Neal earns all-district honors for Lions
March 6, 2011

By David Claybourn
Herald-Banner Sports Editor

With his quickness and jumping ability, Greenville's junior guard Kenneth Neal made some spectacular drives to the basket for the Lions this basketball season.

Neal's athletic ability did not go unnoticed by the District 13-4A coaches, who voted him to the first team of the all-district team. Neal was the only Lion to make the top team.

Greenville juniors Ladarrien Davis and Sawyer Harmon and sophomore Dartanon Wilson made the second team.

Darion Neal and Blake Taylor made the honorable mention list.

The district coaches split the superlatives up as Texas High senior Greg Pollins earned the most valuable player award. The offensive MVP honor went to Qualin Hayden of Sherman. Khori Jones of Mount Pleasant captured the defensive MVP honor. Dustin Thomas of Texas High and Denison sophomore Daniel Batey shared the newcomer of the year honor. Mount Pleasant's Jonathan Hopkins was selected as coach of the year.

Royse City, which made the playoffs as the fourth-place finisher in 13-4A, put seniors Trey Bowers and Bryan Wyrick on the first team, plus David Frye and George Gomez on the second team.

All-District 13-4A

Boys Basketball Team

Most valuable player -- Greg Pollins, Texas High, Sr.

Offensive MVP -- Qualin Hayden, Sherman, Jr.

Defensive MVP -- Khori Jones, Mount Pleasant, Sr.

Newcomers of the year -- Dustin Thomas, Texas High, So.; Daniel Batey, Denison, So.

Coach of the year -- Jonathan Hopkins, North Hopkins.

FIRST TEAM

Trey Bowers, Royse City, Sr.

Maurice Fomby, Mount Pleasant, Sr.

Alvin Frazier, Sulphur Springs, Sr.

Andrew Hightower, Sherman, Sr.

Paul Hurndon, Mount Pleasant, Sr.

Kentrell Manning, Texas High, Sr.

Breon Matlock, Texas High, Sr.

Kenneth Neal, Greenville, Jr.

Austin Ross, Denison, Sr.

James Smith, Denison, Sr.

Bryan Wyrick, Royse City, Sr.

SECOND TEAM

Ladarrien Davis, Greenville, Jr.

Tre Dean, Sulphur Springs, Jr.

D'Andre Dorsey, Sherman, Sr.

Andrew Flanagan, Mount Pleasant, Fr.

David Frye, Royse City, So.

George Gomez, Royse City, Sr.

Sawyer Harmon, Greenville, Jr.

D'Quane Hines, Mount Pleasant, Jr.

Montravious James, Mount Pleasant, So.

John McGee, Texas High, Jr.

Tevin Norris, Sulphur Springs, Jr.

Dartanon Wilson, Greenville, So.

HONORABLE MENTION

Greenville: Darion Neal, So.; Blake Taylor, Sr.

ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT

Mount Pleasant: Austin Alexander, So.; Andrew Flanagan, Fr.

Denison: Daniel Batey, So.

Royse City: Joseph Beck, Jr.; Trey Bowers, Sr.; Gabriel Ramirez, Sr.; Matthew Stone, Jr.; Alex Williams, Sr.

Greenville: Ladarrien Davis, Jr.; Sawyer Harmon, Jr.

Sherman: Andrew Hightower, Sr.; Dane Osterman, Jr.; Griffin Papaila.

Texas High: John McGree, Jr.; Ryan Smith, Dustin Thomas.