Few basketball players can say they hold the distinction of being the all-time leading scorer for their high school and college basketball programs. However, former Rogersville High School and Avila University standout Alyson (Young) Hooten can say just that.
Now Hooten’s career will soon be recognized by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame during its upcoming Basketball Tipoff Luncheon presented by Mercy. Hooten has been named to the Hall’s Filbert Five, a group of former high school, college and professional basketball players. The Filbert Five is named in honor of the late Gary Filbert, who coached high school and college basketball teams and, in 2011, was bestowed the Missouri Sports Legend award by the Hall of Fame.
The luncheon is at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 10 at the University Plaza Convention Center in Springfield. For tickets, call 417-889-3100.
“I was lucky enough to play in southwest Missouri, where basketball is supported so well,” Hooten said. “That was during a time when girls basketball was at its peak on one of the best Rogersville teams we’ve had.”
A 6-foot center, Hooten scored 1,649 points from 2003 to 2007 at Rogersville, where she also is the all-time leading rebounder (890) and holds the single-season scoring record (550). She earned All-State in Class 4 in 2007 as well as All-Ozarks by the News-Leader and was a Miss Show-Me Basketball nominee. At Avila, she became the all-time leading scorer before graduating in 2011. She led the Heart of America Athletic Conference in scoring in her junior and senior seasons and was also two-time NAIA All-American honorable mention. In 2011, Hooten also led Avila to its first NAIA Division I Tournament and earned All-HAAC for a fourth consecutive year.
“My favorite basketball memory was winning the conference tournament at Avila, for the first time in school history,” Hooten said, “after hitting a couple free throws in the final seconds of the game to send our team to the national tournament.”
She also credits teammates and coaches who made so many memories possible.
“My all-time favorite memories in basketball and life all involve my teammates and coaches I’ve had over the years, from AAU to high school and then college,” Hooten said. “I’m thankful to have been on some great teams.”
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Want to go?
What: Basketball Tipoff Luncheon presented by Mercy
When: 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 10
Where: University Plaza Convention Center, Springfield
Inductees: Parkview High School’s “Jolly Green Giants” of 1964-1966; Missouri State’s 1952 and 1953 NAIA national championship men’s basketball teams; Jefferson City and Lady Bears standout Karen Rapier; and high school and college coach Gary Stanfield.
Filbert Five men’s team: Chris Harville (Rogersville/Missouri State), Steven Hill (Branson/Arkansas), Sam Singh (Ozark/Bradley), Mark Sparks (Neosho/Mizzou/Drury) and Kevin Williams (Nevada/Mizzou).
Filbert Five women’s team: Sara Bos Barnhart (Billings/Drury),Terianne Wolford Brown (Nixa/Mizzou), Laura Granzow Buetow (Kickapoo/Denver/Canisius), Alyson Young Hooten (Rogersville/Avila) and Anita Rank Oplotnik (Lincoln/Missouri Southern).
Tickets: Individual tickets are $40. Tables of eight are $400 and include associate sponsor recognition in the printed program. Call the Hall of Fame at 317-889-3100.