RRS UPDATE: Tide's LeBron leads in-state selections in MLB Draft; Marbury to hold basketball camp
Former Alabama shortstop Justin LeBron was selected in the first round by Cincinnati in the weekend’s MLB First-Year Player draft. (Courtesy Unv. Alabama Athletics)
COMBINED REPORTS
Several baseball players with ties to the state of Alabama were selected in the weekend’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, highlighted by shortstop Justin LeBron’s selection as the 18th overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds.
LeBron, a junior last season, led Alabama to its first berth in the College World Series in 27 years and became the highest draft pick from the Crimson Tide since 1991 (Joey Vitiello - Kansas City Royals, seventh pick overall).
Auburn’s highest pick came in the second round when second baseman Chris Rembert was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 51st pick.
Troy’s top pick, shortstop Aaron Pieasecki, was taken by the Houston Astros with pick No. 241.
Auburn had a total of seven players drafted while Alabama and Troy each had four. A total of 21 players from state of Alabama college of high school teams.
Marbury to hold basketball camp
Marbury coach William Turner will hold his fourth annual skills youth camp in the Marbury gym on July 20-23.
The camp will be divided by age groups, with third through fifth graders participating on July 20-21 from 6-9 p.m. and sixth through eighth graders on July 22-23 from 6-9 p.m.
“The third through fifth grades still use the 28.5 ball and the six through eight is when they make the transition a to regular size men’s basketball,” Turner explained. “That’s the division for it, plus the skill level is different. We don’t want a third grader getting upset or not having confidence (by going up against much older competition). I want him leaving the camp with confidence, not having it completely shaken.”
The youth camp for the younger players involves “a lot more foundational stuff and getting their footwork right,” he added. “In the second round of camp, the sixth through eighth grades, they would step up a little more as far as what we would expect them to do when they show up. The third through fifth, we go into it very open minded, understanding a third through fifth grader may have zero knowledge.”
Marbury is coming off of the most successful season in boys basketball since the current playoff format was adopted in 1994. The Bulldogs advanced to the regionals for only the second time in school history and reached the finals for the first time before losing to Sylacauga. Turner hopes last year’s success has generated more interest in the program.
“I sure hope so,” he said. “And the fact that we have everyone returning. And the starters will have primary roles in my camps. They will largely run it. It will be three hours each night and there will probably be an hour where I will primarily run it and after that I will turn it over to the players and the (camp) coaches.”
Cost of the camp is $50, which includes a free T-shirt for participants. For more information, people can simply scan the QR codes on the promotional poster or can contact Turner through his email address at william.turner@acboe.net.