All-American James Life Signs NLI With UMass Basketball
April 21, 2005 | Men's Basketball
April 21, 2005
AMHERST, Mass. - UMass men's basketball coach Travis Ford announced his second recruit on Thursday as National Junior College All-American James Life has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Minutemen starting in the Fall of 2005.
A guard, Life is one of the most decorated junior college players in the nation as he was third in the nation in scoring at Manatee Community College in Bradenton, Fla., this past season scoring 25.4 points per game. The native of Leigh Acres, Fla., Life stands 6-4 and weighs 190 pounds and played his high school basketball at Mariner High School in Cape Coral, Fla. Life will have two years of eligibility with the Minutemen.
He was honored as a second team National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American in 2005 in addition to being the Florida Community College Athletic Association (FCCAA) Player of the Year, NJCAA Region VIII Player of the Year, Florida State Player of the Year and Suncoast Conference Player of the Year. He was also a member of the FCCAA All-State First Team and the NJCAA All-Region VIII Team.
"We are thrilled to have James joining the UMass basketball family," said Ford. "He is a Junior College All-American, who was among to top scorers in the country. James is a deadly shooter from the perimeter that we were seeking. James lives and breathes basketball. He is a gym rat who will be a great addition to our team."
Life had a tremendous two-year career for Manatee CC setting 12 school records. He stands as the school's all-time scoring leader (1,341) as well as holding career marks in scoring average (22.5), three-point field goals (179), free throws made (286).
As a sophomore in 2004-05, he played in 30 games, scoring a school-record 762 points. That mark was also the most of any junior college player in the nation this past season. He made 91 three-point field goals, also a school-record and third-most of any player in the country. He also averaged 4.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for the Lancers. Life also shot 77.3 percent from the free-throw line (183-of-237). The 183 made free throws also set a Manatee single-season record.
He scored a school-record and career-high 55 points against Pasco-Hernando CC on Feb. 9, as he hit 10-of-14 three-point field goals in the game which he shot 20-of-32 overall from the floor.
He played in the Men's All-Star Classic at Chipola College following the regular season.
"We are very proud of James, not only for what he has accomplished on the basketball court, but for how he has developed as a person and as a citizen," said Manatee CC head coach Brac Brady, who led the Lancers to a 15-15 record in 2004-05. "He has represented himself and the school well since he has been with us."
As a freshman at Manatee CC, Life also led the Lancers in scoring as he averaged 19.6 points per game as he shot 55.2 from the floor (110-of-199) and 75.2 percent from the foul line (103-of-137). He also averaged 4.3 rebounds per game for a team which went 18-12.
At Mariner High School, Life played for a late Frank Morris, who passed away during Life's freshman season at Manatee CC, and was a great inspiration to Life in his career. As a junior, he scored 31 points per game
James J. Life was born on Oct. 19, 1983 and is the son of Myrna Flores.
