1. C.J. Anderson
Arlington senior
Anderson — who will play collegiately at the
University of Massachusetts — was the leader
of a Tigers team that had its best year in school
history, finishing 29-5 and advancing to the AAA
state semifinals. The 6-5 guard averaged 17.3
points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per con-
test, while earning all-state honors and being
named a Mr. Basketball finalist.
Leron Black
White Station senior
A four-year starter for the Spartans, Black
was named AAA Mr. Basketball and Gatorade
player of the year for the state of Tennessee.
The Illinois signee averaged 20 points and 12
rebounds per game for a Spartans team that
was nationally-ranked all season before finish-
ing 30-3. Black finished his Spartans career with
more than 1,600 points and 1,100 rebounds.
Dedric Lawson
Hamilton sophomore
Lawson lived up to his billing for the Wildcats
this year, helping them to a 27-7 record, the
Region 8 championship and a spot in the AAA
state quarterfinals. A consensus top-10 player
in the class of 2016 and an all-state selection,
the 6-8 Lawson averaged 18 points, 12 re-
bounds and 2.5 blocks per contest.
K.J. Lawson
Hamilton junior
Like his younger brother, Lawson is a highly-
regarded national prospect in his class. The ver-
satile 6-7 University of Memphis commitment
averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds per game
for the Wildcats, while earning all-state honors.
Lawson has played in two state touraments in
his career, after helping East win the AAA cham-
pionship as a freshman in 2012.
LaGerald Vick
Douglass senior
Vick had a montster season for the Red Dev-
ils, whose season ended with a loss in the
first round of the Region 8-AA tournament. He
averaged 24 points, 8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.0
blocks and 3.0 steals per game, while earning
all-district and all-state honors. Vick ranked sec-
ond in the area in scoring and helped Douglass
to the AA county championship.
Boys Coach of the Year
Faragi Phillips, Mitchell
In his third season at Mitchell, Phillips guided his team to its third consecu-
tive state tournament, where it won the Class A championship with a 56-27
victory over Meigs County. Mitchell finished the year with a 30-6 record
and will take a 27-game winning streak into next season.
Brandi Beasley
Ridgeway sophomore
The only non-senior among the finalists,
Beasley was the driving force behind the Road­
runners’ best season in school history. She av-
eraged 11.5 points and 4.3 assists per contest
and made the all-tournament team after lead-
ing Ridgeway to the AAA state championship
game, where it lost to Murfreesboro Blackman
to cap a 30-4 year.
Girls Coach of the Year
Rhonda Kendall, Ridgeway
Kendall guided the Roadrunners to their best season in school history in
2014. Ridgeway finished the year with a 30-4 mark and advanced all the
way to the AAA state title game, where it lost to Murfreesboro Blackman.
Jasmine Cincore
Briarcrest senior
Cincore, who is headed to Nebraska, wrapped
up her high school career by winning her sec-
ond consecutive Division 2-AA Miss Basketball
award. She averaged 15.2 points, 8 rebounds,
3.1 assists and 3.1 steals while leading the
Saints to 28 straight victories before losing in
the state semis. Briarcrest won 54 of 57 games
during Cincore’s two seasons at the school.
Olivia Cunningham
Horn Lake senior
Cunningham had a banner senior season,
leading the Eagles to the MHSAA Class 6A
state championship. She averaged 14 points
per game and matched her season high with
a 27-point effort against Northwest Rankin in
the state semifinals. Cunningham has signed to
play at Murray State.
Kiara Golden
Center Hill senior
Golden has great basketball genes: She’s
the daughter of Lamarcus Golden, who starred
in high school at Treadwell before playing for
Tennessee. The 5-9 guard was one of the top
scorers in the area, averaging 22 points per
game while leading Center Hill to a 20-9 record.
Golden has verbally committed to play at Ole
Miss.
A’Queen Hayes
Horn Lake senior
The 5-8 guard was the second-leading scorer
on the Eagles state championship team that fin-
ished the year with a 29-1 record. She averaged
11.9 points per game, scoring in double figures
21 times and reaching nine points on four other
occasions. Hayes was an all-metro selection
last season and has signed to play at Ole Miss.
