The Arizona Junior High Basketball Boys Tournament dedicated to the memory of Derrek Wheaton and to his family is scheduled for January 8, 9 and continues January 16, 17 and 18.
The tournament highlights attitude, discipline and sportsmanship as essential qualities of an athlete. These qualities represent the tournament's MVP award given and named in honor of the first MVP in the Arizona Junior High Basketball Tournament, Derrek Wheaton of T.G. Barr Junior High School. Derrek displayed all of the qualities of an athlete. He played basketball, football and baseball at McClintock High School in Tempe. He was a football team member of the Phoenix College Bears. While there, he received a football scholarship to attend the University of Oregon in the fall of 1998.
Derrek Wheaton was fatally shot near his home in November of 1997 on his way home from the Phoenix College banquet. His family, Doris, Robert, Robbie and Kenny every year present the award to the tournament MVP.
For more information on the tournament and the registered entries, click here.