STL hoops looking healthy all around at 2005 Shootout
By Cedric Williams
For the St. Louis American
Along with that nasty winter snowstorm, another of our area’s best annual sporting events blew through town last week when the 25th Annual Shootout took place down at the Savvis Center. The winter chill didn’t do much to damper the spirits of those who attended nor those who participated as once again the Shootout showcased some our area’s best prep basketball talent against some of the top players and teams from around the country.
Just in case you weren’t able to get down to the Savvis Center last Wednesday, here’s a quick recap of the day’s events:
Best Game: The marquee matchup of nationally ranked foes Memphis Mitchell and Vashon was everything it was hyped up to be. The fantastic final game of the night featured five ties and 11 lead changes in the second half alone. Vashon led by as many as 12 points in the second quarter and boasted a 42-36 lead at the half. But Mitchell rallied to lead by as many as seven midway through the fourth quarter. Vashon then rallied to tie the score several times in final minutes and even led by one in the final minute. But Mitchell’s Brandon Powell drained a three with two guys running at him with 30 seconds left to give the Tigers a 74-72 lead. Powell, a University of Florida signee, finished with 19 points. But it was All-American teammate, last year’s Tennessee “Mr. Basketball,” and Georgia Tech recruit Thaddeus Young that led all scorers with 30 points and 13 rebounds. Another teammate, Andre Thornton, a Central Florida signee, added 15 points. For Vashon, Bobby Hill led the way with 22 points and 11 boards, while dynamite point guard James Washington added 18 points, including five-of-six from three-point range, along with five assists.
Best Player: I’ve gone to the Shootout every year since my Ritenour Huskies played in the event in 1990 and I’ve never enjoyed watching any out of town player as much as I did last week watching La Costa Canyon’s Chase Budinger. The kid is the real deal. Already considered the nation’s top schoolboy volleyball player, Budinger probably earned himself some votes for the hoops honor as well with his breathtaking 45-point, 14 rebound effort in a 73-70 overtime win over Lee’s Summit North. The 6-7 Arizona recruit scored 25 of those points in the first half. But it was his two free throws in the final minute of overtime that proved to be the difference. Budinger shot 17-of-29 from the floor, including six-of-10 from beyond three, and eight-of-11 from the line. It was a dazzling night from a true California kid. He also made one of the greatest non-plays I’ve ever seen, when he skyed over four other players for a putback jam that never was. Had he completed the play it would’ve brought the house down. Unfortunately, the missed shot he was going after missed so badly it caromed off the rim and over the backboard.
Best Performance (Local Player): I really like Vashon’s James Washington. I also strongly believe had he been more selfish and taken more shots he would’ve stolen the show from some of the higher profile players and Vashon probably would’ve won against Mitchell. But he didn’t and they didn’t. So the best actual performance had to be by Edwardsville’s Spencer Stewart. The 6’4 combo guard whose committed to Illinois-Chicago next year, is just plain smooth. And it was his game-high 28 points and brilliant playmaking that led the Tigers to a 52-44 win over rival Belleville East.
Best Moment: Occurred just after the final game when every kid seated on the north side of the building sprinted towards the court to try to get autographs from St. Louis Rams players Torry Holt, Aveion Cason, and Stephen Jackson as they were being escorted from the building by security. One of those kids was La Costa Canyon forward Bethel Hailemichael, who also happens to be one of the top WR prospects in the San Diego area. When Hailemichael approached Holt, he respectfully referred to the Rams All-Pro as “Mr. Holt” several times. But the personable Holt told the awestruck youngster, “Man, you can call me Torry.” Then Holt, patted Hailemichael’s huge blowout afro and said, “And by the way, I’m feelin’ the hair dawg! Definitely feelin’ the hair!” Halle Berry herself couldn’t have given the young man a more meaningful compliment. It was clearly one of the great moments of his life.
Worst Moment: When I realized I earned myself the media Wimp of the Day award by wearing my thermal gloves indoors during the event. In my defense, it was COLD in the Savvis Center that day. I was as cold as I’ve ever been covering an indoor event. And I know it wasn’t just me. I saw others that still had their jackets, hats, and scarves on. But I was the only wuss that was still wearing gloves. Running a close second though, was good friend Nathan Hartley, of the recruiting website prephoopstars.com. Instead of sitting out by the court like the rest of us reporters, he actually watched most of the games on closed-circuit TV from the media workroom in the back. Nate’s my boy, but at least I didn’t run and hide in the back like I’ve always said dem Pattonville boys are known to do.
What it all means: It’s hard to draw many conclusions from a one-day, early-season event like the Shootout. But one thing is clear, STL basketball is not all about Vashon. Of course, the “V” is still the cream of the crop here, but there are several other local teams that can compete with anybody in the country. Webster Groves proved that when it dominated Alabama state power Birmingham Huffman for 64-53 win. That nationally-ranked Huffman team, which has won the Birmingham city championhip three out of the last four years, features two big time Division I recruits in swing forward Demetrius Jemison and All-American and UConn bound power forward Stanley Robinson. But Webster used balanced scoring and defense to cruise to an easy win. It should be fun to see if the Statesmen, which have won four straight Suburban South Conference titles, can get past Poplar Bluff and into the Class 5 Final Four this year.
