Justin Wise selected by readers as high school boys basketball Player of the Year
The results are in and it's time to announce your winning nominee for 2024 Athens-area high school boys basketball postseason player of the year.
You selected North Oconee freshman Justin Wise with 38.11 percent of votes. Wise averaged 13.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, three assists and 1.5 steals per game. He had 19 points in the state finals and earned himself his first-ever All-Region second team honors. His coach, Rick Rassmussen, called him a "major Division I talent" with an incredible future.
Monsignor Donovan players came in second and third with Dylan Arnold (26.1 percent) and Jordan Marnell (16.41 percent).
Below are the nominees from this season's action, selected by their coaches for their outstanding performances for their teams.
Athens-area high school boys basketball player of the year for 2023-24
Apalachee
Nate Valles, 2024
Valles earned All-Region honors.
Athens Academy
Justen Goudelock, 2024
Goudelock was the leading scorer and rebounder his coach, Don Hurlburt, said.
Kymel Williams, 2024
Williams was the leading "everything else," Hurlburt said.
Westbrook Adams, 2024
Adams is going to Vanderbilt in the fall, but not continuing his athletic career. Hurlburt said he hit seven of nine three-point attempts in their Sweet 16 game.
Isaac Rorey, 2024
Rorey is committed to continue his career in basketball at Covenant College in the fall.
Athens Christian
Christian Hubbard, 2026
Harper Ford, 2026
Ford averaged 12 points, four rebounds and three assists per game.
Hampton Ford, 2024
Ford won GACA Co-Player of the Year after averaging 17 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals per game.
Bethlehem Christian
Colin Oates, 2025
Oates earned GIAA All-Region honors.
Andrew DeLorenzo, 2025
DeLorenzo earned a GIAA All-Region Honorable Mention.
Johnny Dickinson, 2024
Dickinson earned GIAA All-Region and All-State honors.
Aiden Cramer, 2024
Cramer earned a GIAA All-Region Honorable Mention.
Cedar Shoals
Devin Hubbard, 2026
Alexander Koch, 2024
Robert Mack, 2024
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Clarke Central
Marcus Gillespie, 2025
Gillespie averaged 28.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks per game.
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Laneric Gill, 2024
Gill averaged 14.1 points and three assists per game.
Tom Gilley, 2024
Gilley averaged six points and four rebounds per game.
Jamarion Davis, 2024
Davis was called a "workhorse" by his coach, Stefan Smith, and averaged two points, nine rebounds, two steals and three assists per game.
Jackson County
RJ Knapp, 2026
Knapp averaged 11.8 points, four rebounds, 3.8 assists and two steals per game. He was 81-percent accurate when shooting from the charity stripe, too.
EJ Heath, 2025
Heath averaged 12 points, seven rebounds, two blocks per game. He was 69-percent accurate when shooting from the field.
Jefferson
Drew Williamson, 2024
Jaden Butts, 2024
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Madison County
Grant Smith, 2025
Mason Smith, 2024
Jay Carruth, 2024
Monsignor Donovan Catholic
Jordan Marnell, 2026
Devin Jones, 2026
Dylan Arnold, 2025
Nick Huff, 2024
Trip Thompson, 2024
North Oconee
Justin Wise, 2027
Wise averaged 13.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, three assists and 1.5 steals per game. He had 19 points in the state finals and earned himself his first-ever All-Region second team honors. His coach, Rick Rassmussen, called him a "major Division I talent" with an incredible future.
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Khamari Brooks, 2026
Brooks averaged 13 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. He had 28 points in the state semifinals and 14 points and six rebounds in the state finals, earning him his second All-Region honors. Rasmussen said the two-sport athlete is an "incredible defender" and "Division I prospect in both football and basketball."
Justin Payne, 2024
Payne averaged 13.5 points, 5.5 assists and one steal per game. Rasmussen called him "the glue, and the floor general." He had nine assists to zero turnovers in the state title game and was named to the All-State and All-Region teams.
Byrd Carter, 2024
Carter averaged 14 points, 4.5 rebounds, three assists and 1.6 steals per game. He had 20 points alone to lead his team in the state title win and was named to the All-State and All-Region teams.
Evan Montgomery, 2024
Montgomery averaged nine points and nine rebounds per game. He had 17-point, 15 rebound and 16-point, 14 rebound performances in the playoffs and was named to the All-Region second team. Rasmussen called him "the anchor of the defense."
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Oconee County
Mason Hall, 2027
JR Dickens, 2025
Levi Slaten, 2024
Oglethorpe County
Javaun Pittard, 2024
Pittard averaged 19 points, eight rebounds, for assists and three steals per game. He was named a Player of the Year in his region.
Jaelin Lumpkin, 2024
Lumpkin averaged 14 points, four rebounds, four assists and 5.5 steals per game. He was named a Player of the Year in his region.
Cole Appling, 2024
Appling averaged 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals per game. He was named to the All-Region first team.
Prince Avenue Christian
Harrison Jefts, 2025
Steven Skaggs, 2025
Will Martin, 2024
Westminster Christian
Reed Carson, 2025
Carson averaged 10 points per game and was a GIAA All-Region nominee.
Jon Donatelli, 2024
Donatelli was called a "great defender" by his coach, Steve Crouse, and averaged 10 points per game. He was a GIAA All-Region nominee.
Winder-Barrow
Jerrin Samuel, 2026
Samuel averaged 13.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game and was on the All-Region team.
Jordan Samuel, 2025
Samuel averaged 8.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.2 steals per game and was an All-Region Honorable Mention.
Jeremiah Shealey, 2025
Shealey averaged 10.5 points per game and a 39-percent shot accuracy from the arc. He was an All-Region Honorable Mention.
Jaden Baskin, 2024
Baskin averaged 11.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 blocks per game and was on the All-Region team.
Tyrin Sims, 2024
Sims averaged 10.4 points and 4.2 assists per game and a 37-percent shot accuracy from the arc. He was on the All-Region team.
Sara Tidwell covers Athens-area high school sports and University of Georgia athletics for The Athens Banner-Herald. Contact her at [email protected] and follow her @saramtidwell on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Justin Wise is readers' high school boys basketball Player of the Year