Four East Texans Win Player of the Year Awards from Texas Association of Basketball Coaches
A quartet of East Texas basketball standouts -- two boys, two girls -- have received Player of the Year awards from the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.
On the boys side, White Oak senior forward Levi Yancy was named Class 2A Player of the Year, while Douglass senior guard Reed Westbrook earned the same honor for Class A Division II.
Girls Player of the Year awards went to Liberty-Eylau senior guard Imani Wright in Class 3A and Martin's Mill senior forward Haily Jenkins in Class A Division I.
Yancy averaged more than 12 points and 10 rebounds per game to help White Oak win its second consecutive 2A state championship three weeks ago in a 56-54 title-game win over Brock. The 6-foot-7 shot-blocker led the Roughnecks to a combined record of 74-2 during the last two seasons and, combining with senior point guard Kris Anderson, a 104-6 record in the last three seasons.
Westbrook helped Douglass make its first state tournament appearance and subsequently the Indians' first state championship appearance, where they fell to Roxton. Like Yancy, Westbrook was an all-tournament selection in Austin.
Wright, who has signed with defending national champion Baylor, led Liberty-Eylau to the 3A Region II semifinals before falling to eventual state semifinalist Krum. That playoff run capped a career that included a 2010 state championship, when Wright was named tournament MVP as a freshman.
Jenkins, who has signed with McNeese State, led Martin's Mill to the state title, scoring 21 points in the 49-46 victory over Smyer en route to tournament MVP honors.