Team Nextel’s Daniel Spillman (right) rebounds against the Dirty Ballerz’ Sean Clark during their game Saturday at Hoopfest at Diddle Arena.

Brandon Stockton’s college basketball career is over. But the Glasgow product still takes advantage of every opportunity to play the game.

Stockton – who just completed a run at the University of Kentucky – led Team Nextel to the Top Flight division championship in Saturday’s Bluegrass Cellular Hoopfest 2006 3-on-3 basketball tournament at E.A. Diddle Arena’s auxiliary gyms.

Stockton joined Barren County graduate and Lindsey Wilson senior Daniel Spillman, plus Glasgow products Randy Depp and Jamaal Allen, to the win the championship in the most competitive division.

&#8220Events like this can get pretty competitive,” Stockton said. &#8220You’ve got a lot of guys in college or played college and they want to show they can play some ball, so it’s going to get pretty competitive.”

Team Nextel took the hard road to winning the championship. It lost its first game in the double-elimination tournament before reeling off four consecutive victories for the crown.

The tournament’s games lasted until 20 points or 20 minutes, and Team Nextel defeated Twilight 20-8 in the final.

And Stockton put on a show that many Glasgow fans were used to seeing. He scored 15 of Team Nextel’s 20 points in the championship – on five 3-pointers. He buried a 3-pointer to clinch the championship.

Team Nextel’s offensive strategy wasn’t complicated. Find an open Stockton.

&#8220He can shoot as much as he wants to because he’s probably going to make it,” Spillman joked. &#8220That’s what I like to do. That’s how I made my living in high school and that’s how I make my living in college, just rebound and play defense.”

Spillman and Stockton were rivals in high school, but Spillman claimed &#8220it’s a lot more fun” to be on the same team as Stockton.

And Stockton doesn’t give Spillman a hard time about being the only Barren County product on the squad.

&#8220He’s a good friend of mine, but we do try to put him in Glasgow jerseys every now and then,” Stockton said.

Team Nextel does try to play in several events when the players return home for the summer. And while the stakes might not be as high as those in college games, the blood can start to boil in the 3-on-3 tournament.

Emotions were evident and the game’s official had to step in at times to calm players down.

&#8220Any time you step on the court, you want to win,” Spillman said. &#8220People are going to get angry. You just have to watch what you say.

&#8220But it’s good to get out and see some new competition because it gets old playing everybody in Glasgow.”

The tournament isn’t only for collegiate players. Divisions began at 10-and-under and included different levels of skill. Proceeds from the tournament go to Junior Achievement, which educates young people in the classroom about business and economics.

Stockton hopes he’s got plenty of basketball left in him. The former UK guard has hopes for a professional career in any of the various professional leagues. That means he’s spent plenty of time on the basketball court.

&#8220I’m trying to play ball as much as possible because I’m still trying to play ball either in the CBA, ABA or overseas,” Stockton said. &#8220I’ve got a pretty good chance. I’ve been working out for some teams and have played in a lot of pro-am tournaments, so I’m keeping my options open.”