The list of postseason accolades continues to grow for former Wellston High basketball star Ben McLemore.
The 6’5” McLemore just completed a stellar freshman season at Kansas by setting the freshman scoring record. On Monday, McLemore was named to the 10-member John Wooden Award All-American Team. The 2013 Wooden Award Gala will take place on April 11-13 at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
As a freshman, McLemore averaged 15.9 points, which broke the record held by former KU All-American Danny Manning. His 589 points and 87 percent free throw shooting were also new KU freshman records.
Among McLemore’s other postseason awards include: United States Basketball Writers Association Freshman All-America; All Big 12 Conference First Team; Lute Olson All-American Team; USBWA All-American Second Team; Sporting News Third Team All-America.
Those are just a few of McLemore’s many accomplishments from the 2013 season. McLemore is also very high on the National Basketball Association Draft boards as well. He is projected to be a certain high-lottery pick should he come out early, even as high as No. 1 in some mock drafts.
50-year All-Metro Team
If you had a chance to see last Sunday’s St. Louis Post Dispatch, you saw that I participated in choosing an all-time All-Metro Basketball Team for the 50th anniversary. My 50-year All-Metro Team consisted of Jo Jo White (McKinley), Steve Stipanovich (DeSmet), LaPhonso Ellis (East St. Louis Lincoln), Larry Hughes (CBC) and Bradley Beal (Chaminade).
Ladies moving up
Some former area girls basketball standouts are getting plenty of face time during the NCAA women’s tournament as assistant coaches. Former Ladue standout Charmin Smith is the Associate Head Coach at Cal-Berkeley, which advanced to the Final Four for the first time on Monday night. Former Cor Jesu star Niele Ivey is a top assistant at her alma mater Notre Dame, which was seeking its third consecutive Final Four berth on Tuesday night. Both played in the Final Four as collegians and also the WNBA before entering the coaching ranks. It’s great to see these talented young ladies moving up in the coaching ranks.
Tatum goes home
Former CBC standout Justin Tatum is returning home to become the head basketball coach at his alma mater. Tatum, 34, spent the past several seasons at Soldan High, where he turned the Tigers into a statewide powerhouse. Tatum led the Tigers to three consecutive Final Four berths in the Class 4 state tournament, including the state championship in 2012. Tatum replaces Bob McCormack, who resigned after 17 years on the job at CBC. Tatum played for McCormack at CBC and was a prime cog in the Cadets’ Class 4A state championship team in 1997.
Going National
Chaminade College Prep freshman standout Jayson Tatum was selected to the 2013-14 USA Basketball Men’s Developmental National Team. Jayson participated in the USA Basketball Developmental mini-camp in Colorado Springs in October. He was chosen as one of 23 players, who will comprise the squads for the 2013 USA 16U and 2014 17U teams that will play in international competition. The 6’7” Tatum was the Player of the Year in the Metro Catholic Conference this season.
Lockhart leads
Former Chaminade standout Brandon Lockhart continues to lead his Drury Panthers on a dream run through the NCAA Division II National Tournament. Drury advanced to Saturday’s national championship game with a 107-97 victory over defending national champion Western Washington in the semifinals. The 6’2” Lockhart had 24 points and eight assists for the Panthers. Lockhart had 15 points and seven assists in Drury’s 84-75 victory over Aiken (S.C.) in the Elite Eight in Louisville.
Little Big Man’s Camp
The “Little Big Man’s Camp” for youth football players will be held from April 8 to May 16th at Soldan High (918 Union Blvd.). The camp will be held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays only. It is for players between the ages of six and 13. The cost of the camp is $30 per week or $15 per day. For more information, contact Sean Morris at (314) 267-9517.
(You can follow Earl Austin Jr. on Twitter @earlaustinjr or on his basketball website, www.earlaustinjr.com.)
