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The month of December is loaded with tournaments and showcase occasions that get groups ready for the trials of the ending stretch that many hope ends with a state championship.
The Chick-fil-A Basic, in its twentieth season, is a main instance of that.
However it’s not solely an opportunity for groups and coaches to enhance. Officers fall into that very same class and a well-recognized face was amongst these sporting the black and white stripes this previous week.
Former South Carolina and Irmo standout Justin McKie was on the decision for the Southern Cal Academy victory over Hillcrest Prep within the fifth place recreation of the Nationwide bracket of the event. He referred to as a recreation earlier within the event within the auxiliary gymnasium, however he was on the primary stage in one of many premier highschool occasions within the nation on Friday.
Fairly heady stuff for a man in simply his second yr with a whistle round his neck.
“It’s a craft, it’s an artwork type, it’s a basketball profession,” McKie mentioned. “It’s not taking part in, it’s not teaching but it surely’s nonetheless a basketball profession. I wish to take it so far as I can take it. Wherever that’s or wherever my potential takes me is the place I’ll cease. If I can get to the highest, I’m all about that.”
The title McKie is well-known in South Carolina basketball lore. Justin McKie led Irmo to an unbeaten document and Class 4A state championship as a senior in 2013. He adopted his dad, BJ McKie, and performed his school basketball at South Carolina. BJ McKie is the main scorer in South Carolina basketball historical past. Justin McKie performed on arguably the perfect Gamecocks workforce ever in 2017 once they superior to the colleges first and solely Last 4 look.
Justin McKie was a graduate assistant below Frank Martin for one season in 2017-2018 earlier than getting out of the sport. He tried modeling for a bit and settled in not too long ago as a supervisor of drivers for UPS. BJ McKie is a present assistant coach at Wake Forest.
However the youthful McKie realized that though teaching wasn’t in his future, basketball was an enormous a part of his life and he needed to be part of it.
Simply after Covid hit in 2020, the itch to get again concerned in basketball turned an excessive amount of to disregard. He referred to as his dad and requested if he knew any coaches on the lookout for a younger man to become involved. That’s the primary time being a basketball official was mentioned.
McKie began making calls and he made his debut at an AAU event through the summer season. He had the primary recreation within the morning and was “thrown to the wolves” as he recalled. A protracted-time ACC official was an evaluator that day and when he pulled McKie apart, he requested him if he had been doing this for about three to 5 years. When McKie advised him it was his first recreation ever, the evaluator was floored.
McKie’s typical week is to work his common job with UPS then take as many video games as attainable. He calls video games on the highschool degree and does some Convention Carolinas video games as effectively. Being again near the sport has gotten the juices flowing.
“It’s been a variety of enjoyable. I’ve met a bunch of terrific folks, each referees and coaches,” McKie mentioned. “It’s a journey, like the rest. I actually adore it. Being across the recreation once more, getting to listen to the coaches name, being on the ground, listening to the gamers speak a bit of trash, it’s simply enjoyable.”
The one factor that McKie received’t be allowed to do is be on the decision for Irmo video games. He performed there and his coach, the legendary Tim Whipple, remains to be on the sidelines. Regardless that it’s going to by no means occur, McKie needs he had a possibility to name one Irmo recreation.
“I might love to provide Coach Whipple a (technical) however I can’t,” McKie joked. “It could be payback from him yelling at me again within the day. I want I might however that’s not one thing they might permit.
Chick-fil-A Basic outcomes:
The event got here away with two first-time winners within the occasion. John Marshal (VA) knocked off two nationally ranked opponents in claiming the American Division championship. The Justices defeated Wheeler (GA) 68-55.
N.C. State dedication Dennis Parker led 4 gamers in double figures with 23 factors for John Marshall. American bracket MVP Damon Thompson added 17 factors, freshman Latrell Allmond chipped in with 16 factors and All-Match choice Jason Rivera posted 12 factors and 18 rebounds. A pair of Southern Cal commits, Arriten Web page and Isaiah Collier led Wheeler with 18 and 13 factors, respectively.
Huntington Prep (WV) acquired 18 factors from Ronald Jessamy and 16 factors from Nationwide bracket MVP Larry Johnson in claiming the Nationwide Division bracket with dominate 67-46 win over nationally ranked IMG Academy.
It was a four-point recreation on the half, 28-24 however Johnson related on two 3-pointers and Maki Johnson added a protracted vary shot to spark a 9-0 run within the opening 1:16 of the season half to permit the XXX to take management. The lead was by no means lower than 10 factors the remainder of the way in which.
