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With the high school basketball season entering the depths of region play, the Prep Sports Report takes a look at five of Savannah’s leading candidates for the Player of the Year award. All records, stats and updates are reflecting games played through Tuesday, January 17.
NOTE: All stats are courtesy of MaxPreps team pages and all state rankings are courtesy of SandysSpiel.com, unless otherwise noted. The following players are listed in no specific order.
ZYERE EDWARDS – SENIOR – ST. ANDREW’S
Edwards continues to shine for the defending GIAA 3A State Champion Lions. St. Andrew’s (15-1) is a unanimous No. 1 in the GIAA rankings and ranked 43rd by MaxPreps among all teams (GHSA & GIAA) in the state of Georgia.
A relentless point guard committed to play next season at Augusta University, Edwards was averaging 23.0 points, 3.9 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game prior to the SAS win on Tuesday.
ANTONIO BAKER – SENIOR – JOHNSON
Baker is as smooth and reliable as they come. Johnson (14-4, 5-2 region 3-3A) has relied on the experience of the shooting guard in critical moments, and Chuck Campbell’s team has benefited from his increased aggressiveness getting to the rim. Baker has a scholarship offer from Kennesaw State, among others.
He is averaging 21.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.2 steals per game through 17 games.
SHAMARRIE HUGIE – SENIOR – BEACH
Hugie does a little bit of everything for Simon Heyward’s No. 2 Bulldogs (15-2, 6-0 region 3-3A). The wing-man is averaging 20.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.9 steals per game through 16 games played. His chances of winning the Player of the Year award will be closely tied to his team’s ultimate success come season’s end. The same could be said about nearly every player on this list, which suggests the value of each guy to his team.
ALFONZO ROSS – SENIOR – WOODVILLE-TOMPKINS
Ross has the ability to go off every time he takes the floor for Lenny Williams’ Woodville-Tompkins team (12-8, 7-0 region 3-A Division I). He has eight 30+ point games already this year, including 33 points on Tuesday (Jan. 17). He is averaging 27.7 points per game. Ross – who has a scholarship offer from the University of South Carolina-Beaufort – was named the Most Valuable Player in Athens last weekend at the Georgia Interstate Hoops Classic.
QURAHN ANDERSON – SENIOR – WINDSOR FOREST
The Knights (14-5, 6-0 region 3-2A) are ranked No. 9 in Class 2A this week, and Anderson is a big reason why Aaron Clark’s team has won six straight games. He was averaging 24.3 points per game before putting up 22 points against Toombs County last week, 20 against Laney on Monday at the Cross Creek MLK Invitational and 22 more on Tuesday in the latest WF region victory.
MORE NAMES TO MONITOR
CALEB JONES – SOPHOMORE – BENEDICTINE
The smooth-shooting sophomore is averaging 19.0 points per game for the Cadets (8-4, 4-0 region 3-4A) and over his last four, Jones is scoring 21.3 on average. BC has won six straight.
JORDAN CAVE – JUNIOR – ISLANDS
Cave won’t win the award, but he is showing signs of being a top player in the area by the time his senior season rolls around. Leading Islands (3-14, 0-3 region 3-4A) in nearly every aspect, Cave is scoring 19.3 points per game for the Sharks.
TYLER TIFT - SENIOR - HABERSHAM SCHOOL
According to MaxPreps, Tift is leading Habersham School (8-5,1-0 in GAPPS Region I-AA ) and the whole state of Georgia in points per game with 26.5.
ZSOLT BOROSZ - SENIOR - MEMORIAL DAY SCHOOL
In the first region game of the season for Memorial Day School (11-3, 1-0 in GIAA A Region 6), Zsolt scored 25 points 11/11 at the free throw line, four rebounds, three assists, and four steals.
Follow Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
PHOTO CREDITS: Various social media sources
Optim Orthopedics supports Benedictine Military School, Calvary Day School, Richmond Hill High School, Savannah Country Day, South Effingham High School, and St. Vincent's athletics. Benedictine Military School's team doctor is Dr. David Sedory. Dr. David Palmer is the team doctor for Calvary Day School, South Effingham, and Richmond Hill. Savannah Country Day and St. Vincent's team doctor is Dr. Thomas Alexander. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game.
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