Ex-Central receiver is enrolled at Hayti

~ George Hamilton III has returned from Florida and is awaiting eligibility approval.

George Hamilton III, who led Cape Central in receiving last year as a sophomore, has returned from Florida and enrolled in a high school in Southeast Missouri.

Hayti coach David Gilmore confirmed Friday night that Hamilton has moved to Hayti and is living with his father.

The school has submitted paperwork to the Missouri State High School Activities Association in hopes that Hamilton will be granted athletic eligibility this school year.

"If it happens, it would be icing on the cake," Gilmore said.

Hayti, 3-0 this year, is ranked fifth in the Class 1 state poll. It runs a no-huddle, spread offense with some misdirection plays in the backfield that put flankers in motion to take handoffs from quarterback Shaun Jones.

Hamilton last year at Cape Central caught 32 passes for 566 yards and four touchdowns during a 4-7 season when the Tigers won a Class 4 district championship. He had six touchdowns for the season.

His departure from Central this summer, when his mother moved to Florida, came as the team also faced the graduation of leading rusher Hykeem Hammonds and quarterback Blake Slattery, the Southeast Missourian player of the year.

Tigers coach Lawrence Brookins told the Southeast Missourian he had talked often with Hamilton, who was hopeful of returning to Southeast Missouri. But Brookins said the team had made preparations in the summer when the players and staff knew Hamilton had moved.

"Obviously, he's a playmaker," Brookins said Sunday night. "He's raw but he's going to be a plus for someone."

Gilmore said Hamilton turned 18 last week, which allowed him to make decisions about his educational opportunities.

"His father lives about three blocks from the school," Gilmore said.

He was uncertain what considerations MSHSAA would take into account in the eligibility process and was cautious.

"We've got a good nucleus, and we don't want to ruin a good thing," Gilmore said after Friday's win against Hayti. "We've submitted the paperwork, and we're going to wait until we get something back from MSHSAA that is officially stamped 'eligible.'"

Hamilton is a junior in academic standing and would have a year of eligibility remaining in 2008 if he had to sit out a year.

He also was one of the leading players for Central's basketball team last winter.