As the winter sports season comes to a close, many players are earning proper recognition for their efforts during the 2016-17 season.
BLITZ has released its Boys Basketball Player of the Year and Girls Basketball Player of the Year finalists, as well as Wrestler of the Year finalists. This comes off the heels of the nominees that were announced by BLITZ on Thursday. Coaches provide the nominees from each team, where BLITZ narrows down to a finalist field and then submits for voting to a panel, made up of 13-17 voters across the North Georgia region.
Here are the lists of finalists for each award, as well as the nominees who were recognized for their outstanding efforts.
Boys Basketball Player of the Year
TOWNS – Will DeVries (SR G #15) 16 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.1 APG
LUMPKIN – Zach Pulley (SR G #12) 25 PPG, 10 RPG, 9 APG
STEPHENS – De’Undra Singleton (JR F #35) 17 PPG, 9 RPG, 2 APG, 8-AAAA 1st Tm All-Region
TALLULAH FALLS – Michael Van Hooser (SR F #21) 13.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1 SPG
WHITE – John Ward (SR F #1) 17.1 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.4 BPG
BANKS – Kahmal Wiley (SR G #34) 17.1 PPG, 12 RPG, 2 APG, 2.4 BLK, 2.2 STL, 23 Double-Doubles, 1,000 pts in 3 seasons
Initial Nominees: Dylan Orr (Banks JR F), Carl Cleveland (Banks FR F), Bailey Fisher (Rabun JR G), Tevan Dixon (Rabun JR G), Jeremiah Crumley (Dawson JR G), Cullen Reed (Dawson JR G), Nunu Walker (Stephens SR G), Austin Frady (Habersham SR F), Austin Harris (White SO G), Lawson Baenninger (Union SR G), Zach Davenport (Towns JR G), Major Moss (Towns SR F), Josey Keene (Tallulah Falls SR G), Trey Wilcox (Tallulah Falls SR G)
Girls Basketball Player of the Year
BANKS – Jaycie Bowen (SO F #34) 13 PPG, 9 RPG, 52% FG
HABERSHAM – Lainey Gosnell (SR F #30) 20.3 PPG, 11 RPG, 1.5 APG, 3.2 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 70% FT, 35% FG, 8-AAAAAA Player of the Year, 590 pts, 2,008 career points
RABUN – Savanna Scott (SR G #4) 13.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.4 APG, 3.1 SPG, 1 BPG, 8-AA 1st Tm All-Region
DAWSON – Kaylee Sticker (SO F #33) 15 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.2 APG, 3 double-doubles 7-AAA 1st Tm All-Region
TALLULAH FALLS – Nyah Williams (SO G #24) 8-A 1st Tm All-Region; 16.4 ppg, 6 rpg
Initial Nominees: Allison Smith (Banks JR F), Brooke Henricks (Rabun SO G), Georgia Stockton (Rabun SO G), Abi Chatham (Dawson JR G), Mackenzie Pulley (Lumpkin SO G), Rachel Gearing (White JR G), Bailey Daniel (Union JR G), Kirsten Ledford (Towns SR F)
Wrestler of the Year
Owen Brown – Commerce SR 160 lb (41-0; Region Champ; State Champ)
Andrew Burpee – Habersham SR 132 lb (25-3; Region Champ; State 3rd)
Zach Matthews – Lumpkin SR 220 lb (34-1; Region Champ; State Champ)
Terrance Walker – Banks SO 195 lb (35-5; Region Champ; State Runner-Up)
Jeremy Whalen – Dawson SR 182 lb (45-6; Region Champ; State Runner-Up)
Initial Nominees: Blaine Rogers (Towns SO), Corey Kindel (Stephens SR), Sam Butikofer (Rabun SR), Wyatt Smith (Dawson SO), Cole Chancey (Commerce SR), Dalton Flint (Commerce SR)
