Though it is a tough comparison, Dazon Ingram was better as a senior than a junior.
This year, the 6-foot-5 Ingram averaged 21 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in leading the Bobcats to a 28-5 record and the school’s first state semifinal appearance.
For the second year in a row, the senior is the Coastal Alabama Player of the Year. He will be honored at the second annual AL.com/Mobile Sports Hall of Fame Winter Banquet at Hank Aaron Stadium on Thursday.
“He was consistently good all year long,” Roebling said. “I think out of 32 games he played, he only had one game where he didn’t score in double figures and in that game he had nine points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. No matter who we played or what the competition was, Dazon performed at a high level all year. I think that is what makes him an elite player.”
Ingram, who de-committed from Alabama last week following the firing of Anthony Grant, also is one of three finalists for the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 7A Player of the Year. That will be announced April 2 in Montgomery.
As a junior, Ingram averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds and six assists per game. However, his team fell one win short of making it to Birmingham, losing to eventual Class 6A runner-up Blount in the South Regional final. He spent the off-season working primarily on his outside shot, and it resulted in a more well-rounded game as a senior.
“He was a good leader for our team, and his game was more complete,” Roebling said. “Everyone knew how good he was and still couldn’t stop him. That’s not a knock on anyone we played. It is just a credit to Dazon and the type of player he is.”
Ingram said he will relish the history he helped his team make at Theodore and is now looking forward to the future. After his de-commitment from Alabama, he is expected to announce where he will attend college on April 13.
“For now, I’m just working day-by-day to get better,” he said. “I’m in the weight room every day. I’m running every day. I’m doing all I can do to be the best player I can be in college.”
Ingram is one of two players to make the All-Region first team for the second year in a row. The other is Spanish Fort this past season.
Ingram’s teammate at Theodore, Rodney Gill, joins McGill-Toolen’s Deion Dozier, Murphy's Tamarco McDuffie and Faith Academy’s Josh Hill in rounding out the first team, Faith coach John Price, who took his team to the state semifinals for the fourth year in a row, is Coach of the Year for the second time in three seasons.
2015 COASTAL ALABAMA SWEET 16
Player of the Year: Dazon Ingram, Theodore … Averaged 21 points, 11 rebounds and five assists per game in leading the Bobcats to the Class 7A state semifinals. He is a two-time first team All-State selection and a two-time finalist for state Player of the Year in his classification.
Coach of the Year: John Price, Faith Academy … Led the Rams to Birmingham for the fourth straight season. This year, Faith went 34-2, won 33 straight games and was ranked No. 1 for most of the season. The Rams lost to eventual champ J.O. Johnson in the 5A semifinals.
FIRST TEAM
Rodney Gill, Theodore … The 6-foot-1 senior guard averaged 15 points for the Bobcats and hit 61 3-pointers.
Josh Hill, Faith Academy … The 6-foot-4 junior forward was a key for the Rams, especially in the postseason. He averaged 14 points and nine rebounds a game and had 22 blocks. He also is a finalist for Class 5A Player of the Year.
McGill-Toolen … The 6-foot-7 senior averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Yellow Jackets went 28-5 and reached the South Regional final for the second time in three years.
Blake Admire, Spanish Fort … Other than Ingram, the only returning first-team player. Admire, a 6-foot-4 senior, averaged 16 points and six rebounds in leading the Toros to the South Regional final.
Murphy … The 5-foot-10 senior averaged 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals a game in helping the Panthers to the South Regional in Dothan.
SECOND TEAM
Shawn Benard, Faith Academy
Logan Cooney, McGill-Toolen
Montrey Bishop, Spanish Fort
Demetri Williams, Baker
Fairhope
THIRD TEAM
Kyante Pines, Theodore
Chickasaw
LeFlore
B.C. Rain
Blount
Honorable Mention: Saraland.
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