Durr, Gant named Atlanta Tipoff Club players of the year

Asia Durr of St. Pius and JaKeenan Gant of Effingham County were announced Wednesday as the high school state players of the year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Durr is the top-rated junior prospect in the nation, according to ESPN Hoopgurlz, and has led St. Pius to the Class AAA final against Buford on Saturday in Macon. Durr is averaging 24.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game on a 29-3 team.

St. Pius junior Asia Durr scored 29 points in a win over Blessed Trinity. (Photo - Teresa Penley Sheppard)

Grant, who has signed with Missouri, averaged 21.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.0 blocked shots for a 20-10 team that advanced to the AAAAA second round.

McEachern junior guard Te’a Cooper was named the metro Atlanta girls player of the year. Greater Atlanta Christian guard Isaiah Wilkins is the boys metro player of the year.

The winners were selected by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s board of selectors, which comprise basketball coaches and administrators from around the region. All honorees will be recognized at the Atlanta Tipoff Club Naismith Awards Banquet on March 20 at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta.

THE WINNERS:

Miss Georgia Basketball: Asia Durr, St. Pius

Mr. Georgia Basketball: JaKeenan Gant, Effingham County

Bobby Cremins Girls Coach of the Year (Class 4A – 6A): Phyllis Arthur, McEachern

Bobby Cremins Boys Coach of the Year (Class 4A – 6A): Markus Hood, Allatoona

Garland Pinholster Girls Coach of the Year (Class 1A – 3A): Tony Watkins, Holy Innocents'

Garland Pinholster Boys Coach of the Year (Class 1A – 3A): Eddie Martin, Greater Atlanta Christian

Metro Atlanta Girls Player of the Year: Te'a Cooper, McEachern

Metro Atlanta Boys Player of the Year: Isaiah Wilkins, Greater Atlanta Christian

All-Metro Atlanta Girls First Team

• Brianna Cummings, Greater Atlanta Christian
• Erykah Davenport, Tucker
• Mackenzie Engram, Hillgrove
• Amy Griffin, Southwest Atlanta Christian
• Caliya Robinson, McEachern

All-Metro Atlanta Boys First Team

• TeMarcus Blanton, Luella
• Phil Cofer, Whitewater
• Eric Lockett, Whitefield Academy
• Devin Mitchell, Collins Hill
• Keith Pinckney, Miller Grove

All-Metro Atlanta Girls Second Team

• Jasmine Carter, St. Pius
• Taylor Gordon, McEachern
• Anriel Howard, Westlake
• Andreona Keys, Roswell
• Tynice Martin, Southwest DeKalb

All-Metro Atlanta Boys Second Team

• Malik Beasley, St. Francis
• Jaylen Brown Wheeler
• Kyle Castlin, Hillgrove
• Daniel Fowler, Allatoona
• Paul Jackson, M.L. King

All-Metro Atlanta Girls Third Team

• Camille Anderson, Buford
• Maya Benham, Douglas County
• Nikki McDonald, Wesleyan
• Katie Powell, Duluth
• Amber Skidgel, Archer

All-Metro Atlanta Boys Third Team

• Tobias Howard, North Gwinnett
• Rakim Lubin, Buford
• Avery Patterson, Wheeler
• Marcus Sheffield, Chattahoochee
• D'Marcus Simonds, Buford