Shaq Preston brings energy to Will Wade's UTC Mocs

• Name: Shaq Preston• Height: 6-foot-3• Weight: 190 pounds• Hometown: New Orleans• Last school: East Jefferson High School• Stats: 18.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game; led Warriors to 30-2 record and the Class 4A state championship game.

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Editor's note: This is the second of four Tuesday features highlighting University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball newcomers for the 2014-15 season.

Coming from New Orleans, Shaq Preston wasn't accustomed to the nature that surrounds and defines the Scenic City of Chattanooga. But it's been a welcome site for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga freshman basketball player.

The 6-foot-3 guard/forward hopes to see plenty of good sights during his first season - including a lot of bodies in the seats for the Mocs' home games.

The first thing he learned after arriving on campus this summer was that the more he learned in workouts, the less he realized he knew.

"Ever since I've been here, I've been able to gain experience which has helped my game extensively," he said recently. "I realize that I didn't know as much as I thought I knew, but the guys pushed me to understand things better."

Preston's role as the season begins will be to bring energy off the bench and use his length and athletic ability to create turnovers and operate above the rim, where he lived during his prep career at East Jefferson.

photo UTC player Shaq Preston shoots the ball during UTC's first mens' basketball practice of the season Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, at the Chattem Practice Facility in Chattanooga.

"I never entered any big dunk contests, but after my sophomore year, everybody knew I could jump," he said.

UTC coach Will Wade is pleased about what Preston has shown he can contribute defensively. The second-year coach also is fond of the dreadlocks that help define the freshman's appearance.

"I love the hair. When he's flying around, all you see is hair going everywhere. It's pretty cool," Wade said. "He's a high-energy kid that can guard the ball and has made strides - especially over the last six weeks.

"He's got a bright future and can be really good for us when he figures out what it takes."

Said Preston: "I know I can help the team on defense, rebound and exert energy for this team.

"I just want to go out mentally focused, play my hardest and try to get better."

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.

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