With millions of people living in SoFlo, there have to be a few who are going to make it big in Hollywood. Barry Jenkins is one of those few shooting stars. The award-winning director is at the helm of Disney’s newest flick — “Mufasa: The Lion King” — and he even knows our little show!

Barry Jenkins: “I know Deco Drive. I grew up in Miami. I know Deco Drive. Woo!”

Yay! We love you!

Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins knows a thing or two about the 305 life, and now he’s the leader of the pack in Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King.”

Barry Jenkins: “You know, it’s interesting. When I first read the script, I was trying to figure out how this fit with the stories I tell, and ‘Moonlight,’ which we made in Miami and is about Miami, is a perfect example.”

Barry Jenkins: “If I told you I was making a film about a child who has an almost biblical experience in water and then loses a sort of parent figure and must go on this journey and rebuild their lives, I could be talking about ‘Moonlight,’ or I could be talking about ‘Mufasa.’”

“Moonlight,” of course, is the film he directed and won an Academy Award for!

There are similarities with both films, especially with the eyes!

Barry Jenkins: “You know, ‘Moonlight,’ a very Miami movie, involves quite a few close-ups. We didn’t want to shy away from allowing the audience the same intimacy with these lions. We worked with the animators and told them, ahead of time, and told the studio, ‘This is going to be a film where, sometimes, the eyes of these characters really have to communicate nonverbally.’”

Teamwork makes the dream work, and Barry feels Mufasa’s coming-of-age journey.

Barry Jenkins: “It takes a village to raise a child. That was my experience of growing up in our wonderful city, Dade County, the 305.”

OK, what’s your favorite place to eat, like ever?

Barry Jenkins: “Mandolin Aegean Bistro, this little tiny, like this little Mediterranean restaurant. Just on the edge of the Design District. I remember when it was like five tables, and now it’s like this massive courtyard patio. But still, you go in, and the flavors are the same. Get some of that grilled octopus and some plantains. So yeah, I love Mandolin; I highly recommend it.”

“Mufasa: The Lion King” is now playing in theaters.

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Age catches up with all of us at one point or another, and Kevin Love is no different.

Through 14 games, Love averages 6.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on 36.9 percent shooting and 36.7 percent from three-point range.

The 36-year-old has had a rocky and inconsistent start to his 17th NBA season. His athleticism is all but gone, but the championship veteran is a clever and crafty veteran who uses his size well. Unfortunately, this has led to a few games where he has shown his value offensively. In the games he’s played thus far, he averages 2.5 attempts on two-point shots and 3.5 from three-point range. In games when his perimeter shot is not falling, Love’s offense is replaceable and potentially worth using other options on the team.

His defense on most nights is even worse. During the season, he is averaging 0.9 steals and 0.1 blocks. These numbers were not much better in his previous seasons with the Miami Heat, but he was much more mobile and able to switch onto most big men for several possessions and hold up reasonably well. Now, he nearly gets scored on every possession and cannot defend post-up attempts from anybody.

Love is playing 11.8 minutes a game and only has one game within the last eight, where he’s played at least 15 minutes. It looks more likely the Heat’s first-round pick, Kel’el Ware, will deserve those minutes as the season progresses. Ware has dominated in the G-League, averaging 18.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.5 assists on 55.2 percent shooting and 33.3 percent from three-point range. Best of all, Ware is averaging 3.5 blocks per game.

Bryan Townes is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at btownesjr@gmail.com or on X @bryantownesjr11. Follow our coverage on Facebook.  

MAUI, Hawaii – Haley Cavinder recorded her second consecutive double-double with a 25-point, 12-rebound performance, and the University of Miami women’s basketball team shot an exceptional 60.0 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from behind the arc en route to a dominant 84-53 victory over Nevada (5-7) to open the Maui Classic. With the victory, the Hurricanes (10-1, 1-0) improved to 10-1.

Haley Cavinder was sensational yet again for Miami, as she dropped a game-high 25 points on 11-16 shooting from the field, including 2-4 from behind the arc, and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and dished out a game-high seven assists.

Cameron Williams poured in 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds, Natalija Marshall chipped in 12 points, and Darrione Rogers scored 11 points as four Miami players reached double figures in the contest.

Miami was tremendous on both ends of the court, as they recorded season-high clips of 60.0 percent shooting from the field (33-55) and 47.1 percent from behind the arc (8-17) while limiting Nevada to just 39.3 percent shooting from the field and 28.0 percent from behind the arc. The Canes dominated the glass, outrebounding Nevada 33-21, and Miami outscored Nevada in the paint, 44-24.

The Canes also had a season-low seven turnovers, as they cared for the basketball exceptionally. After falling behind 13-11 late in the first quarter, Miami reeled off a 4-0 run to end the stanza, as they held a 15-13 lead entering the second period. The Canes opened the second quarter of an 8-0 run, extending the lead up to 10 points at the 6:54 mark in the period. Miami continued their dominant play, leading 39-26 at halftime.

The Canes were sensational in the third quarter, as they shot 66.7 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from behind the arc, outscoring Nevada 24-12 to take a 63-38 lead into the final period.

Miami cruised over the last 10 minutes, earning the 31-point victory over Nevada to open the Maui Classic. The Canes will return to the court Friday evening, as they are set to face Oregon State at 11 p.m.

Courtesy of Miami Athletics