Here’s another example to add to the “funny how time fl ies” department.
With Mary Hardin-Baylor’s upset loss to East Texas Baptist Thursday in the American Southwest Conference Tournament, Aubrie King’s basketball career is done.
We remember King as the pint-sized basketball prodigy, winning free throw shooting contests when the ball was twice as big as his head.
On a personal level, I recall he and my nephew Alex shooting baskets at a makeshift hoop in the corner of the old Milano gym on Sunday afternoons, while his father Alvie and I went into battle with the notorious Whitfi eld brothers against some young punks who foolishly thought they could hang.
We recall his controversial transfer from Milano to Mumford where he led the Mustangs to three state tournament appearances, culminating with a title in 2014 and twice being named the Class A player of the year.
That’s all historical now.
Seeking more playing time in a style of play that better suited his talents, King transferred to Mary Hardin-Baylor after two seasons at St. Edward’s in Austin.
It should be noted that the Milano native has received more fi nancial aid for his impressive academic status rather than athletics.
The now bearded King made the most of his short time in Belton, setting school records at the free throw line and behind the three-point arc.
The lefty shot 92 percent last season and increased that to 97 percent this season after missing just a single solitary free throw.
He rained in 86 three pointers in 2017 and tacked on 58 this season for a record total of 144.
In his four-year college career, King rang up 232 threes. Add that to the 428 treys during his high school career and you’ve got some serious long distance charges.
The 6-foot-5 King is no gunner however—he is a typical coach’s son, fundamentally sound and he usually did the majority of the ball handling for the Crusaders.
King averaged nine points a game in 2018 with a high of 17 against arch-nemesis Concordia.
After losing a late lead against East Texas Baptist and falling 86-82 in the fi rst round of the American Southwest Conference, the second-seeded Cru fi nished 17-9 overall and were 10-7 in the rough-and-tumble ASC.
“It wasn’t a huge hurt,” King said about the loss. “There is more to life than playing basketball. I will miss competing in games that count for something.
“When you consider the amount of players who are playing in college in the United States, you have to consider yourself lucky to be able to play at the college level and I consider myself lucky. There are a lot of talented players in the state of Texas.”
For some, King’s worth goes beyond the hardwood.
“Aubrie King is somewhere between number one and number 10 on the top 10 list of best young people in the United States,” said 19-year UMHB head coach Ken DeWeese. “He is intelligent, dependable, trustworthy and at the same time, very competitive.
“An outstanding college basketball player because of a unique combination of athletic skill, leadership, compassion for teammates and desire to be successful. Aubrie has been raised very skillfully and successfully by his mom Wendy and dad Alvie.”
King’s mother Wendy is the athletic director at Milano, one of the few women ADs in the state. She is also one of the state’s most successful volleyball coaches, with almost 500 wins.
King transferred from Milano to Mumford before his freshman year after his father Alvie was offered a basketball job there.
King was happily reunited with former Mumford running mate LaKendrick Hyson this season when he transferred in from Blinn prior to this season.
For three years together in high school, the dynamic duo helped the Mustangs run roughshod over those who dare challenge them, winning 115 games while losing only three.
“We were different kinds of players in high school,” said the high-fl ying Hyson, who led the Cru in scoring at 15 a game. “He was a shooter, and I was more of a driver and slasher.”
“Not much has changed,” said King. “He shoots a few more threes now than he did in high school. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. We never occupy the same space, though. We don’t really get in each other’s way.”
King plans on becoming a coach after college, not surprising, considering both his parents are coaches and his athletic history.
“Its great to know that I am still going to be involved in basketball.
“But, this is not what I always wanted to do. I looked at different options. Then I thought, what am I good at? What do I know the best? How can I best help other people? The answer was obvious.”
And it always has been.
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