Coastal Preps Winter 2021-22 Midseason Awards

We’ve reached the midway point of the season in basketball, swimming and wrestling and numerous area players and coaches are off to a fantastic start. It’s now up to you to decide the best of the best in several categories.

A link to vote for the honors is at at the bottom of the post. Voting will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 22 and results will be posted the following day.

***Stats are updated through Jan. 12***

BOYS BASKETBALL

Player of the Year

Sophomore forward Aidan Davies, Coastal Christian: Through 15 games, Davies is averaging 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds. He is also shooting a remarkable 68 percent (115 of 168) from the field. Davies broke the school record with 35 points on Nov. 23 against Arendell Parrott Academy.

Senior guard Hoku Fisher, Hoggard: Leads all area players in points per game at 19.5 through 15 contests. Fisher also averages 5.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals. He’s shooting 39 percent (44 of 114) from 3-point range. His 42-point performance against Wake Forest tied for the second most in program history.

Senior guard Jayden Johnson, Southeastern Homeschool: After spending his junior season at Laney, Johnson has returned to the Cardinals and is averaging a team-best 18.9 points through 14 games. He also averages 6.3 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2.1 assists. Johnson is shooting 59 percent (102 of 173) from the field.  

Senior forward Mikhail Pocknett, New Hanover: In his first season with the Wildcats, Pocknett has helped the team get off to a 10-0 start by averaging 13.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 1.4 assists. He is shooting 62 percent (52 of 84) from the field.

Newcomer of the Year

Freshman guard Rodmik Allen, New Hanover: Through his first eight  high school games, Allen is averaging 6.9 points, 3.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds. He is already one of the area’s most pesky on-ball defenders.

Senior guard Alonzo Dyson, Hoggard: The transfer from Florida has made an immediate impact with the Vikings, averaging 11.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals. Dyson is one of the top 3-point shooters in the area as evident by his 50 percent (12 of 24) clip.

Freshman forward Sherrod Henderson, Trask: Henderson has gotten his career off to a good start, averaging 6.4 points and 6 rebounds per game. He is shooting 61 percent (23 of 38) from the field through nine games.

Senior guard Akell Lance, North Brunswick: Lance played in six varsity games a season ago before things got shut down, but he still qualifies for this category. Through 12 games, Lance is averaging 12 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals. 

Coach of the Year

Kirk Angel, New Hanover: Angel has gotten his team to buy in on the defensive end and it has paid off as the Wildcats are the area’s only unbeaten team. Opponents are averaging only 38.2 points against the Wildcats.

Adam Batts, Southeastern Homeschool: The Cardinals have become one of the area’s best programs thanks in large part to Batts. Southeastern Homeschool is off to a 10-4 start this season, which includes its first-ever victory over Coastal Christian.

Tony Martin, Cape Fear Academy: Martin has done a great job since taking over at CFA in 2016 and this year is no different. The Hurricanes are 10-3 with an impressive 46-29 win over defending defending 3A SCISA state champion Trinity Collegiate School, S.C.

Brett Queen, Hoggard: The veteran coach has his team off to a 13-2 start, including a 5-0 mark in the Mideastern Conference. Hoggard has wins over Panther Creek and Pinecrest, who are a combined 20-7.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Player of the Year

Senior forward Madeline Elgart, Hoggard: Elgart has had a breakout season to help the Vikings grab sole possession of first place in the Mideastern Conference. She is averaging 14.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 1.6 assists, including a pair of 30-point performances.

Junior guard Laney Scoggins, North Brunswick: Scoggins is a do-it-all player for the Scorpions. She leads the team in points (16), rebounds (8.2), steals (4.5) and assists (2.3), all while shooting 43 percent (71 of 164) from the field. 

Senior guard Andrehya Shuford, New Hanover: The sharpshooter leads all area players in points per game at 21.5. She has scored at least 25 points in six of 10 games, including a season-high 37 against Topsail.

Junior guard Jada Simpson, Laney: Through 11 games, Simpson is averaging 14.5 points, 4.7 steals, 3.8 assists and 3.7 rebounds. She has reached double figures in nine contests, including a season-high 22 points in the season opener against Trask.

