Lady Wolves senior forward Blanche Alverson was named Class AA player of the year, while Gene Durden was named coach of the year after bringing the school its first state basketball title. Freshman point guard Andraya Carter was also named All-State first team, and senior Jocelyn Danley was named All-State honorable mention.
Meanwhile, Gainesville also produced two All-State team members, as senior guard George Manomano and junior forward Jaymee Carnes were each named to the second team of the Class AAA boys and girls squads.
Manomano led the Red Elephants in scoring this season, as he helped push Gainesville to its first Final Four berth since 2002. Carnes led the Lady Elephants to a Region 7-AAA title.
Region 7-AAA's girls were well represented in the list, as Gilmer's Sarah Jones was also named to the second team, and West Hall's Jayla Moon made honorable mention.
Franklin County's boys and girls teams also had two players make the Class AAA awards list, as Georgia-bound guard Demario Mayfield was named Class AAA player of the year. Meanwhile, Ashley Harris made the Class AAA girls first team.
Other area players noted as honorable mentions included Mill Creek's Moneshia Simmons, Union County's Candace Williams and Winder-Barrow's Shun Thurmond.
-- GSWA All-State basketball team:
Mr. Basketball: Derrick Favors, South Atlanta
Miss Basketball: Telia McCall, Marietta
BOYS
Class AAAAA:
Player of the Year: Lorenzo Brown, Centennial
Coach of the Year: Doug Lipscomb, Wheeler
First team:
Lorenzo Brown, Centennial, Sr., 6-5
Trae Golden, McEachern, Jr., 6-3
Ryan Harrow, Walton, Jr., 6-0
Glen Rice Jr., Walton, Sr., 6-5
Richard Howell, Wheeler, Sr., 6-7
Second team:
Ari Stewart, Wheeler, Sr., 6-6
Adrien Coleman, Stephenson, Sr., 6-4
Taariq Muhammad, Norcross, Sr., 6-2
Julian Royal, Milton, Soph., 6-8
Kenny Hall, Redan, Sr., 6-9
Honorable mentions: Jeremy Olsen, Collins Hill, Sr.; Phil Taylor, Wheeler, Jr.; Russell Powell, Newnan, Sr.; Javoris Bryant, Westlake, Sr.; Keenan Ready, Groves, Jr.; Khalid Mutakabbir, Peachtree Ridge, Sr.; Jay Rome, Valdosta, Soph.; Adonis Harrison, South Gwinnett, Jr.; Dai-Jon Parker, Milton, Soph.; Blaise White, Lassiter, Sr.
Class AAAA:
Player of the Year: Mfon Udofia, Miller Grove
Coach of the Year: Eddie Johnson, Miller Grove
First team:
Mfon Udofia, Miller Grove, Sr., 6-2
Noel Johnson, Fayette County, Sr., 6-7
Manny Atkins, Tucker, Sr., 6-5
Ricardo Glenn, Richmond Academy, Sr., 6-7
J.J. Mann, Marist, Sr., 6-6
Second team:
Alex Dean, Lithia Springs, Sr., 6-5
Darius Baugh, Hillgrove, Sr., 6-2
Quin Bivins, Westside-Macon, Sr., 6-2
Tyler Gunnett, Loganville, Sr., 6-0
Sheldon Strickland, Lakeside-DeKalb, Jr., 5-9
Honorable mentions: Chris Davis, Stockbridge, Jr.; Rico Sanders, North Springs, Sr.; SHUN THURMOND, Winder-Barrow, Sr.; Shaquille Harris, Americus-Sumter, Sr.; Jahmad Saleem, Cross Creek, Sr.; Aloys Cabell, Mays, Jr.; Shaq Barber, Griffin, Sr.; Kinley Branch, Stone Mountain, Sr.; Malcolm Brogdon, Fayette County, Soph.; Taylor Deihl, Sequoyah, Jr.
Class AAA:
Player of the Year: DEMARIO MAYFIELD, Franklin County, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Michael Reddick, South Atlanta
First team:
Derrick Favors, South Atlanta, Sr., 6-9
DEMARIO MAYFIELD, Franklin County, Sr., 6-4
JerShon Cobb, Columbia, Jr., 6-5
Demetrius Rucker, Elbert County, Jr., 6-5
Jaren Harris, Washington County, Sr., 6-0
Second team:
Nick Watkins, South Atlanta, Sr., 6-2
Andre Malone, South Atlanta, Sr., 6-5
Torin Walker, Northside-Columbus, Sr., 6-10
GEORGE MANOMANO, Gainesville, Sr., 6-1
Terrance Noel, Westover, Sr., 6-3
Honorable mentions: Bobby Burum, Burke County, Sr.; Jordan McRae, Liberty County, Jr.; Javon McKay, Dunwoody, Jr.; Trantell Knight, West Laurens, Sr.; Brandon Brown, Cedartown, Sr.; Jerome Hamilton, Worth County, Sr.; Jordan Price, Columbia, Fr.; Byron Dickerson, Druid Hills, Jr.; Kentorey Johnson, Washington County, Sr.; James Vincent, Northside-Columbus, Sr.
