ATTITUDE. DISCIPLINE. SPORTSMANSHIP.

We all know that attitude, discipline and sportsmanship are essential qualities of an athlete. The first MVP in the Arizona Junior High Basketball Tournament in 1992 was Derrek Wheaton of T.G. Barr School. This young man 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 football banquet. We welcome his family, Doris, Robert, Robbie and Kenny every year as presenters of this award to the tournament MVP. We dedicate this tournament to Derrek and his family.