Elbert County basketball player becomes instant legend with backboard-shattering dunk
Elbert County’s Rod Rucker is an instant school legend.
The high school basketball shattered the backboard with a two-handed dunk in the first round of the region tournament.
”I was scared a little bit,” Rucker told WSGC Radio. “But hey, I took it like a man.”
Play was stopped for an hour, according to the radio station, and the game resumed at another venue — Elbert County Middle School.
Elbert County’s Rod Rucker is an instant schoolboy legend.
The high school basketball player shattered the backboard with a two-handed dunk in the first round of the region tournament.
”I was scared a little bit,” Rucker told WSGC Radio. “But hey, I took it like a man.”
Play was stopped for an hour, according to the radio station, and the game resumed at another venue — Elbert County Middle School. Rucker is a 6-foot-4 wingman for the team.
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98 comments Add your comment
SHANE FORTSON
February 22nd, 2010
1:10 pm
CONGRATS 2 MY LIL BRA AND ALSO 2 THA 1′S HATING I WANNA CONGRATULATE YALL!
Allen 77
February 22nd, 2010
1:33 pm
Congratulations Big Blue for an exciting year in basketball. 25W-2L, and still going strong. Rod Rucker keep your head up high and keep reaching for the sky. You are making Elbert County proud.
bulldog fan
February 22nd, 2010
1:44 pm
ok yeah , he broke the backboard . thats great but i think everyones 4getting the fact that HES NOT A KID !!!!!!! aint he like 20 or something . he was a freshman whe my brother played ball against him as a freshman . hes enjoying basketball at college as a sophmore now . there still is something truley wrong with this school system . i really hope this gives him a little more motivation to graduate maybe???? hhhmmmmmmm…… maybebreak a backboard against kids his own age ? // just a thought
Dawg 69
February 22nd, 2010
3:25 pm
If he’d have hit the hole sweet and square with the round rock the board would still be intact. He missed it pure and simple and you are making a god out of him. Give me a break. As was said earlier, what colleges are standing in line for him- Athens Tech., Elberton Campus?
Dawg 69
February 22nd, 2010
3:29 pm
Oh yes, I forgot. I just love the grammar!
K. Hill
February 22nd, 2010
4:03 pm
Look at all these haters! Haters everywhere we go! Haters everywhere we go! Keep doing your thing Rod; now, in college, and beyond, while these haters continue on with their miserable lives…
TJ
February 22nd, 2010
4:10 pm
dont be hating on rod because he the best player that came threw elberton
elbert
February 22nd, 2010
5:07 pm
bulldog fan for dawg69 he is 18 for you information and u just mad because he was doing yo brother who eva u are. such a hater but ya no what that whathe like so he can make them haters proud how about you put yo name u here and yes he goig to skoolsome u didnt do! and where ever he go thats his business not yours and we are not MAKING A GOD OUT OF HIM ITS THE GOD IN HIM HOW ABOUT THAT HATERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
elbert
February 22nd, 2010
5:13 pm
AND FOR THOSE WHO SAID SUM1 BROKE A BACK BOARD IN PRACTICE!!!!! DID WE HEAR ABOUT IT UM NO! AND THAT WAS PRAC NOT IN THE GAME!!! GROW UP GO ROD RUCKER WHO CAN STOP THIS KID?? GO LOOK UP HIS STAC. BETTER YET JUST GOOGLE HIM HAHAHAHAHAHAHA AND C WHAT POPS UP! AINT NOBODY AROUND DID THAT GIVE THE KID HIS CREDIT!!!! HOPE U DONT RAISE YOUR KIDS TO BE A HATER
elbert
February 22nd, 2010
5:17 pm
DAWG 69 U WOULDNT BELIEVE WHAT HE HAS IN LINE HE IS GIFTED LET ME NO ILL SEND U A PIC OF WHAT HE HAS IN LINE BETTER YET CUM TO ELBERTON AND READ THEM IN SURE HIS FAMILY WOULD LET YA!!!!! 42 ROD RUCKER HAS MADE HISTORY YEP 20 YEARS FROM NOW
;
February 22nd, 2010
9:22 pm
DO ANY OF YOU PEOPLE SPEAK ENGLISH?????
