“You don’t even know you’re coaching an All-American,” he said. “I don’t think of him that way. He’s just ol’ Scooter Sherrill. A good kid.”

Gurley is right. I have watched Scooter Sherrill since middle school. I’ve seen him make every possible shot. You see so many of the great plays and you just take it for granted that another one will occur every few seconds.

I’ve gone to every small-town crackerbox from here to kingdom come watching him.And he basically has done the same thing in each one. He has dominated so effortlessly you don’t give it a second thought.

But taking Scooter Sherrill’s monumental feats in stride ended for me this week when I followed him to Boston for the McDonald’s East-West All-Star basketball game.

It ended with Scooter’s team trailing. By a lot. The West won 146-120.

But in the final seconds, he swooped down the baseline, did one of his nifty reverse scoops and the ball sailed through the nets. The crowd — what was left of the 18,624 fans who broke the game’s attendance records — gave a loud cheer.

It was the same shot I’ve seen him make countless times. But this time, it didn’t come against a Piedmont Panther or Sun Valley Spartan. It came against Darius Miles, all 6-foot-10 of power.

Scooter finished with 12 points. But by this time, the number of points was the least of my concerns. And his.

This hadn’t been a week of just watching Scooter Sherrill play basketball. It had been much more.

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If I hadn’t witnessed it for myself, I might not believe it either. But Scooter Sherrill was, without a doubt, the most popular player on the McDonald’s team.

When he stripped and dunked with no shirt on in the Slam Jam Contest Monday night, he won the crowd over, if not the contest itself. Girls mobbed him, which for a teenage boy is just about as big a dream as the NBA.

“Scooter had all the girls going wild,” said Seton Hall recruit Eddie Griffin. “That was creative.”

“Scooter’s a funny dude,” chuckled East point guard Omar Cook. “He does everything for the crowd. He’s an exciting guy.”

Chris Duhon could hardly contain himself.

“He was showing his muscles off,” laughed Duhon. “He was trying to get the women. That’s Scooter for ya.”

Miles, who playfully kidded Scooter throughout the week, said, “He wanted to show those girls he’d been lifting weights.

“Scooter Sherrill ... he’s the man,” Miles continued. “We’re just all rolling along with him.”

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Actually, Miles is the one who rolled over everyone in his path during the West rout. He’ll probably go pro and showed some big-time dunks. Of his eight baskets, seven were jammed through.

Scooter decided to curb that personality between the lines and try to play team ball, an oddity for a game like this.

With his team trailing 13-12, he got the chance to dunk. But on a fast break, he simply shot a layup, bringing a few boos from the fickle audience.

“I didn’t feel it,” he said. “I didn’t think I could get up there so I laid it in.”

He had another chance to fly in the second quarter but dished to Mario Austin.

“I could’ve scored easily right there but I gave it up,” Scooter said. “This game wasn’t about scoring points for me.”

That’s exactly why his teammates loved him so much.

“He’s not selfish,” Cook said. “He does what it takes to win.”

“Everybody needs a teammate like Scooter,” added Miles. “He doesn’t do a lot of fancy stuff, just what it takes to win.”

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His team didn’t win, but Scooter did. He tried to keep his team in the game by going inside and stealing a few rebounds. He also got some shots blocked but scored on a couple off his trademark off-balanced leaners. But it was tough going.

“Their big men were unbelievable,” Scooter said. “That’s what hurt us.”

And the fact the West simply shot better (61 percent) in the first half, compared to the East (40 percent).

The game turned into a laugher early in the third quarter with the West scoring the first six points. Sherrill’s steal led to a beautiful pass from Andre Barrett to Taliek Brown for a bucket but it was too late. The West was simply too big. Scooter would also finish with four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

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When it was all over, Scooter had to sign autographs. Kids were yelling at him in those Cliff Clavin accents to sign posters and programs. Cheerleaders even had him sign their shirts. Groupies came up hugging and kissing him. One wrote her phone number on his hand. Like I said before, I saw it with my own eyes.

And how did Scooter react?

He talked about home.

“I’m representing Cleveland, Salisbury and all of Rowan County,” he announced. “I know everybody in Rowan County was watching. I did what I could for them.

“I’ve worked all my life playing with my uncles and cousins on dirt courts hoping for something like this.”

Maybe that’s why it’s so hard to think of Scooter Sherrill as an All-American. He doesn’t act like one. He has yet to get too big for his britches.

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I flew home this morning and realized that Scooter was on a plane, too, headed in the other direction. At 5 a.m., he flew to Indianapolis to prepare for the Hoop Summit, another all-star game on Sunday. On ESPN.

“My dream hasn’t come true yet,” he said amidst the postgame hoopla. “But I’m halfway there — the NBA.”

There may come a time when extravagant hotels and groupies are an everyday thing. Where money is no object. But one thing will remain the same for people like Mike Gurley and myself.

He’ll still be just ol’ Scooter Sherrill. A good kid.

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