By Chris McCarthy/ Publisher/Editor
Austin Hancock is taking his cage skills to the Magic City.
On Monday (May 13), the Glencoe High senior guard signed a letter-of-intent to play for Birmingham Southern College.
Hancock, who also lettered in football and track, last season helped the Yellow Jacket basketball team post a 19-11 record and make it to the substate round of the Class 3A state playoffs.
Hancock was named to the 2012-13 All-Etowah County team and the 2012-13 All-Messenger first team after averaging 13.6 points and shooting 83 percent from the free throw line.
Glencoe went to the Northeast Regional Tournament in Hancock’s sophomore and junior seasons. The Yellow Jackets went 65-23 in the three years that Hancock was in the starting lineup.
“I love football and baseball, but ever since I was little, my main sport was basketball,” said Hancock, who plans on studying pre-med at BSC with the goal of becoming a pedi-atrician. “Whenever I had free time, I went outside and played basketball. It’s something I really have a passion for.”
Hancock joins a Panther squad that last season went 20-8 and finished runner-up in the Southern Athletic Association Tournament.
“They showed interest, and I went down to visit. I really liked the campus and the coaches, and I felt that it was the right place to be after talking to my family and praying.”
Hancock will have a familiar face on the BSC squad in Westbrook Christian’s Alex Perkins, with whom Hancock played AAU summer ball.
“Actually, me and Alex have talked about playing together down there. We’re good friends, and it should be a lot of fun.”
GHS boys basketball coach Tommy Stanley pointed out that Hancock did not achieve his success on the basketball court through athletic talent alone.
“There’s probably nobody with a better work ethic than Austin. He a hard worker who has got that competitive drive and hates to lose. When add all that together, that’s why he’s getting the opportunity to play at the next level.
“He not only was our leading scorer, but a lot of times he’d guard the other team’s best offensive player. He was a guy that led by example. Birmingham Southern’s is not only getting a good student but an athlete that wants to compete.”