LANETT — The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit is in full swing this year on all levels, including with the Lanett-based Alabama Hawks.

The Hawks, founded by Shonuff Shine Hand Car Wash owner Alvin Jackson and coached by Harris County assistant basketball coach Ahmad Jackson, already have college coaches interested in local athletes.

Troup County High School rising senior Amber Gilbert and LaFayette High School rising junior Feliah Greer have received the most interest from college coaches, Alvin Jackson said. Both student-athletes are receiving interest from the same schools including Alabama A&M and Kansas.

This past weekend, the Hawks played in the Capital Cool Classic in front of 300 college coaches. The team made it to the final game of the top bracket undefeated. Greer scored six consecutive points late in the fourth quarter to give the Hawks a lead. The opponents then came back and made a shot with eight seconds remaining on the game clock to force the game into overtime. In the extra period, the opponents won the tournament on a three-pointer that was taken from near halfcourt as time expired.

Serenity Hall from Troup County High, Amiya Cameron from Greenville High, Nikayla Welch from LaGrange High, Ameria Truitt from Lanett High, Arteria Florence from Valley High and  Alyse Madden from Lanett are also on the team. Florence and Madden were named to the 2018-19 All-Valley Girls Basketball Team. Truitt earned some experience on the varsity level at the end of this past season with the Panthers.

This past year, the Hawks had four student-athletes sign to play at the college level, including Lanett High graduate Makyia Broughton, who signed with Wallace State Community College.

“We’re just trying to put them in the right places to be seen,” Alvin Jackson said.

The Hawks return to action on June 20 for the 2019 Girls National Championship in Biloxi, Mississippi through June 23. Greer could miss the tournament, as former LaFayette girls head basketball coach Michael Bratcher said that she was competing in the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s (AHSAA) elite 100 camp at Spain Park High School on June 22.

LANETT — The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit is in full swing this year on all levels, including with the Lanett-based Alabama Hawks.

The Hawks, founded by Shonuff Shine Hand Car Wash owner Alvin Jackson and coached by Harris County assistant basketball coach Ahmad Jackson, already have college coaches interested in local athletes.

Troup County High School rising senior Amber Gilbert and LaFayette High School rising junior Feliah Greer have received the most interest from college coaches, Alvin Jackson said. Both student-athletes are receiving interest from the same schools including Alabama A&M and Kansas.

This past weekend, the Hawks played in the Capital Cool Classic in front of 300 college coaches. The team made it to the final game of the top bracket undefeated. Greer scored six consecutive points late in the fourth quarter to give the Hawks a lead. The opponents then came back and made a shot with eight seconds remaining on the game clock to force the game into overtime. In the extra period, the opponents won the tournament on a three-pointer that was taken from near halfcourt as time expired.

Serenity Hall from Troup County High, Amiya Cameron from Greenville High, Nikayla Welch from LaGrange High, Ameria Truitt from Lanett High, Arteria Florence from Valley High and  Alyse Madden from Lanett are also on the team. Florence and Madden were named to the 2018-19 All-Valley Girls Basketball Team. Truitt earned some experience on the varsity level at the end of this past season with the Panthers.

This past year, the Hawks had four student-athletes sign to play at the college level, including Lanett High graduate Makyia Broughton, who signed with Wallace State Community College.

“We’re just trying to put them in the right places to be seen,” Alvin Jackson said.

The Hawks return to action on June 20 for the 2019 Girls National Championship in Biloxi, Mississippi through June 23. Greer could miss the tournament, as former LaFayette girls head basketball coach Michael Bratcher said that she was competing in the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s (AHSAA) elite 100 camp at Spain Park High School on June 22.