A 6-foot-2, 180-pound guard from Shelbyville, Ky., Slaughter is one of the preseason favorites to claim the Commonwealth’s Mr. Basketball Award in 2006.
“A.J. is a great fit for our style of play because of his athleticism and versatility. He’s an excellent scorer and should be an excellent defender,” said Horn. “Our goal is to sign the best in our backyard, and A.J. should be a leading candidate for Mr. Basketball. The most exciting part is that he is a great person from an outstanding family whose best basketball is ahead of him.”
Last season, he averaged 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals per contest while leading Shelby County High School to a 22-7 finish and the district championship. Slaughter — who shot 51 percent from the floor, including 47 percent from beyond the three-point arc — was selected honorable mention all-state by the Louisville Courier-Journal as well as first-team all-district and all-region, and was named to the region and Coca-Cola Classic all-tournament squads.
As a sophomore, Slaughter led the Rockets to 16 victories and the district title after posting 14 points, four rebounds and a pair of steals per game. The district’s most valuable player and a first-team all-region and all-district choice, Slaughter shot 45 percent overall and 34 percent from three-point range.
He started, along with two sophomores, as a freshman in 2002-03 for the Rockets, helping lead SCHS to 11 wins.
The Hilltoppers make their 2005-06 debut Thursday with a 7 p.m. (CST) exhibition contest against Bellarmine at E.A. Diddle Arena.
