Best Local Athlete '97

Best Local Athlete

Sean Elliott

READERS' PICK: Okay, let's try this one more time. Sean Elliott is a great guy. Salt of the earth. Absolutely wowed us when he played in the Cholla High School gymnasium now named for him, and later for four golden years when he led the UA Wildcats to the position of national prominence, which they still occupy. But he lives in San Antonio now. That's in Texas. There's another whole state between us and Texas (and thank goodness for that). Plus, he hardly played at all this past season because of injuries. We understand that Sean will live forever in our hearts as one of ours, but next year this category will be called "Best Local Athlete, BUT NOT Sean Elliott."

READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: When he played for Shadow Mountain High in Phoenix, Mike Bibby was one of those "17-year-old gods" whose existence Barbara Hershey lamented in Hoosiers. His visit to Tucson for a game against Salpointe Catholic created a frenzy not seen in these parts...ever. Having already announced he would attend the UA, Bibby wowed the locals (although Salpointe won the game). This past year all he did was move right into Lute Olson's starting lineup, run the show for a senior-less Cat team, and then rise to a level of excellence that would carry the UA to its long-awaited first NCAA basketball championship. In doing so, he became the first-ever freshman point guard to lead his team to the title. Watch him quickly, 'cause he'll probably be off to the NBA after next year. At which time, we can change the name of the category to "Best Local Athlete, But Not Sean Elliott or Mike Bibby."

A REAL SCREAM: We gotta call attention to Amphi High School running back Antrel Bates. For a football power that has seen two Bateses, Michael and Mario, go on to Pac-10 stardom and now steady work in the NFL, it's amazing that a third Bates, Antrel (no relation to the others), might be the best of them all. Last year he led Amphi to (yawn) another football title and was named Southern Arizona Player of the Year. He should be even better this year and become the subject of an intense recruiting battle.

1998 Winner: Mike Bibby
1996 Winner: Kerri Strug