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Class AAA Tourney Observations

Class AAA Tourney Observations

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Written by Andre Whitehead
Friday, 24 March 2006
News and notes from the AAA portion of the state tournament The tension was so thick you could taste it. The crowd was in a veritable stupor as the big dog Memphis Hamilton prepared to complete their unbeaten reign and take home the AAA crown they claim was rightfully theirs. The 8th ranked squad by the mock USA Today poll was set and ready to come to the 'boro and claim their prize. A funny thing happened on the way to the final. Shelbyville did the unthinkable and defeated Memphis Raleigh-Egypt to make their date in the final showdown. Hamilton was awaiting the Pharoahs ever since the annual city championship was cancelled due to inclimate weather. The new kid on the block was going to go head to head with the favorite. Who in the gym thought Shelbyville would stand toe to toe with the West Tennessee power and hold their own. Barry and Dequan thought they could do it and when the ball was thrown up for the opening tap so did the capacity crowd at the Murphy Center. Back and forth was the flow and when Dequan Twilley nailed a vital three point shot late to send the game into it's first overtime. Hamilton stud Jay Watkins kept the Tigers alive over and over with big shots and Hamilton kept up the pressure in it's attempt to stave off another overtime period. Barry Stewart missed a three just before the buzzer but coralled the carom and was fouled putting up another three. Mr. Basketball would calmly strut to the line and sink three crucial charity tosses and give the onlookers some extra basketball for their dollar. Watkins again carried the Hamilton load as he finished the contest with 29 points and earned the tourney MVP. Shelbyville secured possession down by one and called for a timeout. After the free time, the Eagles looked for their main man Barry Stewart and his semi-open three from the corner touched every part of the rim but would not stay down and Hamilton completed their dream season and finished with a fantastic 39-0 record. Hamilton got to the championship game with an opening round 64-46 victory over a tough Greeneville bunch. They followed with a sturdy whipping of White's Creek 77-65 and then the hard-fought championship victory over Shelbyville. The Hamilton seniors Watkins and Williams are both special players, but the juniors made sure this squad will be good for many years to come. Here's a look at the Top Players from AAA during the tournament in no particular order: Jaime Graham-White's Creek (6-1 PG/SG) Junior One of the most electrifying combo guards in the entire tourney. Graham impressed everyone in attendance with his game and ability to score and defend. Graham was impressive enough to garner an offer from Colorado for his play. The young man showed he could score from the perimeter and put the rock on the floor. Jay Watkins-Hamilton (6-8 PF) Senior The San Francisco signee showed his worth with a performance that will go down in the record books in the championship game. Watkins knocked down mid-range jumpers and was unstoppable on the offensive boards throughout the tourney. Barry Stewart-Shelbyville (6-2 SG) Senior What a year for the slender senior. Mr. Basketball and one of the gutiest showings I have ever seen in the biggest of spotlights. Stewart proved to all that he is more than worthy of more DI offers and most coaches in attendance feared his stock would rise above the mid-major level with the weekends performance. Antonie Wiggens-Greeneville (6-6 WF) Junior This lanky junior proved his worth with a 23 point showing against the Hamilton boys. He can drop the three off the dribble or the pass and has enough handles to take you to the rack. His weakness thus far is simply physical strength and we know how to fix that. Wiggens could command some high major looks if he gets that added strength. Jeremiah Crutcher-Hunter's Lane (6-1 PG) Senior You have to love this young man's commitment to the roundball scene. One of the area's top football stars Crutcher turned down high level football offers for the chance to persue a career on the hardwood. A certain low to mid major player may need to spend a few years at a top notch JUCO to hone his skills on the court and in the classroom. A fiery defender who takes his assignment personally. A better shooter than given credit for and a leader of no equal on the floor. Keith Ramsey-Seigel (6-7 WF) Senior Having missed most of his senior season, Ramsey came on hard for the Stars and helped them stay at home and play for the third year in a row. Keith has extreme athletic ability and can shoot the outside shot. He runs the floor very well and has good timing for blocking shots. His motivation is sometimes in question and he has a tendency to disappear during games. Ramsey will also benefit greatly from a prep school or JUCO where he can determine his true college position and work on his experience in and out of the classroom. Maurice Miller-Raleigh-Egypt (6-1 PG) Junior The only knock on Mo in the past was his supposed inability to knock down the three. That problem appeared solved with Miller's outside barrage in the opening contest. The quintessential point guard who possess a pass first mentality, but has the basketball savvy to know when to score on his own. Clearly one of the top lead guards in the country and his recruitment will be huge come this AAU season. Myron Strong-Hamilton (5-10 PG) Junior One of the trio of fabulous juniors that dot the Hamilton roster. Strong lives up to his namesake and uses his gift to make sterling drives to the bucket and finish. Strong can lead his squad from the front and has quickness that makes him a standout defender. His arsenal of moves going to the bucket is unique. Dequan Twilley-Shelbyville (5-10 PG) Senior This tough little guy showed what he was made of with a standout performance on the biggest stage of all. Twilley's 31 points in the title game was a notice that the future is bright for the thick youngster. Twilley has improved his outside game by leaps and bounds and has made himself a legitimate threat any time he has the basketball. This effort should garner him numerous mid-major looks. Deveyon Hunter-Hamilton (6-3 WF) Junior The sky is certainly the limit for this thick youngster with the complete game. Hunter has a knack for finishing around the bucket and can drop a mid-range shot that will keep opponents guessing at his next move. The future remains huge for this young man if he displays the ability to step out and drop the deep shot and pick up his intensity on the defensive end of the floor.

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