Newcomer of the Year

Sophomore forward Marlee Cook, Ashley: The talented multi-sport standout is averaging 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds in her first season on the basketball court. Cook is also shooting 43 percent (39 of 90) from the field.

Sophomore guard Lexie Dawson, Topsail: Dawson played in six games as a freshman, but she still qualifies for this category. Through 10 games, she is averaging a team-best 11.4 points to go along with 2.9 steals and 2.2 rebounds. 

Freshman guard Aniece Lewis, Laney: Lewis rarely comes off the court because she is such a such a good ball handler and defender. She doesn’t score much, averaging only 5.8 points, but she certainly makes an impact in every game. Lewis averages 2.8 assists, 2.2 steals and 2.2 rebounds despite being one of the smallest players on the court.

Sophomore guard MacKenzie Morton, Ashley: After seeing very limited action as a freshman, Morton has taken over as the go-to player for the Screaming Eagles. She is averaging 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 steals through 11 games.

Coach of the Year

Boubacar Aw, Hoggard: Despite losing one of his top scorers prior to the season, Aw has still helped the Vikings grab an early lead in the Mideastern Conference. Hoggard is 12-3 overall and 5-0 in league play thanks to its outstanding defense, which is allowing 27.9 points per game.

Rashad Gattison, New Hanover: In his first season with the Wildcats, Gattison guided the Wildcats to their first victory over Laney since 2017. New Hanover is 7-3 overall and 4-1 in the Mideastern Conference.

Kevin Holland, West Brunswick: Another first-year coach on this list, Holland has turned things around quickly. West Brunswick went 2-7 in 2020-21 and hasn’t had a winning season since 2017-18, but that seems likely to change this year. They are off to a 7-3 start.

Ingar Sidbury, Topsail: Sidbury has the Pirates in contention for the Mideastern Conference title in his first season as the man in charge. Topsail is 9-2 overall and 2-1 in league play thanks to a terrific offense that averages 57.4 points.

SWIMMING

Boys Swimmer of the Year

Senior Forrest Hoover, Topsail: Has the fastest area times in the 50 freestyle (21.92), 100 freestyle (49.15) and 100 breaststroke (1:01.63). Hoover is also in the top 10 in the 100 butterfly (second in 53.75), 200 IM (fourth in 2:02.72) and 100 backstroke (10th in 58.80).

Junior Ryan Langtry, Hoggard: Langtry has the three fastest times in the area in the 200 freestyle. His best time of 1:49.78 is 10 seconds faster than the next area swimmer. Langtry is also second in the 100 backstroke (55.44).

Soph. Cian Post, Ashley: Currently has two of the area’s best three times in the 200 IM, including the fastest in 2:01.84. Post is also eighth in the 100 backstroke (58.24).

Senior Will Sterrett, Hoggard: Owns the area’s fastest times in the 500 freestyle (5:03.03) and 100 butterfly (53.13). He is second in the 200 IM with a time of 2:01.86.

Boys Newcomer of the Year

Freshman Nathan Arredondo, Hoggard: A terrific freestyle sprinter, Arredondo has the third fastest time in the area in the 100 distance and is 17th in the 50. He also swam a 1:09.54 in the 100 breaststroke, which is the eighth best time.

Junior Ted Jones, Cape Fear Academy: Jones has top-20 times in three events – 200 freestyle (fourth in 1:59.99), 500 freestyle (sixth in 5:28.26) and 50 freestyle (18th in 24.19).

Freshman Drew Monical, Topsail: Has scored valuable points for the Pirates in multiple events this season. Monical has the eighth fastest time in the area in the 200 freestyle (2:02.21). He’s also in the top 20 in the 500 freestyle (11th in 5:56.61), 200 IM (20th in 2:26.81), 100 backstroke (17th in 1:05.31) and 100 butterfly (18th in 1:01.22).

Sophomore Cade Needham, South Brunswick: The out-of-state transfer has made an immediate impact in many events. He has the second best time in the area in the 500 freestyle (5:13.02) and is also in the top 10 in the 100 (eighth in 54.04) and 200 (ninth in 2:02.55) distances. Needham is 12th in the 100 butterfly (59.00) and 20th in the 100 backstroke (1:07.56).

