2015-2016 Best of Preps

2015-2016 Best of Preps

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  Tyler Harris Cordova sophomore BehindHarris’ terrific long-range shooting, the Wolves advanced to the AAA state tournament for the first time since 2001, where they lost to East in the final. For the season, he averaged 21.8 points and 4.6 assists per game, while making 107 3-pointers and shooting 42 percent beyond the arc. Chase Hayden St. George’s junior Hayden — who is also a finalist in football — had a great year on the court too, winning Mr. Basketball in Division 2-A. He averaged 23.6 points and five assists per game and led the Gryphons to the substate round of the playoffs. Alex Lomax East sophomore The latest in a long line of talented East point guards, Lomax was named AAA Mr. Basketball and Gatorade player of the year after leading the Mustangs to the state title. On a very deep team, he averaged 13.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.8 steals per contest. Tevin Olison Mitchell senior Olison played a starring role as Mitchell won the Class A state championship for the third year in a row, defeating BTW in an all-Memphis final. For the year, the tournament MVP aver- aged 21 points and 6 rebounds per game while shooting 44 percent from 3-point range and 88 percent from the foul line. Anthony Yarbrough Harding senior Yarbrough averaged 20.8 points and 8 re- bounds per game for the Lions, while shooting 46 percent from the floor and 79 percent from the line. He was named state tournament MVP as Harding won the Division 2-A championship, scoring 40 points and grabbing 17 boards in the final. Boys Coach of the Year Kevin Starks, Harding Starks’ Lions won the Division 2-A state championship in unbelievable fashion, coming back from 31 points down early in the third quarter to de- feat Franklin Road Academy in overtime. Harding ended the season 22-11. Ashtyn Baker Northpoint junior A standout for the Trojans since her eighth- grade year, Baker was a Division 2-A Miss Basketball finalist while leading her team to the state championship and earning tournament MVP honors. She averaged 16 points per game — shooting 62 percent from the floor — along with 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. North- point finished 31-2 this year and is 114-21 since Baker has been on the varsity team. Girls Coach of the Year Barry Gray, Northpoint Gray’s Trojans have been in the Division 2-A final for the last four years but they finally captured the big prize in 2016, winning the championship to end the year with a 31-2 record. Northpoint was the only local girls team to win a state title this year. Miyah Barnes Central senior Barnes was the leader as Central made it back to the state tournament this year, losing in the AAA semifinals to end the year with a 34-3 record. The UAB signee averaged 15 points, 4 assists and 3 steals per game and is on the all- metro team for the third year in a row. Taylor Barnes St. Benedict senior The future Memphis Tiger was a Miss Bas- ketball finalist in Division 2-AA while leading the Eagles to a 22-7 record and their first trip to the state semifinals since 2011. A two-time all- metro selection, Barnes averaged 13 points, 4 assists and 3 steals per game while shooting 81 percent from the foul line on the way to being named the West Region player of the year. Jayla Hemingway Houston freshman One of the nation’s brightest prospects in the class of 2019, Hemingway made an instant impact in her first year on the Mustangs’ varsity. She led the team in scoring (17.3) and rebound- ing (7.4) as Houston advanced to the Region 8-AAA semifinals. Myah Taylor Olive Branch junior Last year’s