EARL VAUGHAN JR.
BY EARL VAUGHAN JR. | CityView Sports Columnist
It’s been more than 10 years since Hunter Bell came up with the idea of a 3-on-3 basketball tournament to honor the memory of the Maxwell family. Now he’s expanding on that project with the addition of the Maxwell Mission and a new outreach to the youth of Fayetteville.
After doing some brainstorming with a friend, Bell came up with the idea of holding open gyms for high school students grades 9-12 at the Fayetteville YMCA.
The first one was held on Wednesday earlier this week.
“There are a lot of great youth ministries in Fayetteville, but there’s also a lot of kids out there that aren’t going to go because they feel intimidated by a church,’’ he said. “They don’t want to be part of a church group, but they’ll come play basketball.’’
Continuing every other Wednesday through the end of the school year, Bell plans to hold the open gyms at the YMCA.
The plan calls for about an hour and 45 minutes of open basketball starting at 4 p.m. The participants will be treated to a free meal each week along with a gospel message.
Bell said any high schoolers are welcome to attend. “We’re not going to be pressuring them with our message,’’ he said.
The next open gym will be April 10. The tentative end date is May 15, but that could change depending on the response.
No registration is required. “Just show up,’’ Bell said.
“It’s a ton of fun because it’s basketball. That’s what’s at the core of it. That’s what I’m passionate about and want to make sure people know that’s what we’re about.’’
Plans are also in the works for this year’s version of the Maxwell 3-on-3 tournament, which will be held on May 11 at the Freedom Christian Academy courts. The event will use a round robin format with every team guaranteed at least three games.
There is an entry fee of $150 per team. One change this year is teams will be allowed to bring a maximum of four players so they will have an opportunity to use a substitute if needed.
There is no age restriction Bell said, although in recent years most of the participants have been high school or college age.
“The big push is getting wide representation from across Fayetteville,’’ he said.
“The goal is to serve the community, love people and just share the love of Christ. It’s a great melding of their (the Maxwells) legacy and the love of Christ. That’s the message we are sharing and that’s why we are doing this.’’
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More than a dozen high school basketball players from Fayetteville will be at Rose High School in Greenville Saturday to take part in all-star games pitting uncommitted players from various area codes against each other. The object is to give them exposure to college recruiters.
The Clash of the Area Codes features boys and girls teams from the 910, 252, 919 and 336 area codes in a series of contests starting at 10 a.m. and lasting until 8 p.m. Admission is $15 and there’s a $5 parking fee.
There will also be 3-point shooting contests for girls and boys.
The 910 girls play 336 at 11 a.m. Third place and championship games are at 1 and 2 p.m. respectively.
The 910 boys face 336 at 5 p.m. Third place and championship games are at 7 and 8 p.m. respectively.
The following Fayetteville area players will be taking part:
BOYS: Harold Lee, Berean Baptist; Linwood Rowe, Trinity Christian; Derrick Green, Fayetteville Academy; Daniel Mbaeteka, Berean Baptist; Mylon Campbell, Seventy-First; Micah Dowdy-Isom, Seventy-First.
GIRLS: Jayla Blue, South View; Kayla Starling, Cape Fear; Janna Tupuola, E.E. Smith; Mariah Massey, Seventy-First; Nahmiah Atkins, South View; Princess Canady, Westover; R’Mani Robinson, Westover.
The 910 teams will be coached by Robert Wilkerson of Seventy-First for the boys and Travis Lemanski of South View for the girls.
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E.E. Smith High School will hold the induction of the 2024 class of its alumni sports hall of fame on Sunday, May 26.
The following are scheduled for induction: Billy Bristow, 1961; Chris Corders, 1987; Juan Corders, 1972; Sabrina Gregory, 2004; Edgar Farmer Jr., 1965; Kenneth Haywood, 1990; James McLinnaham, 1986; Terence Murchison, 1969; Vandelia Wood McAdoo, 1936; Anquell McCollum, 1992; Junior Smith, 1991; Bernard Timmons, 1986; Lakeisha Williams, 1958; Tillman Newkirk, Contributor; 1967 State championship football team; 1968 State co-championship football team.
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The N.C. Basketball Coaches Association has named a pair of Fayetteville standouts to its 2023-24 All-State girls basketball team.
Jayda Angel of Cape Fear was selected to the first team while Breonna Roaf was picked to the third team. Angel is a senior while Roaf is a junior.
Earlier, the NCBCA announced its all-district teams for boys and girls.
Making the team for the boys were Ari Fulton of Westover, first team; Malachi Allen of Westover, second team; DeAndre Nance of Seventy-First, second team and Mylon Campbell of Seventy-First, third team.
For the girls, Jayda Angel of Cape Fear was District 4 Player of the Year. Breonna Roaf of Terry Sanford made first team along with R’Mani Robinson of Westover.
Others on the squad were Zahara Gerald of Jack Britt, second team; Jahriell Murchison of E.E. Smith, second team and Jainism Blake of Terry Sanford, third team.
Cape Fear’s Brian Graham was District 4 Coach of the Year.