Huntington Prep (WV) 67, IMG Academy 46
HP – Ronald Jessamy 18, Larry Johnson 16, Maki Johnson 11, Del Jones 8, Dillon Tingler 6, Jordan McCullum 4, Daneil Ntambwe 4. IMG – Blue Cain 12, Bryson Tucker 9, Jamie Kaiser 9, Jacori Hutchinson 7, Jayden Hastings 6, Khani Rooths 2, Ja’Mier Jones 1.
American Division
Seventh Place
Lexington (SC) 65, River Bluff (SC) 50
L – Cam Scott 22, Kaleb Evans 15, Jose Figueroa 11, Coulter Bell 8, Jaxson Prunty 6, Montrell Byrd 3. RB – Omari Caldwell 20, Luke Chapman 11, Wright 8, Renner 5, Cordero 3, Powell 2, Cromer 1.
Fifth Place
Greensboro Day (NC) 46, AC Flora (SC) 36
GD – Jaydon Younger 20, Joseph Bachman 6, Will Otto 5, Addison Newkirk 5, Jordan Moody 3, James Stainback 3, Julius Reece 2, Reid Service 2. ACF – Christopher Parker 14, Cooper Wiley 7, Connor Higgins 6, Jackson Grey 5, Samaje Maxwell-Timms 4.
Third Place
Columbus (FL) 70, Keenan (SC) 38
C – Cameron Boozer 18, Malik Abdullahi 14, Cayden Boozer 13, Garyn Bess 12, Benny Fragela 8, Michael Feenane 5. Ok – Chrisean Oree 14, Jaylen Golston 7, Brian Sumpter 5, Emanuel McCullough 4, Amarii King 4, David Elam 2, Broderick Anderson 2.
Championship
John Marshall 68, Wheeler (GA) 55
JM – Dennis Parker 23, Damon Thompson 17, Latrell Allmond 16, Jason Rivera 12. W – Arriten Web page 18, Isaiah Collier 13, Jelani Hamliton 11, Damion Mitchell 8, Josh Hill 5.
American Bracket
Jaydon Younger, Greensboro Day; Arrinten Web page, Wheeler,
Isaiah Collier, Wheeler; Jason Rivera John Marshall; Cayden Boozer, Columbus
Most Excellent Participant: Cam Boozer, Columbus
MVP: Damon Thompson, John
Marshall
Nationwide Division
Seventh Place
Oak Hill (VA) 52, Windfall Day College (NC) 40
OH – Drayton Jones 16, Dontae Russo-Nance 15, Kaden Magwood 10, Elijah Mitchell 5, Joshua Holloway 4, Micah Robinson 2. PDS – Riley Allenspach 16, Nick Hailey 7, Trajan Thompson 6, Deuce Haynes 6, Josiah Robinson 3, Braxton Winston 2.
Fifth Place
Southern California Academy 48, Hillcrest Prep 33
SC – Garwey Twin 20, Drew Fielder 7, Braelon Inexperienced 6, DeMarco Johnson 5, AJ Johnson 4, Jahseem Felton 3, AJ Economou 3. HP – Aiden Sherrell 14, Tyshawn Bridges 8, Aiden Miller 5, Justin Johnson 3, Kamari Jones 3.
Third Place
The Rock College (FL) 61, Calvary Christian Academy (FL) 54
TRS – Sammie Yeanay 18, Kameren Wright 13, Evan Sterck 9, Dallas Jones 8, Ryan Jones 7, Clarence Massamba 6. CCA – Carl Cherenfant 13, Jaylen Curry 11, Ethan Lathan 9, Jacob Warren 8, Shon Abaev 6, John Roland 4, Derrick Edouard 3.
Championship
Huntington Prep (WV) 67, IMG Academy 46
HP – Ronald Jessamy 18, Larry Johnson 16, Maki Johnson 11, Del Jones 8, Dillon Tingler 6, Jordan McCullum 4, Daneil Ntambwe 4. IMG – Blue Cain 12, Bryson Tucker 9, Jamie Kaiser 9, Jacori Hutchinson 7, Jayden Hastings 6, Khani Rooths 2, Ja’Mier Jones 1.
All-Match Staff
Nationwide Bracket
Jaylen Curry, Calvary Christian; Riley Allenspach,
Windfall Day; Aiden Sherrell, Hillcrest Prep; Garway Twin, Southern Cal
Academy; Bryson Tucker, IMG
MVP: Maki Johnson,
Huntington Prep
Most Excellent Participant: Larry Johnson. Huntington Prep
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