Hylton's Hatfield, Hargrove look to put on slam-dunk display at Hoops Fest

He is not satisfied wearing the same shoes during an entire game. That’s a routine Michael Hatfield prefers.

He will wear a pink pair of Nikes and a yellow pair of shoes.

It reminds his coach of a situation where people need to tweak things before returning to a game or any other event.

“It’s like pit row at a NASCAR race with the changing of the shoes,” said Hylton boys’ basketball coach Barry Smith, who recalled an earlier game against Osbourn Park this season where Hatfield dunked twice, but did so in different colored shoes.

Hatfield likes switching shoes. “That’s why I do this,” he said. “I have a lot of fun. It’s a blast.”

But the pink shoes are worn to honor women with breast cancer. Breast cancer is a subject Hatfield has come to understand after his grandmother lost her battle two years ago.

“I got them as a breast cancer thing,” Hatfield said.

Tonight, Hatfield will think of his grandmother as he and teammate Kendall Hargrove attempt to win the dunk contest at Hoops Fest 16 at Hylton High School.

A huge legion of Hylton’s fans are expected to attend. That includes the football team or “the hit squad” as Hargrove calls them.

The question is: What types of dunks do Hargrove and Hatfield have planned?

Hatfield is not sure.

“I’m just going to go freestyle I guess,” Hatfield said. ““We’ll go crazy. We’re going to have fun. It’s going to be a hyped atmosphere.”

Hargrove knows all about dunking. He threw down three slams in the first quarter of the Bulldogs’ 65-49 win over Woodbridge on Jan. 30.

Hargrove also understands the risks that come with it. During his sophomore season, Hargrove broke his right leg as he went up for a jam in late December. The scars still remain from his Jan. 6 surgery.

“After the surgery, I came back,” Hargrove said. “My leg was strong and I was always able to dunk. Everybody thought I took steroids, but it was just physical therapy.”

The therapy included lunges, riding a stationary bicycle, calf raises and running up and down the stairs.

“[Just] getting my motion back,” Hargrove said.

Hargrove will use his strength to try and win tonight’s competition. Hargrove is not buying into the hype, but is confident his leaping ability will enable him and fellow senior Hatfield put on a show for the home fans.

“I’m just going in there like it’s like everybody’s coming to watch everybody bring their dunks,” Hargrove said. “There’s probably not that much competition. I don’t believe everybody has the jumping ability of me and Michael Hatfield.”

Staff writer Robert Daski can be reached at 703-530-3913.