Quin'tavious M. Jackson
February 22nd, 2010
9:23 pm
Yo yo yo yo y’all don’t be hatin yo he a goot boy yo i don’t know what a “period” is, yo.
JES
February 22nd, 2010
9:27 pm
Sooooo, some of y’all don’t think a 40 year old backboard is a *little* easier to break than a new one?
Ummmm
February 23rd, 2010
12:02 am
happy for him. not jealous or hating. just saying that academics are more important. what if an injury halts his basketball career? have to have something to fall back on. whose telling this young man to have a backup plan? mr. allen you should be proud. however, wouldnt you be prouder if he had a gpa of 3.0 or better? just stating reality.
ROD RUCKER #42
February 23rd, 2010
12:31 am
I REALLY DON’T KNOW WHY ALL U HATERS ON MY JOCK STRAP BUT GET OFF AND GET A LIFE PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!! I GOT MUCH LOVE FOR ALL MY HATERS AS LONG AS I KNOW THE LORD GOT MY BACK AND ALREADY GOT MY FUTURE PLANNED OUT I CAN CARE LESS AT YOU LOW LIFE PEOPLE GOT TO SAY ABOUT ME……………………………. I BET ALL U HATERS DON’T HAVE ANY BUSINESS ABOUT YOURSELVES BECAUSE IF YOU DID YOU WOULDN’T BE WASTING YOUR TIME HATING BUT DATS LIFE…………………………. ALL YOU HATER BE AT THE INFERNO FRIDAY AT 7:00 AND WATCH DEM ELBERT COUNTY BLUE DEVILS DO THEIR JOB AS USUAL!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YALL
Eagle 1
February 23rd, 2010
1:48 am
Good job Rod and let the haters be who they are. I always liked you as a player keep up the good work stay focused young brutha.
Columbia will see you again in the state!!
3 Straight
February 23rd, 2010
9:36 am
If you want to talk about the regional basketball results and share your opinion about who will win the 1st round of the state tournament for class 5A, join me at http://norcrosshighbasketball.blogspot.com/ and make your comment. I think there is a lot to talk about.
Allen 77
February 23rd, 2010
11:38 am
To Ummmmm, bottom line up front, your points are well taken and thank you. However,
I don’t think any reader or person in their right mind would disagree with you that academics are foremost in school. That’s what parents and teachers are for, as well as his brilliant coach, Mr Larry Brown. Rod Rucker is my great nephew and I’m very proud of him and his accomplishments, regardless whether that be on or off the court. You asked the question about what if an injury halted his career? You nor I have any control over Mr Rucker staying injury free! Injuries are a fact of life in sports and these are the chances athletes take. You also stated, “wouldn’t I be prouder if he had a GPA of 3.0 or better? Of course! But do you know that he doesn’t? But, I say why a 3.0 GPA and not a 4.0 GPA.