player of the year was even bet- ter this season as she led Olive Branch to a 27-3 record. The Mississippi State commit- ment poured in 27.1 points per game while also handing out 7.1 assists and coming up with nearly 6 steals per game. She was named both USA Today and Gatorade player of the year in the state of Mississippi. CLASS AAA BOYS TEAM Front row (from left) — Kelvin Jones, Millington, senior; Jaylan Shelton, DeSoto Central, senior; Demonte Person, Arlington, senior; Exavian Young, Bartlett, senior; Job Vernor, Center Hill, senior; Jordon Lee, Center Hill, senior; Jonathan Bins, Germantown, senior. Middle row — Jaylen Fisher, Bolton, senior; Tyler Harris, Cordova, sophomore; Darrell Brown, Germantown, senior; Tray Boyd, Olive Branch, senior; Justin Benton, Houston, senior; Jordan Johnson, Central, sophomore; Desmond Johnson, Kirby, junior; Mark Freeman, Southwind, sophomore; Tazé Moore, Southaven, senior. Back row — Shaun Doss, Marion, junior; Carlos Marshall, Southwind, junior; Rodgerick Brown, Cordova, sophomore; Nathan Hoover, Arlington, senior; Jalen Dupree, Cordova, senior; Ryan Boyce, Houston, sophomore; Taelyr Gatlin, Brighton, sophomore; Martrell Brooks, Hamilton, sophomore; D.J. Jeffries, Olive Branch, freshman. Not pictured — Antwan Beans, Kingsbury, sophomore; Jalen Crutcher, Ridgeway, junior; Mike Fofana, Whitehaven, senior; Jitaurious Gordan, Horn Lake, junior; Allen Hatchett, White Station, sophomore; Parrish Hewitt, Melrose, junior; Chandler Lawson, East, freshman; Alex Lomax, East, sophomore; T.J. Moss, East, sophomore; Eli Powell, Hernando, junior; Radarious Washington, East, junior; Maitavius Wilson, Bolton, senior. CLASS AAA GIRLS TEAM Front row (from left) — Ariel Williams, Whitehaven, junior; Tesia Thompson, Hamilton, junior; Lauren Taylor, Collierville, sophomore; Madison Baldwin, Lewisburg, senior; Rodrea Echols, Overton, senior; Imani Johnson, DeSoto Central, senior. Middle row — Jessica Jackson, Bartlett, senior; Heaven Thompson, Bolton, junior; Breaunna Burks, Germantown, senior; Carrington Kneeland, Center Hill, sophomore; Mahogany Vaught, Olive Branch, sophomore; Savanna Geeslin, Olive Branch, senior; Myah Taylor, Olive Branch, junior; Miyah Barnes, Central, senior. Back row — Tori Sewell, Arlington, senior; Charity Savage, Bartlett, senior; Marneisha Hamer, Kirby, senior; Raegyn Branch, Arlington, senior; Gabby Crawford, Munford, sophomore; LaShala Saine, West Memphis, senior; Madison Griggs, Houston, freshman; Kayla Williams, Overton, senior; Jireh Washington, Central, sophomore. Not pictured — Brandi Beasley, Ridgeway, senior; Elizabeth Dixon, Ridgeway, sophomore; Canzis Echols, Kingsbury, senior; Kayla Freeman, East, sophomore; Damiah Griffin, White Station, junior; Tijuana Griggs, Central, senior; Jayla Hemingway, Houston, freshman; Erica Jones, Southaven, junior; Taelour Richardson, Horn Lake, senior; Jaida Roper, Houston, senior; Ebony Shaw, Southwind, senior. CLASS A-AA BOYS TEAM Front row (from left) — Jordan Fairman, GRAD Academy, junior; Nikkia Jones, City University, junior; Daven Dyson, Power Center Aca., junior; Deovaunte Williams, Middle College, fresh- man; Martavius Porter, Westwood, senior; Chris Joyner, Raleigh-Egypt, senior; Cedric Jef- ferson, Craigmont, senior. Middle row — Malcolm Taylor, Covington, senior; Reginald Holmes, Covington, senior; Kavion Hancock, Sheffield, junior; Pechone Jackson, Carver, senior; Anthony Foster, Carver, senior; Chauncey Blakely, Washington, senior; Decorian McDaniel, Washington, senior; Leland Kirkendoll, KIPP, junior; LaDarius Lee, Mitchell, senior; Tyran Davis, Mitchell, junior. Back row — Mickey Falls, Trezevant, senior; Javahn Stith, Craigmont, senior; Damon