Monday, Russellville's Maurice 'Squeaky' Hampton turned down a scholarship to play collegiate basketball for Mississippi State University, which won the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship this year.
Wednesday, Logan County's Terry Clayton went to Lexington to visit spring football practice at the University of Kentucky for a recruiting visit.
Hampton, a first-team all-stater, told Coach Rick Stanbury that he appreciated the offer, but that he was too late. Squeaky has already made a verbal commitment to play for nearby Austin Peay State University.
"He hasn't signed anything that's binding yet, but he made a commitment and he feels it would be wrong to back out on it. That's the kind of kid he is," says RHS Assistant Coach Kim Swift.
Playing in the SEC has to be tempting, but this decision is another reenforcement to our contention that number 21 is a very special person.
Squeaky left many of those attending the RHS basketball banquet last week teary-eyed. He had written beautiful tributes to his coaches, Swift and Phil Todd.
Accompanying Clayton to UK Wednesday were LCHS Coach Lee Proctor and Assistant Coach Karen Williams, who is his hearing impaired aide. Proctor was also Terry's basketball coach at Olmstead. Williams and her husband Danny, who is also a Cougar assistant coach, are quite close to Clayton.
The trio was shown around by the outside safeties/linebackers coach, who is the recruiting coordinator for this area and would be Clayton's coach if he chooses UK.
Proctor says he has a stack of letters from colleges requesting a video tape of Clayton in action.
I've been observing Terry in another light the past few weeks. He's been bringing his brother, Jeffrey Sydnor, and others from Olmstead to practices for Logan County Youth Basketball.
He's more like a man than a teen sitting there, not only in size but in demeanor. He has no interest in showing off or in jumping on the court to take shots during a break in the action. He handles himself maturely.
Fortunately for Logan, Clayton has another year of high school football.
The Cougars have used five of their spring practice days so far and plan to use their other five permitted next week.
Joe Jefferson has been home in Adairville this week. He hasn't been enrolled in college this semester. Instead the former Western Kentucky University star has been in New York lately as an extended guest of the National Football League, as the league does for other top college prospects. This gives NFL teams a chance to evaluate talent and how prospects will fit in with their team.
Joseph was headed to Indianapolis Wednesday and has told friends not to be surprised if he becomes a Colt.
The NFL draft is coming up soon, and the Land of Logan has its greatest reason ever to pay close attention.
I botched an attempt to enhance the news Tuesday. In fact, I blew it big time.
When two police reports came in stating that one or more girls named Megan White of Russellville had been involved in traffic accidents last week, I checked to see if the person(s) involved was the Magen White who is the only senior-to-be on the Lady Cougar basketball team.
Besides being concerned about her, I wanted to let Logan fans know if the basketball program had suffered another setback. Only a few days before, center Brandon Thomas injured one of his legs seriously in an automobile accident that could have taken his life. Brandon's prognosis as far as being able to play effectively his senior year is unclear.
So I was glad to be able to report that the girl(s) in the accidents were not the Lady Cougar.
I didn't succeed very well.
First, I stuck the editor's note on the end of the wrong story, putting it on the one about crime instead of accidents.
Second, I left out the word not in saying she didn't have a wreck. The opposite of not is exactly the impression I gave.
Magen the Lady Cougar was not involved in any of the accidents or related perils.
My apologies to the Magen in question and to the 16-year-old Megan and the 17-year-old Megan who had the accidents. This is little comfort to those who actually were involved.
Our first spring sports supplement is inserted in today's N-D&L. Pictures of both schools' baseball and softball teams are included, as well as LCHS girls tennis.
We'll have pictures of other teams as they become available.
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