Another day, another award for Timberland basketball sensation Kalana Greene.
Greene is the Gatorade girls' state player of the year, and she is a contender for the organization's national player of the year honor.
Greene was recently named the state's Class AAA player of the year by the S.C. Coaches Association and played in the South Caro-lina vs. North Carolina all-star game.
She averaged a double-double this season to lead the Wolves to a 25-1 record and a state championship.
"Kalana is so unselfish," Timberland coach Cleve Touchberry said. "She could do a lot more individually but is focused on the team concept. She is personable and grounded in her academics as well as basketball."
Greene, who averaged 28 points and 18 rebounds per game, is headed to play for Connecticut. The Huskies will be getting more than just a good basketball player. Greene has a 3.5 grade-point average, and was the school's homecoming queen last fall.
The Gatorade boys' player of the year is Chester's Devan Downey. Downey, who played in the Red Cross-Rotary Roundball Classic in December, is headed to play for the Cincinnati Bearcats.
HIT HAPPENINGS
After struggling the last few years with declining participation, the Hanahan Invitational Tournament (HIT) is bigger and better. The baseball tournament begins Monday at eight venues in the Lowcountry and features a record 34 teams, including 16 from out of state.
At one time, HIT was one of the most prestigious tournaments in the nation. But the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, caused school officials to rethink the way teams and groups traveled long distances, especially on planes. In 2002, 26 teams participated, and the number dropped to 18 in '03.
Last year, Brian Campbell was in his first year as baseball coach at Hanahan and helped promote the tournament. As a result, the field increased to 26 teams.
"We want to get HIT back to where it used to be," Mitchell said. "When Bill Steadman coached, he didn't have to do anything. Schools called him. We want to get the tournament back to that level."
This year marks the 36th year for the tourney, which will be contested at Collins Park, Hanahan, West Ashley, Fort Dorchester, Wando, Wando South, James Island and Berkeley.
There will be a couple of changes. There will be no home run derby Sunday because it will be Easter, and teams will play at different locations leading up to the quarterfinals rather than at the same site. The quarterfinals, semifinals and championship games will be played at Hanahan's Sportsman Field.
CARTER FARES WELL
Former North Charleston and Newberry basketball player Rashaad Carter is playing basketball in Europe. The 6-4 guard is a member of the German team FV Weissenhorn and averages 24 points and eight rebounds from his guard position.
Contact Philip M. Bowman at pbowman@postandcourier.com or at 937-5592.
