Former Wellston High basketball standout Ben McLemore signed with the Memphis Grizzlies over the weekend. The 6’6” McLemore inked a two-year deal with the Grizz for $10.7 million.
After playing collegiate ball for one season at Kansas, McLemore spent the first four years of his NBA career with the Sacramento Kings. At the time, there wasn’t a worse place for a young player to go to than Sacramento, which was about as dysfunctional a franchise as there was in the NBA. As happy as I was to see a young player from St. Louis realize his dream to be drafted in the NBA lottery, I literally cringed when then-commish David Stern called Ben’s name as the No. 8 pick by the Sacramento Kings.
The move to Memphis could be a beneficial one for McLemore as the Grizzlies are looking for a little more youth and outside shooter to compliment its trio of Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Zach Randolph. McLemore is capable is providing both as he is only 24 years old and he shot 38 percent from 3-point range in his last NBA season for the Kings. After four up and down seasons with the Kings, hopefully the change of scenery will be good for Ben, especially if he can make jumpers.
2017 Boxing Hall of Fame Class
The St. Louis Gateway Classic is set to induct its 2017 Class for its Boxing Hall of Fame later this month. The new Hall of Fame members are Richard Freeman, Melvin Stewart, Michael McLaurin, Karoz Norman, Cornell Price-EL, Anthony Martin, Cortez Dean, Michael Lewis, Paul James, Sharron Washington and Roderick William. Also, trainers Ben Stewart and Buddy Shaw will receive the Earl Wilson, Jr. and Myrl Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award. Lt. Colonel Lawrence O’Toole will receive the Gary Bess Award. The awards luncheon will be held on Saturday, July 29 at the Hopewell Health Center (2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive).
Sonya Morris headed to DePaul
Incarnate Word Academy girls’ basketball standout Sonya Morris has given a verbal commitment to DePaul University. The 5’9” Morris will return for her senior season after leading the Red Knights to a 28-4 record and the Class 4 state championship. As a junior, Morris averaged 15 points, three rebounds and two steals a game while shooting 42 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the free throw line. She was a member of the 2017 St. Louis American “Fab Five” Girls All-Star Team.
RIP Charlie Floyd
Our sympathies and prayers go out to the family and friends of former Sumner High basketball standout Charlie Floyd, who passed away last week. Floyd was a tremendous shooting guard for Sumner High in the mid-1960s, when he formed a great starting backcourt with point guard Bennie Moore for the 1966 Bulldogs. I have a little feature about Charlie in my book “The PHL in the STL” on the history of the Public High League about his last-second shot that beat O’Fallon Tech during the ’66 season.
Charlie’s son, Terrance Floyd, was a starting guard on the Parkway West team that won the Class 4 state championship in 1991. Charlie still got out to watch high school basketball games and I always enjoyed talking ball with him at the games. We will miss you, Charlie.
River City Pro-Am is Back
The River City Pro-Am Basketball League is back for another summer. The games will be held on Saturdays and Sundays at Cardinal Ritter College Prep. It is a good opportunity to catch many of the area’s top college players at every level, plus several former area standouts who are playing professional basketball overseas or are still active in the game. The league will run until late July with the playoffs, which are always exciting to watch.
