end of the year basketball

I can't match what Hype South or Sandy's Spiel does but I feel like I need to give my opinions and end of the year awards for high school basketball.
Some of the categories are the same and some of them are different and god knows I cannot mention everyone I want to mention in this blog, but I will attempt to mention as many as I can.
All I can say is I hope you enjoy my somewhat unique look at some interesting categories.


Middle Georgia Player of the year
I will tell you now that I will not give more than one award to any player or coach. That way I get to talk about more than one person for the entire story.


Male Player of the year.
How many could I mention here. Obviously if Khavon (yes we only need one name for him)  had played the entire year I would probably be talking about him. But his injury opened it up for other kids. So, after much thinking I decided to go with
NELSON PHILLIPS- If it was not for Khavon, Phillips would have been the best player in Middle Georgia last year. This year it is all his. Phillips can do a little bit of everything and I cant wait to see him play at Georgia State. He didn't have his best game in the state championship game, but the fact is Warner Robins would not have been in the state championship game without him. He is that circle trying to fit in the square. He can score inside and out, he can defend, and he can will a team to win. I saw him play hard and never pout when he could not buy a three in the state game. Instead he did everything else. So, in my humble opinion he is the best player in this area.


Female player of the year
Now this is a much more difficult decision because I could probably go with about five different players. I admit that straight up, but I have to go with
JADA CLOWERS: I will admit that Jada might not be the greatest basketball player that Macon has ever seen , but I will never admit that she does not deserve this award. I saw her as a sophomore and I thought she was a huge project. I see her as a senior and she is still a project, but the difference she makes on the basketball court is unmatched in this area. She is a legit 6'2 game changer who has learned to do all the little things. She can score a little, play defense a lot, and has the knack to block shots. Central had several very good girls basketball players, but I don't think they would have been as good as they have been the last two years without her. I have no doubt she will only get better in college.


Male coach of the year
How can I go against
JAMAL GARMAN:: Coach Garman had a task of having 10 seniors understand their roles on a basketball team. He made those kids work for playing time everyday at practice and he made it work. I saw no panic in him when his team struggled a bit and I saw no panic in him when his team trailed in the championship game. He wears his emotions on his sleeves and his kids love him. Warner Robins has never been known as a basketball school but now they are reaching elite status and I believe its because of him. They had better find some money to keep him because this will not be his last state championship.


Girls Coach of the year
I had several good choices but I decided I had to go with
ED SMITH : This guy has improved as a coach even though he is starting to get old(joking Ed) He made it all the way to the elite eight and I am going to be honest, he did not have his most talented team. He had two great guards but both were sophomore, he had a post player who could step out and hit a three and play defense inside, he had a three shooter who was up and down, and his other starter plays hard, scores junk points and rebounds. He had almost no bench. I am not being rude to this team, I love this team and how hard they played to get where they needed to be, but they just were not loaded with great basketball players. That is because Ed Smith can coach his ass off.


Male Play of the year
MY newest favorite player Jacolbey Owens hitting the game winner in the state championship, drilling a shot he probably never should have taken. This guy is 5'11 at the most and 150 at the most but he has that IT factor on the basketball court. He had the confidence to take the shot and the swag to make the shot. College coaches should be all over him and eventually they will be. O'Showen Williams had to go to a JUCO to get noticed by D1 schools and Owens may have to do the same thing. But by god he can play at any D2 school in the country.


Female Play of the year
Danasia Shaw: Hit the game winner in the region championship game with a 3-pointer at the buzzer to upset Peach


Best Dressed Coach
Hands down not only is Centrals Andre Taylor one of the best coaches in the area, he is by far the best dressed coach in the area. One never knows what he will come out wearing.


Who gives the press what they need ?
Since I can list Andre Taylor again, I will go with Sheila Toombs as my number one. Macon will miss her as she has retired and I will miss her too. A text to her gets an immediate answer and you cant beat that.
honorable mention
Todd Whetsel_ I can be covering any game and if Todd asks me if I need a quote he will text me and ask if I need a quote. How can we beat that


Best Coaching Job
Josh Grube lost the best player in the state and used freshmen to make a deep playoff run.


MY Favorite players of the year
Male
Kylan Hill- Love this kids game and someone needs to jump on him to play college basketball. He has improved so much the last two years that it is truly amazing.
Jaydon Norman- did all the little things for Warner Robins
Kowacie Reeves Jr- a freshman who will make major noise over the next three years for Westside
Cam Holden - Anyone who can score like he can is one of my favorites
Christian Palmer_ The Stratford point guard, in my opinion was the heart of a very good team. Shoot the ball Christian lol


Females
Allie Gordon- Allie Gordon could start on any basketball team in this area because she works her tail off and plays pretty much the entire game every game for Tattnall. Basketball is secondary to her but how many kids have a 30 point game in their second sport.
Mary Elaine Mitchell- One of her brothers was a great quarterback for Stratford and another brother is a 3- shooter galore in college, but I not sure little sister is not the best athlete in the family.
Tyleia Williams and Jenya Wilder cant be mentioned alone. They have helped turned Central girls basketball around and the play with energy all the time.


That's it guys I hope you like it