The University of New Orleans has taken the surprising step of appointing American rap mogul Master P as their President of Basketball Operations, which is a rare piece of good news for the organization given the ongoing investigations related to alleged sports gambling violations and a woeful 4-27 record.
While to some the move to bring in Master P may seem odd, or even a mistaken one, it is worth noting that Percy Robert Miller, to give the legend his full name, has an awesome resume when it comes to his basketball credentials.
He held a scholarship with the University of Houston’s basketball outfit before a knee injury curtailed that path, he then had preseason spells with the Charlotte Hornets and the Toronto Raptors before competing in the NBA Summer League with the Sacramento Kings, the Dallas Mavericks and the Denver Nuggets. In short, he knows a thing or two about the game.
Such a move will help to breed some much needed positivity at the University of New Orleans and fans of the team may want to back this move with a bet, in which case these online sportsbooks are worth a consideration. Not least, because the best possible payout can be derived from those providers with the best odds and promotions.
Miller has strong basketball roots and feels that taking such a role helps him to give something back to the game, stating of his appointment,
“As a kid growing up in New Orleans, I can honestly say that basketball changed and saved my life,”
“At that time, UNO was one of the best programs in the country. It was all about Privateer Nation, and there was so much excitement on the Lakefront. As president of basketball operations, I am committed to bringing back that winning tradition to NOLA’s team. But this is bigger than the game — it’s about educating and creating future leaders at the same time. I’m here to make sure that these young student-athletes have the opportunities, resources and mentorship to succeed on and off the court.”
Master P founded the label No Limit Records in 1991, which has had the likes of Snoop Dogg on their roster and his son Mercy is a guard at the Houston Cougars.
The New Orleans Privateers enjoyed a sustained period of comparative success in the 1990s, making NCAA tournament appearances in 1990/91, 1992/93 and 1995/96. They then had to wait another twenty years to hit those heights again.
Head coach Mark Slessinger saw out 13 seasons in charge, that run coming to an end after the 2023/24 season ended with a very poor 10-23 record. In came Stacy Hollowell, which led to an even worse campaign, with the team hitting the bottom of the standings with just four wins from 31 games to date. Nonetheless, Hollowell has been very vocal in his support for what Master P can bring to the proceedings, stating,
“Coach Miller cares deeply about his city, the University of New Orleans, and Privateers basketball. We will benefit from his basketball knowledge and relationships within the game and community,”