Breland’s Journey Takes Him From North Carolina To Starring Role At MDC

For the past two years, Anthony Breland has been a basketball nomad.

The North Carolina native has made pitstops at Youngstown State University in Ohio and Paris Junior College in Texas. This year, he found a home at Miami Dade College. 

Breland, known for his ability to slash to the basket, has become the focal point of the Sharks offense, leading the team with 18.9 points per game, shooting 55.9 % from the field, and averaging 4.7 rebounds through 12 games.

“From the first week of practice — even going back to when he came on a visit in the springtime and played pickup with our guys — you could tell he was a good player,” Sharks Head Basketball Coach Jorge Fernandez said. “But as soon as we started working out in September, it was easy to tell the kid’s talent. He has a chance to be pretty special for us.”

Basketball has always been in Breland’s blood. His dad Derrick averaged 6.6 points and 2.4 assists per game as a point guard at Fordham University in New York from 2003-2005.  

“Watching him play gave me that spark and love for the game,” Breland said. “My family has guys who played in the league, overseas, high major, Division I players…I come from a basketball family.”

Breland started garnering his own attention as a 16-year-old AAU player at Charlotte Elite Academy.    

“I was playing really well,” he said. “There were multiple schools watching, and I got offered by Youngstown State [University] and a few other Division I programs. I knew I was going to get that type of attention. I was confident.”

Breland chose Youngstown State University but he didn’t play in Ohio because the roster was loaded with depth at his position.

“There were a lot of older guys in front of me who had a lot more experience than me,” Breland said. “I felt like I wasn’t going to get the opportunity I needed to really show what I could do. I learned a lot while I was there, but I knew I needed a place where I could grow, play more, and actually make an impact.”

The following  season, he transferred to Paris Junior College in Texas where he averaged 10.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 30 games. He showed flashes of his scoring potential but at the end of the season, he still felt like a reset was needed.

“When I left Paris, I went through something mentally,” Breland said. “It motivated me. Over the summer, I worked really hard and became more grateful for every opportunity.”

That clarity led him to MDC. His connection with the coaching staff sealed the decision.

He said he didn’t just choose a new program; he chose a new environment—one that he believed could help him grow. 

“Coach [Jorge Fernandez] was a big part of the reason I came here,” Breland said. “I want to be comfortable with a coach—someone I can talk to about anything. Here, we’re all family.”

That familial atmosphere has the Sharks off to a 7–5 start, including an impressive 6–2 home record. Protecting the home court has become a point of pride for the squad. 

“We don’t like to lose at our house,” said sophomore Randy Smith, who is averaging 10 points per game this season. “We want the best record at the crib. This is home, and you never want to let a team that’s not from here come in and win on your home court.”

Guard Ernesto Rodriguez, from El Salavdor, leads the Sharks with a team high 44% from the three point stripe—he is second on the squad with a 15.4 point scoring average—and freshmen Leeroy Nijean leads the team with 7.9 rebounds per contest.

“Nothing is perfect, but we’re progressing every day,” Breland said. “Our chemistry is already great and we’re making it even better.”

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