All-American basketball player Jayson Tatum of Chaminade College Prep was selected to the USA Basketball 19U team that will compete in the FIBA 19U World Championships in Herakilion Crete, Greece from June 27 to July 5.
This marks Tatum’s third trip abroad as a member of the USA Basketball Team. He won gold medals for Team USA at the 2013 FIBA Americans 16U Championships and the 2014 FIBA 17U World Championships.
As of press time, Team USA was 2-0 and Tatum was averaging 17 points a game in those two victories. He scored a game-high 22 points in a 103-81 victory over Croatia on Sunday. He had 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in an 83-58 victory over Iran in the tournament opener.
Cook makes Nike Academy
Chaminade College Prep basketball standout Tyler Cook was selected to participate in the inaugural Nike Basketball Academy, which was held last weekend in Santa Monica, California. The event is a combination of the three skills academies that Nike had hosted in recent years. It featured many of the nation’s top high school and collegiate players in one setting. The 6’8” Cook is rated among the Top 100 players nationally in the Class of 2016. Cook is ranked No. 58 by ESPN.com and No. 79 by Rivals.com.
Bronze for Miller
Kirkwood High girls’ basketball standout Lauryn Miller earned a bronze medal with the USA Basketball 16U team that placed third at the FIBA Americas Championships in Puebla, Mexico last week. The 6’2” Miller averaged five points and 6.2 rebounds for Team USA, which finished the tournament with a 4-1 record. She was one of the leading rebounders on the team for the week.
Dickson commits
Lutheran North girls’ basketball standout Renetha Dickson has given a verbal commitment to attend Tulsa University. The 5’9” Dickson is one of the top guards in the state of Missouri’s Class of 2016. As a junior, Dickson averaged 18.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.7 assists while shooting 71 percent from the free throw line. Dickson led the Crusaders to a 15-13 record and a berth in the Class 3, District 3 championship game. Tulsa is a member of the American Athletic Conference. The Golden Hurricane posted an 18-15 record in 2015 and advanced to the second round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.
Abbey to Ohio
Incarnate Word Academy girls’ basketball standout Abbey Hoff has given a verbal commitment to Miami of Ohio. A 6’1” senior forward, Hoff was a key member of the Red Knights’ Class 4 state championship team. As a junior, Hoff averaged 12.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.7 steals. She made 54 3-pointers and shot 40 percent from 3-point range. Hoff’s big game came in the Class 4 semifinals when she scored 29 points and made seven of nine from 3-point range in the Red Knights’ 78-55 victory over Bolivar.
Sharron of Fame
Congratulations to Sharron Washington on his recent induction into the St. Louis Metropolitan Football Coaches Hall of Fame. Washington was a former star athlete in the Public High League and collegiately at Truman State University (then Northeast Missouri State University). He enjoyed a stellar career on the sidelines as the head coach at O’Fallon Tech during the late 1970’s and 80’s.
R.I.P., Paul Holland
I would like to send my condolences to the family of Paul Holland of Ferguson, who died last week at the age of 77. Paul was a neighbor of mine for nearly 10 years and a big Saint Louis University basketball fan. He was a season-ticket holder at Billikens’ games for many decades. Every time we saw each other, Paul wanted to talk SLU basketball. He loved the Billikens. My sympathies to his wife Joyce and the rest of his family members. We will miss you, Paul.
