Three Rivers guard Jeff Shelton goes up for a dunk as he shields away Dyersburg State's Jeremy Patty on Thursday night at the Bess Activity Center. (Alex Abate/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

By ALEX ABATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

Thanksgiving was truly a family affair for Three Rivers forward Ken Bingham.

Bingham didn't play because of a hamstring injury but had he, the sophomore would've been up against his brother Jermael who plays for Dyersburg State.

Ken is the older brother as the sophomore out of McNairy Central in Selmer, Tenn. while Jermael is a freshman for the Eagles.

"It is always fun playing my brother," Ken said. "It would have been fun playing against him, he called me the other night talking smack about all he was going to do."

Jermael is also disappointed his brother had to sit out with an injury.

"I was looking forward to it for a long time," Jermael said.

Jermael is 6-foot-4, 218 pounds, the same height as Ken, but has him by beat in the weight department as Ken weighs 195. Jermael plays more as a true forward than Ken, who tends to be more of a quick slasher.

"I play mostly inside, he got the outside game," Jermael said. "He is basically a shooter."

The brothers battled against each other growing up on the court. "It was very competitive," Ken said. "Everything we did, it doesn't matter, we always battled against each other."

Ken said football helped his brother develop more of his post game.

"He was about my size," Ken said. "He played football, he gained weight."

Although the brothers got into scuffles on the court from time to time growing up, they did manage to learn something from each other.

"Just to go hard at all times," Jermael said. "I like the way he plays, he's got a smooth game."

Basketball was passed down to the pair from their parents and relatives.

"It is like a family tradition," Jermael said. "Everybody in the family plays ball, we just grew up like that."