(Updated 03/06/23) – I was recently named to the Division 1-AAA 2022-23 All-Star team by the Georgia Association of Private & Parochial Schools (GAPPS). This means I was ranked among the Top 30 players in my division, out of thousands of players. I had a good season overall, but I honestly didn’t expect to be recognized due to my shortened season. Thankfully, I was chosen and got to play in this year’s junior-senior All-Star game on March 4th, and here’s how it went.
My parents and I got up early and made the two-hour drive to Central Fellowship Christian Academy in Macon, Georgia. I checked in and got my All-Star plaque, did a 15 minute shoot around and then had lunch. After lunch, I watched a portion of the girls All-Star game before having a team photo shoot, and then a short practice before our game began.
MY TEAM: Our coach for the game was from a rival school in my region, and since his two senior guards were on the team, I didn’t know what to expect (lol ?). But, after we got down by 9 points and the coach got tired of watching his guys commit too many turnovers, missed shots, and lazy defense, he subbed me in with five minutes to go in the second quarter.
MY PERFORMANCE: After subbing in, I immediately got a few assists and deflections, and a steal which helped us cut our team’s deficit down to 2 points by halftime. I played most of the 2nd and 3rd quarters, and about three minutes of the 4th. We secured the lead while I was on the floor but, then I got subbed out and we never got the lead back. We wound up losing the game 54-47 because a few guys decided to play “hero ball” and started jacking up 30 foot jump shots, and not closing out on shooters on the defensive end. I ended the game with 2pts, 5ast, 4reb, 2stl, and 4 deflections.
Overall, I had a lot of fun, earned a lot of respect from the coaches and the other All-Star players, and made some new friends that I’m sure I’ll see on the AAU circuit this spring-summer.
My AAU season will kickoff on March 25-26th at the RYZE Tip-Off Classic in Atlanta with my 17U team at ENG United Raptors.
