Eric Hampford:
Future150 GM / Senior National Analyst. Covering high and middle school basketball.
North Charleston, SC (Future150) -- Every basketball coach needs one. An extension of himself on the floor. A player he can count on to play fundamentally sound basketball, make all the right decisions, keep his teammates involved, and most importantly, someone who will lead his team to victories.
Fort Dorchester High School in North Charleston, South Carolina is lucky enough to have one of these athletes...and his name is Eric Hayward.
The 6'1", 140-pound combo guard and 3-time Future150 Camp All-Star selection is the definition of a "player", He doesn't have one particular aspect of his game that will 'wow' you, but he always gets the job done.
He is an excellent shooter from mid-range and beyond the arc, can handle the basketball as a point guard or shooting guard, and has solid court instincts.
One aspect of his game that definitely sets him apart from his peers is his heart. Though slight in stature, he doesn't back down from anyone and takes pride in playing solid, physical defense.
While Fort Dorchester has started the season slowly at 3-2, he is doing all he can for the Patriots.
Through five games, he is averaging 15 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two steals per game.
Amazingly, he is receiving very little interest from college coaches right now, mostly because of his lack of exposure regionally and nationally. He only began playing AAU basketball this past summer.
Don't be surprised to see his recruitment pick up over the next six to eight months after he finishes his junior season strong.
The combo guard, who plays his AAU seasons with the emerging Charleston Playmakers program, has some big goals not only for his high school season, but for the spring and summer as well.
"I want to take my team to state, and I want to take the Playmakers to AAU nationals," He told me in an interview this week.
From here on, be on the lookout for Eric Hayward. I know that several college coaches will be.
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