By Travis Cram | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

Shaney Wilkinson says he’s blessed to have the opportunity to represent Coronado one last time.

A week after going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the Greater West Texas Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game, the recent Coronado graduate will play one more time for the red and gold in the ASCO Football Classic on Saturday at Lowrey Field.

Playing football and baseball has always been a bonus for Wilkinson, who is headed to Princeton in the fall to pursue his Ivy League degree and play receiver for the Tigers football team.

But the first thing he will do when he arrives in New Jersey has nothing to do with sports.

“First thing I’m going to go do when I get there is go introduce myself to the physics department and everyone that worked with my grandfather,” Wilkinson said. “My grandmother lives close by in Lawrenceville. So it won’t be too bad and she’ll be able to help me out with my laundry.”

Wilkinson’s grandfather taught at the university for 40 years, and his dad grew up in the Princeton area.

The summer all-star game is a perk for Wilkinson, who started working out for Princeton after the baseball season ended and will continue to after Saturday’s football game. He said he’s been working out four days a week to prepare for the fitness test when he reports to Princeton for preseason workouts.

Coronado wide receiver Shaney Wilkinson jokes around during ASCO all-star football practice Thursday afternoon at Lubbock High. (Geoffrey McAllister/Avalanche-Journal)

“I was kind of expecting for things to slow down after baseball ended in May,” Wilkinson said. “But then I got invited to the baseball game and this, so I really only had about a two-week break. Then I’ll go right back to working out for Princeton again.”

The ASCO game reunites Wilkinson with quarterback Chris Camp, who will split time with Muleshoe’s Wes Wood behind center for the North all-stars.

And it truly will be Lubbock-area all-star receiving corps, especially on the left side as Wilkinson lined up in the slot during Thursday’s afternoon practice with Frenship’s Lance Ratliff on the outside.

With so many weapons, Muleshoe coach David Wood says he’s lucky to have an athlete like Wilkinson with this group, which includes his son, Wes, and nephew, Lane.

“Some kids when you come out here,” Wood said, “you see them as a running back, a receiver, or a linebacker. But with (Wilkinson), you look at him and say, ‘What can he not do?’

“We could probably use him on defense, too. … There’s more to this than just being a super athlete – they’re super kids.”

It was Wilkinson’s 2008 season that really began to set him apart from the rest of the group.

Wilkinson set Coronado records for receptions (106) and receiving yards (1,458) and scored 18 touchdowns – double what the Princeton team scored last season (nine touchdowns).

Wilkinson credited his hard work with Camp in the offseason before his senior year and is looking forward to putting up similar numbers with the Muleshoe system at the all-star game – the same spread offense that helped the Mules capture their first state title this past season.

“I wasn’t really expecting that kind of a season, but I’m definitely blessed to have had the success I did this year,” he said. “It’s a blast. Just going out there and spreading defenses out, confusing them as much as possible, it’s fun.

“We had a great system and it should be fun to work in coach Wood’s spread for this game. So it should be really exciting.”

More than anything, Coronado coach Butch Henderson said he’s proud to have had the opportunity to coach Wilkinson and see him thrive as an athlete and a student.

“He’s living out his dream,” Henderson said. “He’s going to get to go where he’s always wanted, and I have no doubt in my mind that he will excel there at Princeton.”

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travis.cram@lubbockonline.com l 766-8736