Hands down: Jaylen shows out at ASG
- Updated: April 8, 2017
Foothills Christian's Jaylen Hands with the MVP award / Full-Time Hoops photo
2016-17 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com
MIRA MESA – Foothills Christian senior guard JAYLEN HANDS beat a field of local prep hoop high-flyers in a slam dunk contest during the San Diego County Boys and Girls Senior All-Star Games Friday night at Mira Mesa High.
Then he went out and won the Most Valuable Player award in the game itself, leading the North, ironically enough, to a 125-121 overtime victory.
Hands with the dunk trophy. / Full-Time Hoops photo
The UCLA-bound Hands, who famously dunked over Duke legend Jay Williams on national television last month at McDonald’s All-American week in Chicago, did a slam after leaping over members of his parents to thrill the crowd and win the first-place trophy.
Hands finished second at the national dunk competition, which made him a sure favorite here and he did not disappoint.
“If I would’ve known then what I know now (about dunk contests), I think I would have won it (in Chicago),” Hands said.
Also in the field was Hands’ Foothills Christian teammate KALE BALDADO, and Mount Miguel star DARIAN NORWOOD. Both of whom made the final round.
As incredible as Hands’ slams were, Norwood was certainly impressive with his ability to gravitate near the rim and still throw it down with some authority.
Later, Hands helped the North, ironically enough, take a rather large lead in the early going, then gave it all back, only to win in OT.
In the first half, Hands broke out of a triple team for an assist to D.J. Wilson as the North led by as big of a margin as 50-25.
South closed the lead to eight late in the first half and trailed by just 10 at the half.
The South made a second-half comeback that saw the gap close to 101-100 with five minutes left.
The game went into overtime where Hands showed his stuff near the finish, enabling his team to win.
Helix’s JAYLEN ARNOLD was a starter in the game for the South.
