Jimmy Chitwood Jr.: The shot that changed everything
Hickory's Jimmy Chitwood hits shot heard 'round the world
Some players score points. Some players win games. Very few become legends.
Jimmy Chitwood Jr. became a legend Friday night.
With the Indiana State Championship on the line and thousands watching, the Hickory senior calmly accepted the basketball and delivered the shot every kid dreams about making.
Nothing but net. Game over. State championship.
Yet those who know Chitwood best aren't surprised. The quiet sharpshooter has spent years perfecting his craft in empty gyms and long summer afternoons.
"He never wanted attention," teammate Everett Flatch said. "He just wanted to play."
That dedication showed throughout Hickory's remarkable tournament run. When opponents doubled him, he found teammates. When Hickory needed points, he delivered. When the season depended on one shot, he never hesitated.
Now his name joins the long history of Indiana basketball greatness. Years from now, people may forget the score.
They'll never forget Jimmy Chitwood Jr.'s shot.