PREP HOOPS: Poka’s White Jr., named boys Player of the Year

Loachapoka’s last run to the state title, in 1997, was dominated by Anthony Williams, a 6-foot-7 center who was Mr. Basketball that year.

While this year’s Indians lacked anyone of Williams’ stature, 6-foot-1 Tommy White Jr., still provided a formidable presence in the post.

“He moves a little lethargic, but he’s strong also, and he uses his body well,” Loachapoka coach Terry Murph said. “You see him run and he kind of lopes down the court. But when he gets the ball in the post, he uses that big body well.”

White, the Class 1A and Opelika-Auburn News boys Player of the Year, averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds for the state-champion
Indians this season, and seemed to have a flair for coming up big on the largest stages.

He was named MVP of the Central Region tournament and scored 18 points while grabbing 12 rebounds in the Indians’ 53-37 win over
Parkway Christian in the state championship.

Ten of those points came in the fourth quarter, as Loachapoka put away the Wildcats.

The unranked Indians beat the Nos. 1, 2 and 6 teams on their way to the title, and won their final five games by an average of 22 points.

“Throughout the year he would sometimes score 24 or 25, and if he just hit point-blank layups, he would have scored 30,” Murph said. “But once we got to the playoffs, he wasn’t missing those layups.”

White, a senior, transferred to Loachapoka from 5A Booker T. Washington before last school year.

He said his teammates only called him “Tuskegee” when he first joined the Indians.

They all know his name now.

“It was kind of hard getting there and adjusting to new personalities,” White said. “I had to earn their respect. Let them know about what I do, and what I can do.”

White said he transferred because there was “too much trouble” he could get into at BTW.

He was thinking about going to Notasulga before somebody suggested to his mother that they take a look at Loachapoka.

“It’s good, because the school’s so small, there ain’t much you can do,” White said. “There ain’t as much as you can do at BTW, student-wise.”

The first player White knew on the Indians was senior point guard Vontrez Hutchinson, who would give White rides home after practice.

White said his relationship with Hutchinson was crucial in the early stages to gain acceptance on his new team.

“He basically knew everybody,” White said. “I just started hanging with him, and everybody just came around.”

White, who was first-team All-State in football as a defensive lineman and the Opelika-Auburn News’ Defensive Player of the Year, said he
was surprised to even be in the running for the player of the year award.

But now that he’s got it, he’s got a little more work to do during the spring.

“When I graduate, I can say I did something my whole senior year,” he said. “I’ll try to get it for baseball, too. If I can get it.”

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2009 Small School (2A-ICSGA) All-Area Team
First Team
—Lyman Ward: Justin Minor, Sr., G, 6-0. Averaged 23.0 points for the 7-13 Rangers. Second-team All-State in the AISA.
—Edward Bell: Damien Carr, Jr., G, 5-10. Averaged 19.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.7 steals for the 16-6 Bears. Honorable mention All-State in 1A.
—Loachapoka: Tommy White Jr., Sr., F, 6-1. Averaged 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds for the state champion Indians. 1A boys player of the year; O-A News boys Player of the Year.
—Loachapoka: Jontavius Willis, Sr., G/F, 6-0. Averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals for the state champion Indians. Second-team All-State in 1A.
—Lanett: Tank Huguley, Sr., F/C, 6-6. Averaged 11.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks for the 18-11 Panthers.

Second Team
—McKeldric Daniel, Sr., G, 5-8, Chambers Academy: 17 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.8 spg.
—Marctavious Finley, Sr., G/F, 6-5, Lanett: 10.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 3.1 apg.
—Kyle Hammock, Sr., F, 6-2, Ballard Christian: 19 ppg, 10 rpg, 3 apg, 2 bpg.
—Quindravius Richardson, Jr., F, 6-2, Loachapoka: 11 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg, 4 spg.
—L.C. Turner, Sr., F, 6-1, Edward Bell: 14.9 ppg, 13.1 rpg, 2.4 apg.

Honorable Mention
—Ballard Christian: Judson Butler, Jr., F; Ben Causland, Jr., G.
—Chambers: Ricky Daniel, F.
—Edward Bell: Nick Wilkerson, Sr., F.
—Glenwood: Nehemiah Horace, Sr., G/F; Dudley Taylor, Sr., F.
—Lanett: Danny Griner, Sr., G; Nirobi Huguley, Jr., G/F; Stantavious Roberts, So., G.
—Lee-Scott: Garrett Dyas, Sr., G; Alex Layson, Sr., G.
—Loachapoka: Marvin Hunter, So., F; Patrick Moore, Jr., G.

2009 Large School (6A-3A) All-Area Team
First Team
—Dadeville: Dominique Wilkerson, Sr., G, 5-9. Averaged 18.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists for the 13-14 Tigers. Honorable mention All-State in 3A.
—Auburn: Jason Webb, So., G, 6-3. Averaged 15.2 points for the 16-14 Tigers.
—Opelika: Tay Calloway, Jr., G/F, 6-3. Averaged 12.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists for the 19-9 Bulldogs.
—Central: Darren Daniel, Jr., G/F, 6-4. Averaged 13.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists for the state semifinalist Red Devils.
—Central: Joseph Thompson, Sr., F, 6-4. Averaged 16.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks for the state semifinalist Red Devils. Second-team All-State in 6A.

Second Team
—Marquiris Burton, Sr., G, 5-9, LaFayette: 15 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg.
—Eric Dowell, Sr., G, 6-0, Beauregard: 16 ppg, 3 apg, 3 spg.
—Tobius Ray, Sr., F, 6-2, LaFayette: 16 ppg, 7 rpg.
—A.J. Williams, Jr., G, 6-0, Smiths Station: 15 ppg, 5 rpg, 7 apg, 4 spg.
—Michael Willis, Jr., F, 6-4, Auburn: 14 ppg, 8 rpg.

Honorable Mention
—Auburn: Tony Holland, Jr., F; A.J. Jackson, So., G; Calvin Jenkins, Jr., G; Will Walker, Jr., F.
—Beauregard: Dewone Scott, Sr., G.
—Beulah: Justin Harper, Jr., F; Jartinez McCants, Sr., G; Jordan Wimberly, Jr., F.
—Central: Antonio King, Jr., G.
—Dadeville: Andy Clark, Sr., G.
—Opelika: LaDecker Johnson, Jr., G;  Terrance Milligan, Sr., G; Jacoby Payne, So., F.
—Smiths Station: Sebastian Thomas, Sr., G.