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Basketball Buzz: 2020 is an Unprecedented Year in Hill Country Hoops

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Tony Maples Photography

 

2020 has proven to be an unprecedented year for Hill Country hoops. Whether a basketball fan, a parent, or an athlete, the year has been one for the books.

UIL State Championships at the Alamodome Cut Short

To put the finishing touches on an exciting season, the UIL State Championships, hosted in San Antonio at the Alamodome, were put on hold. UIL officials had planned on rescheduling the state championships later in the year as the threat of COVID-19 quelled. As of today, nothing has been settled.

Basketball Buzz: 2020 is an Unprecedented Year in Hill Country Hoops

Photo: @Mr2EL via Twenty20

The initial decision to cancel the tournament was a shot to the heart for locals. Along with losing the revenue brought to San Antonio and the auxiliary towns from the influx of people coming to watch the tournament, two local teams were not able to compete for the state championship. San Antonio Wagner was set to face off against Mansfield Timberview in the Class 5A semifinal. San Antonio Cole defeated Peaster in the semifinal round and would have battled Dallas Madison for the Class 3A state title.

Hill Country hoop fans were expecting the two local teams to come home with the hardware as proof of a Hill Country hoops’ renaissance that has been mounting over the past few years. Unfortunately, the season was cut short.

Basketball Buzz: 2020 is an Unprecedented Year in Hill Country Hoops

Photo: @marcobertoliphotography via Twenty20

Austin Vandergrift Grad Signs with The University of Texas

Austin Vandergrift High School’s Greg Brown III has been generating buzz in the basketball world for the past two seasons. The 6-8 small forward has drawn comparisons to LeBron James and Paul George due to his size and versatility.

Brown has been ranked as the #8 player in the country for the class of 2020 by Rivals.com. After a tremendous start to the 2019-2020 campaign, Brown generated NBA buzz as of January. The highly-touted recruit had everyone waiting in the wings to see where he would commit to play in college. With offers from Memphis, Auburn, Kentucky, and Michigan respectively, Brown III also turned down a one-year $300,000 contract with the NBA’s G-League. With the talks of a Hill Country hoops’ renaissance in the air, it has been a while since the region has seen a player of the caliber as Brown III.

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