By Jason Hickman
MaxPreps.com
Awards: Tar Heel State Triple-Threat
In an era of sports specialization, student-athletes like Southwest Onslow High School's (N.C.) Kendric Burney are an endangered species.
Burney, who was honored by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association as the 2005-2006 Male Athlete of the Year last Thursday, was a four-year starter in three sports - football, basketball, and baseball.
Not only did Burney start in all three sports, he starred. As a quarterback in football, the University of North Carolina-bound senior led his school to a 53-6 record, earning all-conference consideration in each of his final three seasons. He will also leave as the school's all-time interceptions leader with 24.
In basketball, Burney led the Stallions in scoring at 15.4 points per game as a senior, and again, was a three-time all-conference selection. In the spring, Burney's attention shifts to the diamond, where he has a 6-1 record as a pitcher this year, to go along with a 1.72 earned run average. At the plate, he is also batting over .500 with five round-trippers.
Burney signed in February to play for the Tar Heel football team, but is also expected to give baseball a go at the next level.
Another prominent multi-sport star captured the NCHSAA's Male Athlete of the Year award in 1998 - Julius Peppers of the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Like Burney, Peppers took on more than one sport at the University of North Carolina, excelling in football and basketball.
Basketball: Illinois to Honor Legends
Last month, the Illinois High School Association announced that it will honor 100 "Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament" at the 2007 state tournament.
The list is part of the IHSA's centennial celebration of what Prairie State natives bill as "America's Original March Madness." Most of the 100 players were selected by fans in an online poll.
"We're thrilled to be able to celebrate our boys basketball centennial by directly involving the fans, who have supported our tournament in great numbers through the years," Executive Director Marty Hickman (no relation) said.
Scanning the list of 100 former student-athletes set to be honored next year, it's hard to argue the state's hardwood heritage isn't among the richest in the country. Take a look at a sampling of Illinois' top state tournament performers throughout the years;
Player, School, (Years in Illinois State Tournament), College, Professional
Kenny Battle, Aurora West (1984), Illinois, Harlem Globetrotters
Jamie Brandon, Chicago King (1989, 1990), Louisiana State
Quinn Buckner, Thornridge (1971, 1972), Indiana, Milwaukee/Boston/Indiana
LaPhonso Ellis, Lincoln (1987, 1988), Notre Dame, Denver/Atlanta/Miami
Melvin Ely, Thornton (1995, 1996, 1997), Fresno State, L.A. Clippers/Charlotte
Michael Finley, Proviso East (1991), Wisconsin, Phoenix/Dallas/San Antonio
Marcus Liberty, Chicago King (1986, 1987), Illinois, Denver/Detroit
Shaun Livingston, Peoria (2003, 2004), Declared for NBA out of H.S., L.A. Clippers
Quentin Richardson, Chicago Young (1998), DePaul, L.A. Clippers/Phoenix/New York
Cazzie Russell, Chicago Carver (1962), Michigan, New York/Golden State/L.A. Lakers/Chicago
Jon Scheyer, Glenbrook North (2005, 2006), Duke (2006 MaxPreps All-American)
Jack Sikma, St. Anne (1973), Illinois-Wesleyan, Seattle/Milwaukee
Isiah Thomas, St. Joseph (1977), Indiana, Detroit
Frank Williams, Manual (1995, 1996, 1997), Illinois, New York/Chicago
Flag Football: Miramar Captures State Title
Girls playing football is usually a sign that a school is celebrating Homecoming, with the seniors battling the juniors for powder puff supremacy.
Not in Florida. Girls' flag football is an officially-sanctioned sport by the Florida High School Athletic Association, and has been since 2003.
This year's title went to Miramar High of Broward County. By beating Lakewood of St. Petersburg 26-19 Saturday, the flag football squad captured the school's first state championship in any sport.
The Patriots were a perfect 17-0 on the season.
Before We Go: Congratulations are in order to head coach Guy Anderson of the Cordova High baseball team in Rancho Cordova, Calif. Anderson became just the third baseball coach in state history to reach 800 wins with a 10-4 win over Rodriguez April 29.the last unsigned senior member of the 2006 MaxPreps All-American basketball team made his decision Tuesday. Darrell Arthur, a 6-9 forward from South Oak Cliff High in Dallas, Texas, surprised many by choosing head coach Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks over Louisiana State and Baylor. Arthur averaged 17.7 points and 10 rebounds per game as a senior.
Jason Hickman: jason@maxpreps.com
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