Fleming, Manassas, senior; Mario Williams, Sheffield, senior; Kewaski Williams, Mitch- ell, senior; Tyree Beason, Washington, senior; Joseph Johnson, Oakhaven, junior; Tevin Olison, Mitchell, senior; Nelson Jones, GRAD Academy, junior; Kevin Fuller, MLK Prep, sophomore. Not pictured — Antonio Reed, Douglass, junior; Jawan Wright, Fairley, senior. CLASS A-AA GIRLS TEAM Front row (from left) — Starkisha Saine, Northside, junior; Danielle Conley, Craigmont, se- nior; Morgan Morris, Craigmont, senior; Surina Finnie, Power Center Aca., sophomore; Sadé Hudson, Trezevant, sophomore; Derinisha Taylor, Mitchell, junior. Middle row — Joslynn Basemore, Manassas, senior; Treasuary Poindexter, Covington, senior; Miata Borders, Shef- field, freshman; Carnessia Griggs, Washington, sophomore; Derrinesha Jackson, Washington, sophomore; Corlishia Howard, Oakhaven, senior. Back row — Anterrika Willis, Mitchell, senior; Tia Bland, Covington, sophomore; Manaya Jones, Raleigh-Egypt, senior; Carleesia Austin, Westwood, sophomore; Daja Scurlock, Craigmont, senior; Vertonia Bady, Mitchell, fresh- man. Not pictured — Alexis Acoff, W.E.B. DuBois, sophomore; Gazmyne Herndon, Douglass, senior; Yuneique Meredith, Soulsville, senior; Shameria Murry, Memphis Business Aca., junior; Shernika Spencer, MASE, sophomore. PRIVATE SCHOOLS BOYS TEAM Front row (from left) — Timothy Taylor, Harding, senior; Undra Wilson, CBHS, senior; Johnie Sanfratello, Tipton-Rosemark Aca., senior; Jamie Shotwell, Fayette Aca., junior; Connor Whit- son, MUS, senior; Calvin Austin, Harding, junior; Tayson Parker, Memphis Nighthawks, eighth grade. Middle row — Nate Vaughn, Briarcrest, senior; Trey Davis, St. Benedict, sophomore; William Douglas, CBHS, junior; Justin Lindner, CBHS, senior; Mitch Weatherford, ECS, senior; Chase Hayden, St. George’s, junior; Alijah Bell, First Assembly, senior. Back row — Anthony Yarbrough, Harding, senior; Shermar Chambers, Catholic, junior; Jacob Lyons, CBHS, junior; Michael Manning, Lausanne, senior; James Babb, Lausanne, junior; Noah Pope, St. George’s, junior; Owen Galvin, MUS, senior. Not pictured — Lance Diaz, Northpoint, junior; Will Hrubes, Briarcrest, senior; Isaiah Stokes, Lausanne, junior. PRIVATE SCHOOLS GIRLS TEAM Front row (from left) — Bionka Massie, First Assembly, junior; Elizabeth Farnsworth, Hutchi- son, sophomore; Amanda Lammey, St. Agnes, senior; Gabrielle Moore, Catholic, senior; Zaire Hicks, Memphis Metro, junior; Jamie Crum, MHEA, senior. Middle row — Taylor Barnes, St. Benedict, senior; Evelyn Roberts, St. Mary’s, sophomore; Ally Naifeh, Tipton-Rosemark Aca., senior; Kayli Skelton, Fayette Aca., senior; Caroline Loftin, Rossville Christian, senior; Savanna Owens, Briarcrest, sophomore; Selena Pruitt, Lausanne, junior; Lindsey Vaughn, MHEA, soph- omore. Back row — Morgan Hunt, Briarcrest, junior; Nicole Ferris, St. Benedict, senior; Miaya Smith, St. George’s, sophomore; Antoinette Lewis, Harding, junior; Emily Lytle, ECS, senior; Princess Stark, Lausanne, junior; Teal Battle, Memphis Metro, junior; Anna Horner, Harding, senior. Not pictured — Ashtyn Baker, Northpoint, junior; Lauren Gross, Northpoint, sophomore; Jade Wells, Northpoint, sophomore; Lindsay Whiteside, Northpoint, junior. BOYS FINALISTS GIRLS FINALISTS Best of the Preps Winter Teams schedule Thursday, wrestling • Friday, girls and boys bowling • Saturday, girls and boys swimming • Today, girls and boys basketball For more information about Best of the Preps, e-mail David Boyd at [email protected] The winners will be announced at the BOP awards ceremony, which will be held Friday, June 10, at The Duncan-Williams Performance Hall at Germantown Performing Arts Center