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ADAM HIMMELSBACH: No sooner do Carey, Hairston lift local prep basketball to new heights than they move on Date published: 7/17/2009 By Adam Himmelsbach VIDEO: Interview with T.T. and Josh (3/29/09) IN MARCH, WE Courtland junior Josh Hairston and Colonial Beach senior T.T. Carey were polite and impossibly talented. They had both led their teams to state championships, and they had both been named state players of the year. And they both could jump much higher than I could. Even though they had never met before that day in the gym, they would be inextricably linked to a basketball season that was unlike any in this area's history. And last week, in a pair of moments that would have seemed unlikely last March, the two stars made decisions that will take them away from here. Carey committed to LaSalle University, and Hairston announced his intention to transfer to Montrose Christian for his senior year of high school. And just like that, the two young men who crafted such magic were left as a memory. For Carey, the departure was inevitable, but the destination was long uncertain. The recent Colonial Beach graduate was an anomaly in the high-stakes world of college basketball recruiting. He spent little time on the rabid summer AAU circuit. He played football during football season and baseball during baseball season, rather than basketball during all three. But his explosive performance in the Region A tournament, followed by the state title run, made it impossible for Division I coaches to look away. LaSalle entered the picture quite late, but also, it turned out, just in time. "I thought I could go to a Division I school," Carey said. "But I didn't think it would be in a conference like the Atlantic 10." For Hairston, the departure was more of a surprise, mainly because his future already seemed so certain. He had already committed to Duke and still had one year remaining at Courtland. One year to break records and maybe even backboards. But after winning a state title and being named the state player of the year, there was little left for the 6-foot-8 forward to accomplish here.
Why not remain at Courtland for the senior year?? Carey has graduated and will move on appropriately. What ever happened to being loyal to your school, your teammates, or a sense of community? Maybe I'm being old school.
Why not remain at Courtland for the senior year?? Carey has graduated and will move on appropriately. What ever happened to being loyal to your school, your teqmmates, or a sense of community? Maybe I'm being old school.
both of these young men are outstanding citizens and work hard to accomplish what they want, bravo to them both! Great to see such positive role models to younger children who have dreams of doing great things!
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