Class AA:
Player of the Year: Rashard Smith, Dublin
Coach of the Year: Marvin Latham, Dublin
First team:
Rashard Smith, Dublin, Sr., 5-10
Jimmy Bacon, Long County, Sr., 6-4
Matthew Brabham, Central-Macon, Jr., 5-11
Trent Wiedeman, Greater Atlanta Christian, Jr., 6-6
Santez Emory, Heard County, Jr., 6-3
Second team:
Arris Brundidge, Blessed Trinity, Sr., 6-4
Andrew Houts, Dade County, Jr., 5-7
Wendell Williams, Appling County, Sr., 6-0
Sherrard Brantley, Dublin, Sr., 6-2
Terrance Lewis, East Laurens, Sr., 6-5
Honorable mentions: Ryan LeGates, Blessed Trinity, Sr.; Rashad Ramsey, Chattooga, Jr.; Fernando Lemus, Model, Sr.; Dontavious Lee, Crawford County, Sr.; Quantavius Leslie, Callaway, Jr.; Mike Palmer, Northeast-Macon, Jr.; Rod Hall, Laney, Soph.; Gerald Dunn, Greene County, Sr.; Gerald Williams, Mitchell County; Willie Clayton, Thomasville, Fr.
Class A:
Player of the Year: Kammeon Holsey, Hancock Central
Coach of the Year: Tyrone Johnson, Whitefield Academy
First team:
Kammeon Holsey, Hancock Central, Sr., 6-8
Brandon Reed, Whitefield Academy, Sr., 6-3
Tyshawn Good, Darlington, Sr., 6-1
Raymond Higgs, Athens Christian, Sr., 6-3
Kentavious Caldwell, Greenville, Soph., 6-6
Second team:
Nick Marshall, Wilcox County, Soph., 6-1
Ternell Davis, Turner County, Sr., 6-1
Jamail Jones, Greenforest Christian, Jr., 6-5
Brit Duncan, Wilkinson County, Sr., 6-2
Breon Dixon, Turner County, Soph., 6-7
Honorable mentions: Cody Padgett, Calvary Day, Sr.; Grayson Chambers, Gordon Lee, Jr.; Josh Sparks, Savannah Christian, Sr.; Griffin Schamp, Wesleyan, Jr.; Westley Hinton, Providence Christian, Sr.; Devin Byrd, Metter, Jr.; Tray Pearce, Turner County, Sr.; Milos Kleut, North Cobb Christian, Sr.; D.J. Edler, Pace Academy, Sr.; Nnamdi Moh, Our Lady of Mercy, Sr.
GIRLS
Class AAAAA:
Player of the Year: Telia McCall, Marietta
Coach of the Year: Rhonda Malone, Redan
First team:
Telia McCall, Marietta, Sr., 6-2
Tamika Willis, Westlake, Sr., 6-3
Khaalidah Miller, Douglass, Jr., 5-9
Alisha Andrews, Redan, Jr., 5-2
Lauren Coleman, Parkview, Jr., 6-0
Second team:
Diamond Henderson, North Cobb, Jr., 5-8
Kyra Crosby, McEachern, Sr., 5-10
Erika Ford, Chattahoochee, Soph., 5-9
Monique Willis, Beach, Sr., 5-9
Nia Evans, Redan, Jr., 6-0
Honorable mention: Tiffany Clarke, Norcross, Sr.; Sharon Swanson, Cherokee, Sr.; Jaquayla Berry, Coffee, Sr.; Seandre Lee, Bradwell Institute, Jr.; Dria David, Central Gwinnett, Sr.; MONESHIA SIMMONS, Mill Creek, Jr.; Gabby Harvey, Berkmar, Sr.; Lauren Townson, Roswell, Sr.; Tyra Smith, Berkmar, Sr.; Mykala Walker, Duluth, Sr.
