Zachary Fluker — John Essex High School — The Demopolis Times Athlete of the Year nominee

Published 12:00 am Friday, May 2, 2008

Class: Junior

Sports: Basketball and football

Athlete on Athlete: &8220;He&8217;s a real good teammate. If something&8217;s going bad, he&8217;s the type of teammate that will talk you back into it. He&8217;s a good leader too. He&8217;s just outstanding in both (basketball and football). I know when he&8217;s out there, there&8217;s somebody I can throw the ball to. Most of the time, he&8217;s going to catch it.&8221; &8212; JEHS football and basketball player Latrell Griffin

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Coach Speak: &8220;He shows a lot of leadership. Even as a junior, he was pretty much our leader on the basketball floor. He&8217;s college ready. Whatever he&8217;s doing, he&8217;s going to give you 100 percent. He is a serious guy. He&8217;s all about what we&8217;re doing and he tries to get everybody else in line too. I&8217;d consider him a role model as a junior because of his work ethic.&8221; &8212; JEHS football and basketball coach Fentress Means.

The Skinny: Fluker stepped onto the football field for the first time as a junior, bringing his speed and quickness to the secondary and receiver positions for an iron-man Hornet team that boasted only 13 players. While his natural athletic ability made him a threat on the gridiron, it is the hardwood he calls home. The point guard averaged 15 points, six assists and three steals a game this. With every jump shot, jab step and drive Fluker shows just a little more of the raging desire that earned him a spot among the Athlete of the Year nominees and continues to promise him a bright future.