HIGH-SCHOOL

OnlineAthens all area boys high school basketball team

Staff
Apalachee's Kamar Baldwin is the Athens Banner-Herald high school basketball player of the year. 
(Richard Hamm/Staff) OnlineAthens / Athens Banner-Herald

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: KAMAR BALDWIN, APALACHEE

The 6-foot-2 Baldwin, who last November signed with Butler, was twice named Region 8-AAAAA Player of the Year and has been an All-State performer since his sophomore season. In his career at Apalachee, Baldwin scored 2,593 points (most ever by a Barrow County player) and had 1,002 rebounds and 337 assists.

COACH OF THE YEAR: DRECO THOMAS, CEDAR SHOALS

The 1990 graduate of Cedar Shoals has in six years posted a mark of 117-57 (55-22 in Region 8-AAAAA). During Thomas' time as coach, the Jaguars have been to the Sweet Sixteen three times and the Final Four two times. In the 2015-16 season, Cedar Shoals went 29-3 (13-1 in region) and had winning streaks of seven and 18 games.

FIRST TEAM

Travis Anderson, East Jackson, So.: Averaged 18 points per game for the Eagles, who reached the Region 8-AAA finals for the first time and won in the state playoffs for the first time in school history.

Kamar Baldwin, Apalachee, Sr.: Averaged a double-double of 29.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and recorded 112 assists, 92 steals and 30 blocks for the Wildcats, who went 19-6 overall and 11-4 in Region 8-AAAAA.

Drue Drinnon, East Jackson, So.:Unquestionably one of the best underclassmen in the state and has been recruited by just about every major program in the country; averaged 21.3 points, seven assists and five rebounds per game as the Eagles won in the state playoffs for the first time in school history and went 17-12 and 8-5 in Region 8-AAA.

Joel Ellis, Jackson County, Sr.: Averaged 18 points and nine rebounds per game, and shot 60 percent from the field, as the Panthers reached the state playoffs for the first time in 14 years and won a state tournament game for the first time in 51 years; named to the All-Region 8-AAA team and scored 836 career points in only two years on the team.

Phlandrous Fleming, Cedar Shoals, Jr.: Averaged 14.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2.8 assists for the Jaguars, who went 29-3 (13-1 in Region 8-AAAAA) and reached the Class AAAAA Final Four.

Richard Jibunor, Athens Christian, So.: Averaged a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds per game and was named All-Region 8-A. 

Jack Mangel, Clarke Central, So.: Led the Gladiators in scoring (10.2 ppg), rebounding (4.4 rpg), 3-pointers made (35) and was second on the team with 2.2 assists per game.

Jerick Mitchell, Cedar Shoals, Sr.:Averaged 12.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.4 steals per game for the Jaguars, who went 29-3 (13-1 in Region 8-AAAAA) and reached the Class AAAAA Final Four.

A.J. Stokes, Monsignor Donovan, Sr.:Averaged a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds per game as the Rams bounced back from an 0-9 start to reach the GISA Class AA state semifinals and finish with a 10-12 record. Earlier this year, Stokes signed a letter of intent to play football at The Citadel.

Duncan Taylor, Prince Avenue Christian, Sr.: Averaged 15.3 points per game for Prince Avenue Christian, which went 13-10 (after going 8-18 in 2015) and reached the semifinals of the Region 8-A tournament.

SECOND TEAM

Golston Gillespie, Madison County, Sr.

Preston Giroux, Jackson County, Sr.

Quenjarvis "Snipe" Hall, Cedar Shoals, Jr.

Jabari Hill, Apalachee, Sr.

Jacob Hudson, Athens Academy, Jr.

Jalen Morgan, East Jackson, Jr.

Matthew Quint, North Oconee, Jr.

Malik Sims, Monsignor Donovan, Jr.

Stavion Stevenson, Cedar Shoals, Jr.

Hunter Thompson, Jefferson, Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Apalachee: Ricky Wonzon

Athens Academy: Connor McCleary

Athens Christian: Cody Boyd

Cedar Shoals: Greg Smith

Clarke Central: Jabriel Parks, Ellis Flurry, Desmond Sorrells

Madison County: Trevon Daniel, Jackson Bailey

North Oconee: Jack Chambers

Oconee County: Chance Peden

Oglethorpe County: Isaac Hulin, Jeffrey Glenn, Matt Wells

Prince Avenue Christian: Mack Simmons, Noah Campbell, Sam Todd