CLASS AAA BOYS TEAM
Front row (from left) — Chris Chiozza, White Station, senior; Mark Partee, DeSoto Central,
senior; Roddarius Pitts, Millington, senior; Trebor Jackson, Bolton, senior; Chester Hooker,
Cordova, senior; Nathan Hoover, Arlington, sophomore; K.J. Bates, Arlington, senior; Lorenzo
Hunt, Brighton, junior; Eric McGill, Bartlett, junior; Keion Peoples, Hamilton, senior; Donte
Dorsey, Southwind, junior; Dominic Hudson, Wooddale, senior. Middle row — Jake Miller,
Germantown, senior; Martaveous McKnight, Lake Cormorant, junior; Tray Boyd, Olive Branch,
sophomore; Brett Warner, Collierville, junior; Timothy Shaw, Germantown, senior; Demarcus
Hughes, Melrose, senior; Jerry Hurt, Overton, junior; LaDarrius Mitchell, Kirby, senior; Darius
Thompson, Central, junior; Nych Smith, White Station, junior; Jerry Johnson, Houston, senior;
Khalil Spencer, Ridgeway, junior; Marlon Hunter, Houston, junior. Back row — Quinton Thomp-
son, DeSoto Central, senior; Dedric Lawson, Hamilton, sophomore; Keelon Lawson, Hamilton,
junior; Eric Turner, Southwind, sophomore; Leron Black, White Station, senior; Marcanvis Hy-
mon, Whitehaven, senior; C.J. Anderson, Arlington, senior; LaDarius Coleman, White Station,
senior; Davell Roby, White Station, senior; Terrance Smith, Ridgeway, senior; Keith Wilson,
Overton, junior; Adarius Avery, Arlington, junior; MarDarius Lee, Whitehaven, senior. Not pic-
tured — Terence Davis, Southaven, junior; Jaylen Fisher, Bolton, sophomore; Malik Hawkins,
Horn Lake, senior; Carter Sweat, Center Hill, junior; Job Vernor, Center Hill, sophomore; Robert
Washington, East, sophomore.
CLASS AAA GIRLS TEAM
Front row (from left) — Michaela Campbell, Cordova, junior; Oreona Brown, Ridgeway, ju-
nior; Rodneysha Martin, DeSoto Central, junior; Kierra Richardson, Munford, junior; Shayna
Johnson, Brighton, sophomore; Philecia Atkins, Overton, senior; Shuntavia Rodgers, Bartlett,
senior; Briauna Mitchell, Hamilton, senior; Courtney Banks, White Station, senior; Charity
Savage, Bolton, sophomore; Raylin Starks, Arlington, senior. Middle row — Tiara Coleman,
Whitehaven, senior; Shay Trent, Wooddale, senior; Breanna Cowans, Germantown, junior; Brit-
tany Parmenter, Germantown, senior; Ciara Douglas, Southwind, junior; Jaida Roper, Houston,
sophomore; Miyah Barnes, White Station, sophomore; Emanye Robertson, White Station,
junior; Savanna Geeslin, Olive Branch, sophomore; Myah Taylor, Olive Branch, freshman;
Aysha Harris, Houston, senior; Shondria Scruggs, Bartlett, senior; Brandi Beasley, Ridgeway,
sophomore. Back row — Ashley Jackson, Ridgeway, senior; Kyla Green, Overton, sophomore;
Kiara Golden, Center Hill, senior; Erin Cross, Center Hill, senior; Jessica Brown, Collierville,
senior; Darriel Johnson, Central, senior; Laka Blache, Whitehaven, senior; Cheridan Bur-
roughs, Houston, senior; Quential Battle, Olive Branch, freshman; Destiny Gardner, Lewisburg,
junior; Tia Wooten, Central, senior; Courtney Banks, Kirby, sophomore; Tori Sewell, Arlington,
sophomore. Not pictured — Olivia Cunningham, Horn Lake, senior; Candis Echols, Kingsbury,
sophomore; A’Queen Hayes, Horn Lake, senior; Alexyse Thomas, Horn Lake, junior; Javeshia
White, East, senior.
CLASS A-AA BOYS TEAM
Front row (from left) — Pechone Jackson, Carver, sophomore; Danny Barlow, Westwood,
senior; Jordan Brown, Middle College, junior; Kendall Smith, Hillcrest, junior; Darmain Brooks,
City University, junior; Naba Echols, Mitchell, junior; Kylan Phillips, Mitchell, junior; Rayford
Albright, Manassas, senior. Middle row — Mikkel Norment, Fayette-Ware, sophomore; James
Buchanan, Sheffield, junior; Stephen Wright, Trezevant, senior; Jeremiah Martin, Mitchell,
junior; Malcolm Taylor, Covington, sophomore; Bobby Shanks, Covington, junior; Jermarcus
Franklin, Washington, senior; Lawrence Mosley, Craigmont, senior; Teverette Cain, Craigmont,
junior. Back row — LaGerald Vick, Douglass, junior; D.J. Jackson, Fayette-Ware, freshman;
Antwone Garrett, Mitchell, senior; Brandon Jones, Westwood, senior; DeShawn Bell, Manas-
sas, senior; Fatodd Lewis, Raleigh-Egypt, senior; Deuce McGhee, Raleigh-Egypt, senior;
Angelo Smith, Washington, senior; Freddie Williams, Douglass, senior; Tyree Beason, Wash-
ington, sophomore. Not pictured — Jamie Coleman, MAHS, senior; Dewaun Fowler, KIPP,
sophomore; Courtney Smith, Manassas, senior; Latavius McCoy, Fairley, senior; Johnny Con-
ners, Oakhaven, junior.