Sincerely,
elbert
February 23rd, 2010
12:11 pm
well done mr allen!!! he is going to school to get an education and to play AND IF HE GETS HURT THEN HE WILL STILL BE IN SCHOOL DUH!!!!!! USE YOUR HEAD!!! AND FOR JES I DONT CARE IF IT WAS 100 YEARS OLD DID U BREAK IT? WHAT ARE U DOING WITH YOUR LIFE? AND WHO SAID IT WAS 40 YEARS OLD! IS THAT AN EDUCATED GUESS OR SOME? BUT HE HAVE THE NET AND THE RIM IS ON ITS WAY TO HIS HOUSE! AND IT WILL BE PUT UP SO WHENEVER HE FINISH SCHOOL AND IF HE HAVE KIDS HE CAN PULL IT BACK OUT AND TELL THEM THE STORY!!! FOR THOSE HATER WHAT DO U HAVE TO SHOW YOUR KIDS IF U HAVE ANY? AND FOR ; DO YO MOTHER SPEAK ENGLISH??? KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ROD THE LORD HAS PLENTY MORE BLESSING THATS COMING YOUR WAY!!!! 42 AND LIKE HE SAID COME TO THE INFERNO AT 7 ON FRIDAY HATERS BECAUSE THE FANS WILL ALWAYS BE THERE NO MATTER HOW FAR THEY GO
BUZZTIME
February 23rd, 2010
11:06 pm
I went and saw the kid play Friday and Saturday night. He is good player that plays hard on both ends of the court. He might probally needs to work on his jump shot a bit but he can play on a Div-1 team. I heard the UGA was looking at him but can’t confirm that. I think he would be better off at a school like Ga. State where he would contribute immediately. If he does go to a School like UGA I would expect him to start by his Junior year but might be a sub for his first couple of years. One thing this kid does that I haven’t seen many if any kids in High School is he is constantly focused on the game and doesn’t really do any Trash Talking after Dunks or 3 pointers. If he makes a play he immediately turns around and plays D and encourages his teammates to do the same. Elbert County will win 2 games and may draw Columbia again in the Elite 8. I don’t think they will beat Columbia but if they were to pull the upset they might be the best team left after that.
Stephanie Hines-Smith
February 23rd, 2010
11:40 pm
CONGRATULATIONS to Coach Larry Brown & his team. Well deserved!! See you in Macon.
bulldog fan
February 24th, 2010
8:17 am
i totally rest my case !! elbert fan cant spell , read , or write . at least this explains why there are 20yr old seniors playing ball and 17yr old freshman over there . thanks for clearing all that up . lol…..
Red Elaphant
February 24th, 2010
8:29 am
Does any of you guys know how to speak proper English? Rod Rucker is an okay basketball player for his age!!! He is 20 years old!! people over their need to start focusing on their school work.
2010 Georgia High School Basketball Tournament: Break down the brackets | Prep Zone: AJC High School Sports
February 24th, 2010
12:21 pm
[...] Awesome Video: Elbert County’s Rod Rucker slams home backboard-shattering DUNK [...]
Eagle 1
February 24th, 2010
4:41 pm
@BuzzTime
Rod Rucker is a good player…not taking anything away from him.
Lets not get crazy they will not beat Columbia period!!!
Breakin backboards is cool and all but that aint gone get it done against them Decatur Boyz!!!
FYI good luck with North Atlanta!!!Lol
elbert
February 24th, 2010
4:55 pm
WE WILL C LETS DO DAT
Rod Rucker #42
February 25th, 2010
9:27 am
I love yall to death…………….. be at the inferno at 7:15 dont be late, to all my haters cause i know my supporters and fans gone be there to watch the ELBERT COUNTY BLUE DEVILS do their job!!!!!!!!!!!!
Allen 77
February 25th, 2010
12:47 pm
Rod, please STAY FOCUS with your task at hand and that is, on Friday night win your first Sub-Region game in trying to bring another basketball championship to Elbert County. Don’t get caught up in blogging with all those haters out there trying to throw you and your team off your game. Would love to come and watch you all play buy living here in San Antonio, TX and are unable to make it!
GOOOOO BIG BLUE!!!!!!!
Yikes
February 25th, 2010
3:25 pm
It’s Stay FOCUSED, not FOCUS……………..
SportsFan31313
February 25th, 2010
5:09 pm
Looks Like these Schoos Need To Have a backup Plan such as backup back board for cases like this…..
Allen 77
February 25th, 2010
5:37 pm
Yikes, thanks for the oversight! However, you got work to do if it’s your job as the proofreader to proofread these Blogs!
