Athletes of the Week: Asbury in the record books, Jamison leads team to title

Jan. 28—The votes are in. With our new process, powered by Copper Creek Contractors, Kollin Asbury of the Armstrong-Potomac boys' basketball team and Alexa Jamison of the Salt Fork girls' basketball team are this week's winners. Here they are, in their own words, and with their biggest supporters — their teammates:

Kollin Asbury |Armstrong-Potomac boys' basketball

➜ Why he's Athlete of the Week: Asbury averaged 29 points during the Trojans' four Vermilion County Tournament games, scoring a total of 116 points, the second-most points scored in a single Vermilion County Tournament in the event's storied history. While Armstrong-Potomac only placed sixth out of seven teams, Asbury was the highest scorer on the court every time and kept his team competitive with his All-Tournament play.

➜ From Asbury: "For everybody to take their time to vote for me, that's a really cool feeling. ... It's obviously a great feeling when you're confident in every shot you take. I was never worried about getting points. It just kind of came to me. ... After the last game, I grabbed one of the pamphlets, and I didn't know there was a list of the top scorers in the tournament. That's when it really hit me that I'll be in that history forever, and that was a very cool feeling."

➜ A movie I could watch over and over is ... "The Hill."

➜ My favorite music genre is ... anything from rap to country to rock.

➜ If I could have any superpower, it would be ... super strength. It'd just be cool to lift any amount of weight.

➜ Something that's on my bucket list is ... I want to take an Alaskan cruise, and I want to play in the MLB.

➜ My biggest pet peeve is ... people interrupting me when I'm telling a story.

➜ My favorite basketball memory is ... I made an All-State team in eighth grade up by Peoria. There was a dunk contest, a three-point contest, and we played games. That was really cool experience for me.

➜ My favorite sports team is ... the St. Louis Cardinals.

➜ Before a game ... I always have my headphones with me, so I'm always listening to music, almost setting the mood going into the game. And I always have to get a good stretch in. If I don't stretch, I don't play good."

➜ After a game ... I have a lot of family, and they usually all come to the games. I love talking to them after the games. Sometimes, we'll all go out to eat as a family, and that's always a great time.

➜ In five years ... I hope to look back and see that I finished high school with a 4.0 GPA. Hopefully, I'm graduated from Kankakee Community College and moved on to a four-year school for baseball.

➜ Athlete of the Week finalists: Peyton Kuemmerle, Schlarman basketball; Trevor Plattner, Champaign Central swimming; Trevor Schoonover, Centennial wrestling.

Alexa Jamison — Salt Fork girls' basketball

➜ Why she's Athlete of the Week: Jamison scored a game-high 22 points in the Storm's 38-11 Vermilion County Tournament championship win. The junior made the All-Tournament Team to lead Salt Fork to its third consecutive county title. This one was extra special for Jamison, as she was just seven months removed from tearing her ACL. Getting her back was key for the Storm, and coach Brian Russell said she "completes our team."

➜ From Jamison: "I had a lot of people reach out in support, and it's just awesome to feel that support behind your back. ... We knew coming into the season that we wanted to win this tournament again, and we knew we really had to push and play well as a team. We all had to do our part, and we were lucky enough to come out winning again. ... Everyone's doing their part. Everyone has their role, and we've merged together really well."

➜ A movie I could watch over and over is ... "The Hunger Games." I really like the first one and the one that just came out.

➜ My favorite musical artist is ... Taylor Swift.

➜ If I could have any superpower, it would be ... teleportation just to be anywhere at any time.

➜ Something that's on my bucket list is ... going to the women's college basketball championship game and going to Hawaii.

➜ My favorite basketball memory is ... winning county last year and hitting 1,000 points.

➜ My favorite sports team is ... Oklahoma softball.

➜ Before a game ... we all watch film, watch the JV game and then get ready for the varsity game. We stretch together, and I use my massage gun to stretch my knee. We have a pregame talk, and then, we go play.

➜ After a game ... if we win, we like to celebrate and tell each other what we did well. I also like talking to my family and friends afterwards.

➜ In five years ... I definitely want to play a college sport, either basketball or softball. I want to graduate college and work toward my master's degree in physical therapy. I also want to have a family.

➜ Athlete of the Week finalists: Jaydah Arrowsmith, Oakwood basketball; Jacey Kessler, Arcola basketball; Hunter Mowrey, Milford basketball.