CLASS A-AA GIRLS TEAM
Front row (from left) — LeShaundra Somerville, Covington, senior; Joslynn Basemore, Manas-
sas, sophomore; Corlishia Howard, Raleigh-Egypt, sophomore; Treasuary Poindexter, Cov-
ington, sophomore; Rhaja White, Power Center Aca., sophomore; Mishundra Mason, Carver,
senior; Tyanna Warren, MASE, senior. Middle row — Breana Beason, Sheffield, sophomore;
Morgan Morris, Craigmont, sophomore; Danielle Conley, Craigmont, sophomore; Gazmyne
Herndon, Douglass, sophomore; Marcee Williams, Trezevant, junior; Derinisha Taylor, Mitch-
ell, freshman; Rakesha Curry, Washington, senior; Lyric Stallings, Carver, senior. Back row
— Manaya Jones, Raleigh-Egypt, sophomore; Janekia Mason, Covington, senior; Shyanne
Stevenson, Manassas, junior; Moriah Muhammad, Soulsville, junior; Marneisha Hamer, Fairley,
sophomore; Amber Mitchell, Northside, junior; Kahdejah Stevens, Trezevant, senior; Domi-
nique Chatman, Washington, sophomore. Not pictured — SchKechia Anderson, MAHS, senior;
Kenyata Echols, Hillcrest, senior; Mar’Shea Lewis, Oakhaven, senior; B.J. Wells, Oakhaven,
senior; Derica Wiggins, Oakhaven, senior.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS BOYS TEAM
Front row (from left) — Nate Vaughn, Memphis Nighthawks, sophomore; Anthony Yarbrough,
Harding, sophomore; Marcus Lytle, ECS, junior; Bailey Buford, MUS, senior; Chris Galvin,
MUS, senior; R.J. Hill, Memphis Nighthawks, senior; Mark French, Briarcrest, sophomore;
Undra Wilson, CBHS, sophomore; Chase Hayden, St. George’s, freshman. Middle row —
Micah Thomas, Briarcrest, sophomore; Connor Green, St. George’s, junior; Joey Magnifico,
St. Benedict, junior; Josh Bougher, CBHS, senior; Reggie Anthony, Harding, senior; Terrence
Green, Northpoint, senior; Spencer Mackey, Lausanne, junior; Isaac James, ECS, senior; Glen
Burns, West Memphis Christian, senior. Back row — Matt Moody, TRA, senior; Maceo Wood-
ard, Briarcrest, sophomore; Shermar Chambers, Rossville Christian, freshman; Isaiah Stokes,
Lausanne, freshman; Douwante Thomas, FACS, senior; Justin Wertner, St. George’s, junior;
David Nelson, MUS, sophomore; Tyler Currie, St. Benedict, junior; Brode McLaughlin, CBHS,
senior; Keari Brown, West Memphis Christian, senior; Taylor Tackett, Northpoint, senior. Not
pictured — Trey Atkins, Catholic, senior; Brennan Bowling, Fayette Aca., senior.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS GIRLS TEAM
Front row (from left) — Macy McCullough, Hutchison, eighth grade; Jamie Crum, MHEA, fresh-
man; Selena Pruitt, Lausanne, freshman; Gabrielle Salazar, Briarcrest, senior; Samantha Price,
Memphis Nighthawks, junior; Grace Wade, Memphis Nighthawks, senior; Miller Cole, FACS,
junior. Middle row — Taylor Beasley, TRA, sophomore; Bailey Wilkes, MHEA, junior; Kaylan
Pugh, St. Mary’s, junior; Ashtyn Baker, Northpoint, freshman; Taylor Robertson, Rossville
Christian, junior; Olivia Roberts, St. George’s, junior; Karlie Hughes, Northpoint, junior; Anna
Horner, Harding, sophomore. Back row — Sara Lytle, ECS, senior; Emily Lytle, ECS, sopho-
more; Theresa Stoddard, St. Benedict, senior; Antoinette Lewis, Harding, freshman; Elise
Holden, Briarcrest, junior; Jasmine Cincore, Briarcrest, senior; Brynn Holden, Briarcrest, junior;
Kimberlee Keltner, Northpoint, senior; Victoria Lewis, MHEA, junior. Not pictured — MacKenzie
Blann, West Memphis Christian; Caroline Cook, St. Agnes, senior; Amber Hooker, Catholic,
senior; Amber Johnson, Fayette Aca., senior; Kayli Skelton, Fayette Aca., sophomore.
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
boyd@commercialappeal.com
The winners will be announced at the BOP awards ceremony, which
will be held Friday, June 6, at Germantown Performing Arts Center