Class AAAA
Player of the Year: Tessah Holt, Fayette County
Coach of the Year: Kathy Richie-Walton, Southwest DeKalb
First team:
Tessah Holt, Fayette County, Sr., 5-6
Kayla Lewis, Southwest DeKalb, Jr., 5-11
Alexis Burke, Bainbridge, Jr., 5-11
Morgan Toles, Sandy Creek, Sr., 5-9
Amma Onyeuku, Fayette County, Jr., 5-10
Second team:
Joi Holyfield, Jonesboro, Sr., 5-6
Brandi Jones, Jones County, Sr., 5-8
Whitney Hagan, Marist, Sr., 6-1
Courtney Freeman, Madison County, Sr., 5-11
Kenya Drayton, Hephzibah, Sr., 5-11
Honorable mentions: Shay Jackson, Osborne, Jr.; Quaneisha McCurty, Northwest Whitfield, Soph.; Precious Elkins, Salem, Sr.; Kendra Long, Mays, Jr.; Brittney Strickland, Dutchtown, Jr.; Zandra Green, Brunswick, Sr.; Tre'anna Smith, Westside-Macon, Sr.; Jessica Morton, Glenn Hills, Jr.; Chancellor Martin, Harlem, Sr.; Abril Peeples, Americus-Sumter, Sr.
Class AAA:
Player of the Year: Karisma Boykin, Carrollton
Coach of the Year: Shon Thomaston, Carrollton
First team:
Karisma Boykin, Carrollton, Sr., 5-6
Kayla Weaver, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Sr., 5-8
Teshia Griswold, Baldwin, Sr., 5-8
Janyce Ealey, Carrollton, Sr., 5-9
ASHLEY HARRIS, Franklin County, Sr., 5-7
Second team:
JAYMEE CARNES, Gainesville, Jr., 6-1
Kendra Grant, Rutland, Sr., 6-0
Tiffany Anderson, Dougherty, Sr., 5-9
Shakima Wiggins, Washington County, Sr., 5-5
SARAH JONES, Gilmer, Sr., 5-9
Honorable mentions: Elan Brown, Woodward Academy, Sr.; Kristin Nash, Dunwoody, Sr.; Beneidra Colbert, Mary Persons, Sr.; Destinee Smith, Columbia, Soph.; Pascale West, Troup, Sr.; Miesha Turpin, Carver-Columbus, Sr.; Shannel Wright, Riverwood, Sr.; Jemimah Ashby, Columbia, Sr.; JAYLA MOON, West Hall, Sr.; Bria Dorsey, Carver-Atlanta, Soph.
Class AA:
Player of the Year: BLANCHE ALVERSON, Buford
Coach of the Year: GENE DURDEN, Buford
First team:
BLANCHE ALVERSON, Buford, Sr., 6-3
Taylor Ayers, Laney, Sr., 6-1
Porschia Hadley, Macon County, Sr., 6-3
ANDRAYA CARTER, Buford, Fr., 5-9
Brianna Williams, Henry County, Jr., 5-6
Second team:
Shenikah Henry, Vidalia, Jr., 6-2
Chaney Means, Greater Atlanta Christian, Jr., 5-8
Janaye Jasper, Model, Jr., 5-9
Angelia Hill, Southwest-Macon, Sr., 5-9
Maria Bond, Northeast-Macon, Soph., 5-11
Honorable mentions: Ieshia Alexander, Coosa, Sr.; JOCELYN DANLEY, Buford, Sr.; CANDACE WILLIAMS, Union County, Sr.; Carmenonique Dawson, Thomasville, Soph.; Ashley Jones, Appling County, Soph.; Shelby Farrer, Model, Sr.; Kellie Bacon, Appling County, Jr.; Brianna Eubanks, Laney, Sr.; Nisha Walker, Dodge County, Jr.; Riley Cerone, Blessed Trinity, Sr.
Class A:
Player of the Year: Mariah Chandler, Southwest Atlanta Christian
Coach of the Year: Jan Azar, Wesleyan
First team:
Anne Marie Armstrong, Wesleyan, Sr., 6-3
Mariah Chandler, Southwest Atlanta Christian, Sr., 6-2
Destiny Mitchell, Randolph-Clay, Jr., 5-10
Katie Covington, Calvary Day, Sr., 5-9
Chantel Kennedy, Wesleyan, Sr., 5-7
Second team:
Candice Warthen, Warren County, Jr., 5-5
Holli Brooks, Gordon Lee, Soph., 5-7
Melissa Burkhamer, Savannah Country Day, Sr., 5-6
Nikki Winn, Towns County, Sr., 5-6
Katherine Dotson, Savannah Country Day, Sr., 5-10
Honorable mentions: Erin Hall, Wesleyan, Jr.; Artisha Holston, Taylor County, Fr.; Destynee McRae, Telfair County, Jr.; Alex Abraham, Paideia, Jr.; Caroline Brashier, Walker, Jr.; Julia Echols, Eagle's Landing Christian, Jr.; Akeyvya Jones, Chattahoochee County, Soph.; Tashe McClain, Jenkins County, Sr.; Brittany White, Trion, Sr.; Maritza Heard, Social Circle, Sr.
Blanche Alverson
George Manomano
http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/3/218977