Samford University Athletics

Experienced post player who will be counted on for physical play around the basket . . . worked very hard in the offseason to improve his strength and conditioning . . . excellent defender and passer . . . completely comfortable in both the offensive and defensive systems.
 
Junior (2010–11): Earned playing time in 22 of the Bulldogs’ 31 games and finished the season with a team-best 52.6 shooting percent from the floor . . . averaged 1.1 points per game and pulled down 0.8 rebounds per contest . . . logged an average of five minutes per outing and tallied a 10-of-19 shooting performance from the field . . . turned in one of his best games of the season Feb. 3, as he played a season-high 14 minutes against UNC Greensboro . . . tied his season-high with four points and added three rebounds, two steals and a pair of blocked shots . . . scored a season-high four points for the third time of the season as he went 2-of-3 from the field against Wofford (Jan. 22) . . . tied his season-high of four points against Furman on Jan. 20, as he shot 1-of-1 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line . . . also added two rebounds and two assists . . . tallied a season-high four points on 2-of-2 shooting from the field against Creighton (Dec. 22) . . . also added a pair of assists in only eight minutes of playing time . . . scored three points in only five minutes of game action against Appalachian State (Dec. 4) . . . finished 1-of-2 from the field and 1-of-2 from the free-throw line . . . earned his third varsity letter.
 
Sophomore (2009–10): Earned playing time in all 31 games and solidified a spot in the starting lineup midway through the season . . . finished the campaign with 16 starts and averaged 17.7 minutes per contest . . . concluded the year ranked second on the team in field-goal percentage (50.9) and led the Bulldogs with 17 blocked shots . . . played in all 18 Southern Conference games, starting nine . . . led the Bulldogs in assists six times and in rebounding five times . . . earned his first start of the season Dec. 12 and turned in his best game of the year, finishing with a career-high eight points . . . added seven rebounds and five assists . . . played a key role in Samford’s 78-54 victory at Chattanooga Feb. 13 . . . moved to the starting lineup and finished the game with six points, five rebounds and five assists in 27 minutes of playing time . . . tallied seven points on 3-of-4 shooting from the floor against Wofford Feb. 13 as he also pulled down eight rebounds and recorded a pair of blocked shots . . . scored six points and added two rebounds against Western Carolina (Feb. 25) . . . finished 3-for-4 from the field at Western Carolina . . . scored six points and grabbed four rebounds in Samford’s 62-52 home victory against Tennessee Temple (Jan. 8) . . . also added two assists in the win . . . earned his second varsity letter.
 
Freshman (2008–09): Played in 24 of 32 games and earned six starts at the “P” position . . . averaged 15.6 minutes per game and finished the season with a 43.2 shooting percentage from the field . . . averaged 1.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest . . . registered Samford’s top rebounding performance of the season against Spring Hill College Nov. 17, pulling down a career-high 12 rebounds . . . finished the campaign ranked 14th in the Southern Conference in blocked shots per game (0.6) . . . led the Bulldogs in assists six times . . . was a key factor in Samford’s win versus The Citadel March 7 as he helped limit All-SoCon performer Demetrius Nelson to two rebounds . . . had an emergency appendectomy Jan. 18 and missed the next eight games . . . returned to action Feb. 12 at home against UNC–Greensboro . . . recorded his best performance of the season Nov. 17 in the first start of his collegiate career, tallying seven points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals against Spring Hill College . . . tallied six points, four rebounds and four assists against McNeese State Dec. 30 . . . played in his first collegiate game Nov. 14 against Belmont . . . finished with three rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes of game action in Samford’s season opener . . . earned his first varsity letter.
 
2007–08: Redshirted.
 
High School: Averaged 11 points, seven rebounds, four blocks, four assists and three steals per game as a junior at Colleyville Heritage High School . . . a four-year varsity starter at CHHS . . . named the district’s 2006 Defensive Most Valuable Player . . . earned three consecutive first-team All-District honors . . . a two-year team captain . . . led CHHS to three straight district champion­ships and the 2004 area championship . . . earned the team’s Heart and Hustle Award in 2004 and received the CHHS Defensive Award following the 2005–06 season . . . also lettered in football.
 
Personal: Born Feb. 13, 1989 . . . son of Tracy and Lee Friday . . . older brother Bryan graduated last season after playing on the Samford basketball team . . . majoring in management and entrepreneurship.
 
ONE-ON-ONE WITH FRIDAY
Person (past or present) you would most like to meet: Dale Earnhardt
Favorite place to eat: Chipotle
Favorite actor: Jason Segel
Favorite TV show: “How I Met Your Mother”
Favorite athlete: Dirk Nowitzki