Local Sports
JUSTIN GRAVES: Hardman shows that small-school recruits can make it in the big-time
Even with a boot on his leg, Trett Hardman managed to catch the attention of a few recruiting experts.
Because of an ankle injury sustained during a basketball game over the holiday break, Hardman was unable to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl’s underclassmen combine. But apparently the Fairview High standout quarterback didn’t have to.
Hardman was invited to the San Antonio-based event for a reason: The kid is one of Alabama’s top quarterback prospects in the 2010 recruiting class.
That’s why Scout.com recognized the Aggies junior on it’s Army All-Combine Team, despite not taking part in the actual combine.
According to Scout.com, Hardman was a player that caught the recruiting site’s attention. And considering that 500 of the country’s top underclassmen were invited to participate in the combine, that’s quite impressive.
Actually, just getting to make the trip to San Antonio for the All-American Bowl activities was an honor for Hardman — who has been named first-team All-State by the Alabama Sports Writers Association two years in a row.
The recruiting process and all the activities that go along with being one of the state’s top prospects is nothing new to Hardman. He’s been visiting colleges and attending combines for over a year now.
And whatever the Aggies quarterback is doing is apparently working.
Despite playing only one postseason game in his career, Hardman is still one of the state’s most well-known quarterbacks.
Not bad for a kid from a rural community that plays for a Class 4A football program, huh?
Yes, it’s true: Hardman plays football at Fairview, which is not considered one of the state’s big-boy, big-time programs. But that hasn’t stopped the Aggies quarterback from catching the attention of some of the big-time college programs in the Southeast.
It’s difficult to not notice Hardman. Physically, he has what it takes to play quarterback at the next level. After all, he’s 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, has good feet and an even better arm.
Hardman has also taken care of business on the field, throwing for over 3,300 yards with 37 touchdowns in 11 games. He also threw for over 2,000 yards as a sophomore.
What Hardman has done at Fairview pretty much kills the ol’ small school stigma that is constantly discussed — especially in this part of the state. You know, the one that says that only players from big-school programs get noticed by the big-time Division I programs.
Nevermind the fact that some of the greatest players to ever step on the field at Alabama and Auburn came from some of the smallest high schools in the state. For some reason, there’s a misconception about athletes from smaller schools.
Right now, Hardman is proving that theory wrong. And if the Aggies quarterback signs with a Division I program — which I fully expect him to do — it will help quiet the naysayers. Or at least it will in this part of the state.
- Justin Graves’ column runs on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Contact him by phone at 734-2131, ext. 257.
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CHAMPS AGAIN
Isaac Yarbrough wanted the ball in the final inning.
And once he got it, he wanted to face the top of Fairview’s lineup.
Yarbrough got both of his wishes. And once he did, Vinemont High got one of its own — its first Cullman County baseball title in three years.
“I was looking forward to it,” said Yarbrough, who struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh Tuesday afternoon to seal Vinemont’s 8-3 win over Fairview in the championship game of the Cullman County tournament at Hanceville High.
“My arm was kind of bothering me, but I got my three strikeouts.” - Meyer pitches Vinemont past Good Hope
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WORTH THE WAIT
Larson Howse didn’t spend much time celebrating, even after his second homer of the day.
With Gregory Smith on the mound, he didn’t have to.
Howse swatted two homers and Smith tossed a complete-game one-hitter as Fairview High defeated West Point 11-1 Monday afternoon in the semifinals of the Cullman County baseball tournament at Hanceville High. -
THE TIMES ALL-AREA PREP BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM: Good Hope triple-double threat Aycock enjoyed breakthrough season
Kyle Aycock watched with pride as his father, Greg, was recognized with the Good Hope High 1988 Cullman County basketball championship team this past season.
For Aycock, it was a moment of realization. The Good Hope point guard understood why his father had been pushing him for years.
“My dad wants me to be able and enjoy the same things he did when he was a player,” said Aycock, who has been selected as The Times Prep Boys Basketball Player of the Year. -
THE TIMES ALL-AREA PREP BASKETBALL TEAM: Myrex ends storied hoops career with 3rd POY award
During her record-breaking prep basketball career at Cold Springs High, Georgia Myrex piled up enough individual awards and records to warrant an extra wing at the Myrex household.
But if the Cold Springs High senior had her way, she’d trade them all in for just one more piece of Alabama-shaped blue hardware in the trophy case at Jesse George Gymnasium.
“I would definitely trade it all in,” said Myrex, who led Cold Springs to within three wins of its third straight Class 2A state title this past season. “I’m very appreciative of all my individual honors, but nothing compares to the feeling of winning a state championship.”
Well, go ahead and make room for one more individual honor. -
Burleson coaches Cold Springs up on way to turnaround
Sitting behind the table in a cramped interview room, a disappointed Tim Burleson broke down the Xs and Os of a heartbreaking Northwest Regional loss.
Descriptive and to the point, Burleson left no question unanswered.
And then the Cold Springs High coach answered one of his own — rattling off the most important stat of all.
“This team right here, 12-17, that’s what they were a year ago,” said Burleson following the Eagles’ 42-41 loss to Mars Hill in the Class 2A Northwest Regional semifinals. “Six of them were on that team, and they worked their tails off in the offseason.” -
BRINGING BACK PRIDE
Scott Adams came to the realization slowly — and at various points of the season.
During summer workouts, the Holly Pond High girls basketball coach noticed his players making plays they wouldn’t have made the year before. And during the opening weeks of fall practice, the sharp passing and shooting continued.
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