Rod, please STAY FOCUSED with your task at hand and that is, on Friday night win your first Sub-Region game in trying to bring another basketball championship to Elbert County. Don’t get caught up in blogging with all those haters out there trying to throw you and your team off your game. Would love to come and watch you all play buy living here in San Antonio, TX and are unable to make it!
GOOOOO BIG BLUE!!!!!!!
Bryson moss
February 26th, 2010
8:38 am
Well all the years i have been coming to the basketball games i have never seen a person break the back board.My boy fii as F*** and thats just the end of it!!!
bubb sparks
February 26th, 2010
11:54 am
yea u might be right….but ah we sorta raped y’all by 43 in the region championship…& don’t forget to mention the 27-7 ass whopping that was handed to y’all after y’all walked through our pregame warm ups!!! seems like to me that lion is cage in a jungle!
o
February 26th, 2010
11:59 am
OMMMG
TRUE FAN/elbert county -amelia edmond
February 26th, 2010
12:07 pm
Big ups to my boi ROD RUCKER for making HISTORY ! i dont know why people love to bring others down . Not only did he SHATTER the backboard but brought the RIM DOWN with him ! That’s VEERRY unusual ! And as far as SAT/ACT scores … everyone needs to maintain whats going on in their lives and where they may end up ! GOD blessed everyone with DIFFERENT talents .. so go DISCOVER yours and let ROD RUCKER achieve his dreams … ! WAY TO GO DEVILS !! -much love
0000
February 26th, 2010
8:26 pm
I am not “hating”….I just don’t think breaking a backboard is news or anything to get excited about. We all have our own opinions.
Class of 84
February 26th, 2010
11:07 pm
Franklin county class of 88– Ask your baseball & football teams about getting their butt’s kicked! We own ya’ll in these and now own ya’ll in basketball..how does it feel? breathe in some of that granite dust
We work hard and can take it. Hope to see you in State tournament.
Elbert baby!
February 27th, 2010
12:12 am
What the hell rod is not 20 im a senior at ECCHS as so is he and we were freshmen together and neither have failed. Do yall ppl know whats in Elberton?? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Nomatter how old the board is there were also other kids playin there and when the hell did they break it?? Give rod props and let him live his life and as 2 the haters get one! much love bro keep showin them what your about. Oh yea we killed north Atlanta!
james
February 27th, 2010
4:21 am
The kid is a good player. Nevertheless the new 5-A champions will be Groves High of Savannah (only 1 loss) Two 6′9″ inch starters and 6′3 inch guards that jump and run like deer is going to make difficult for anyone to beat them. If you team can’t run, stay home, you won’t have a chance. No one can stop their fast break, and they get all rebounds…ask MLK. They got ran out of the gym last night in Savannah.
Elbert baby!
February 27th, 2010
12:41 pm
Well see:) u can blog all u want but the skills on the court will show all no matter who we play they have 2 be up 2 par 2 compete with us. Rods a great player but by no means is he all we have. and 2 all the haters Rod was a school legend b4 he broke the backboard but not 2b too clishae it put the icing on the cake. The real icing will be when were state champs! DEVIL NATION BABY!!!
^^^
March 2nd, 2010
4:12 pm
What in the world is a “clishae”??????? We have a similar word in English, “cliche”. Maybe that’s the one you were trying to use……
Rod Rucker #42
March 3rd, 2010
9:22 am
Lyke i said one time b4 i love all my hater,fans, and supporters……… all you haters don’t miss this one be there at 6:15 and do not be late and make sure all you haters get a front row seat!!!!!!! I’m out of here lyke last year and will be back lyke the electric bill.lol
FRANKLIN CO!
March 5th, 2010
10:36 am
LMAO!
amia reed
March 5th, 2010
2:32 pm
i love rod rucker he is sooooooooooooooooooooooooo FINE i love u ROD RUCKER
mecole
March 6th, 2010
10:33 am
rod rucker is the truth u cant take that away from him he might be the best around player in the state
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