Deion Curry has no intentions of letting an injury keep him from showcasing his skills as an all-star.
The Pickens County High School senior intends to take part in the 14th-annual Alabama All-Star Sports Week in Huntsville, Ala., this week despite recovering from a knee injury.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Curry was selected to play for the South in the boys basketball game, which is scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday at Spragins Hall on the campus of the Univerity of Alabama at Huntsville.
“It”s been getting better,” Curry said of his knee. “I feel this is a chance for me to show everybody what I”ve got. I haven”t been able to go to any camps this summer and so this is an opportunity for me to show myself.
“I don”t actually feel 100 percent, but whenever I”m doing anything I give it my best. Even if I”m injured I am going to try and give it 110 percent.”
He is the first boys basketball player from Pickens County to ever be selected to be part of the Alabama All-Star Sports Week.
Curry was chosen to play in the game after helping Pickens County (27-2) win the Class 2A state championship this past February. He scored 31 points to help the Tornadoes outlast Houston County 88-86 in triple overtime.
Curry scored five points in the final 8.8 seconds as Pickens County overcame an 86-81 deficit in that time to rally for the dramatic victory.
“This is a pretty good deal,” Pickens County coach Russ Wallace said of Curry being selected to the game. “This is the first time I”ve ever had anyone selected. Deion is the first one that”s made it. He deserves it, most definitely.”
Curry averaged 13.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.4 steals per game as a junior last season.
He picked up the scoring load and put the team on his back during the postseason. Prior to scoring 31 points against Houston County, he scored 17 points against Sand Rock in the semifinals and he scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds against Lanett in the Central Regional championship game.
Curry doesn”t remember how his hurt his knee, which he tweeked during Pickens County”s spring football game this past May. He is the quarterback and a safety on the football team.
“I just remember one day it started hurting,” Curry said. “I went to the doctor to get it checked and he told me my knee cap was going out instead of straight down. I don”t remember the day I hurt it, I just remember feeling the pain.
“I was feeling pain before (the spring game). I wasn”t feeling any pain during the game, but after the game it started hurting a little more and it”s been hurting ever since then.”
Curry said his knee is feeling better from rehabbing with a therapist. He”s done stretching exercises with a rubberband, riden a stationary bike and done leg curls to strengthen his knee.
Curry believes his knee has gotten stronger and he”s ready to put it to the test Thursday night by playing in the all-star basketball game.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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