Girls Swimmer of the Year

Sophomore Abby Forbes, New Hanover: The area’s top distance swimmer has the top two times in the 500 freestyle. Her best time of 5:36.49 is six seconds faster than the next area swimmer. Forbes also excels in the 100 butterfly, where she is fourth with a time of 1:03.04.

Senior Jenna Grill, Laney: Grill is the only female in the area to break the one-minute mark in the 100 butterfly. She has done it twice, including an area-best time of 58.97. She is also third in the 50 freestyle (24.50) and second in the 100 freestyle (55.05).

Sophomore Madi Joy, Laney: Has the top area times in the 200 freestyle (2:04.70) and 100 backstroke (59.94). Joy is the only swimmer to break the one-minute mark in the backstroke. 

Senior Callie Parkes, Hoggard: A legit state championship contender in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle. Parkes has the fastest area times in both events – 23.86 in 50 and 55.01 in 100 – this season. 

Girls Newcomer of the Year

Freshman Juliet Burroughs, New Hanover: It hasn’t taken long for Burroughs to prove that she’s one of the area’s best freestyle swimmers. She is in the top 15 in every distance – 14th in 50 (26.19), fifth in 100 (57.73), fourth in 200 (2:05.56) and sixth in 500 (5:47.16).

Freshman Caroline Furbay, Ashley: Furbay has the top two 200 IM times in the area. Her time of 2:16.18 is eight seconds better than the next fastest competitor. She’s also strong in the 50 freestyle (10th in 25.93), 100 backstroke (10th in 1:05.27) and 100 breaststroke (third in 1:12.21).

Freshman Kelsey Stuck, Hoggard: The talented freshman has top-10 times in three events, including the 100 backstroke (fourth in 1:01.46). She is sixth in the 100 butterfly (1:05.68) and seventh in the 50 freestyle (25.48).

Senior Jules Vidal, Laney: In her first season with the Buccaneers, Vidal has found success in three events. She has the third fastest time in the 500 freestyle (5:42.37). Vidal is sixth in the 200 IM (2:28.41) and seventh in the 200 freestyle (2:09.27). 

WRESTLING

Wrestler of the Year

Senior Devon Bell, Laney: Bell is one of only three area wrestlers who has yet to suffer a loss this season. He has been dominant at 195 pounds, rolling to a 27-0 record that includes 24 wins by pin or forfeit. 

Junior Ethan Blevins, Topsail: It’s been a remarkable season for the junior, who is currently 36-0. That includes a pair of victories over returning state champions. Blevins has earned bonus points for the Pirates 30 times.

Junior Alex Hopper, Laney: In his first season with the Buccaneers, Hopper has a 31-2 record at 170 pounds. He earned his 100th career victory on Wednesday with a first period pin. All of Hopper’s victories have earned bonus points for his team. 

Senior Mark Samuel, Laney: The two-time defending state champion looks like he will become the area’s first three-time champ. He is 26-0 this season at 126 pounds with every victory earning bonus points for the Buccaneers. His winning streak is currently at 106 matches.

Newcomer of the Year

Junior Jack Cuba, New Hanover: While Cuba isn’t technically a newcomer, he did miss all of his sophomore season since wrestling conflicted with baseball. Now that it’s back in the winter, Cuba has returned and is 23-3 with 21 of those wins coming by pin or forfeit.

Junior Garrett Frazier, South Brunswick: The standout football player has quickly found success on the mat. Frazier is 16-4 on the season, including 14 wins coming by pin or forfeit.

Freshman Ian Fritz, Topsail: Fritz has already become one of the area’s best wrestlers despite being in his first high school season. He is 31-1 with his only loss coming by a 5-1 score to a defending state champion. Fritz has earned a pin or forfeit in 27 matches.

Senior Owen Harshbarger, Laney: The transfer from Virginia is looking to get on the state championship podium in his second state. He is 30-5 and has claimed four tournament titles.

 

 

***VOTE HERE***