2024 Gadsden Times boys basketball all-area team, including player and coach of the year
Gaston junior guard Mica Merriman and Sardis senior center Eli Morton are the Gadsden Times co-players of the year and highlight the Gadsden Times all-area team for the 2024 high school basketball season.
Merriman earned the award after being one the area's leading scorers on the boy side, averaging more than 19 point per game. He was an all-around playmaker for the Bulldogs, averaging 6.3 assists, which doesn't account for all of his skilled passes that led to shots and adding 5.5 rebounds per game. He did most of it with at least a double-team on him as he led his team the Elite Eight. What makes the honor more special is that he took home the honor alongside his dad, Michael who took home the Gadsden Times coach of the year award at his alma mater.
"To bring success here, and to know that we've done something special to help turn it around and bring the community back. It's just heartwarming," Mica said.
For Morton, who recently signed as PWO to Auburn for football, this award comes after he showed glimpses of domination throughout the season, including at one point bringing down 24 rebounds in a single game. For the season he was two rebounds off a double-double per game with just over 15 points and 9.95 rebounds per game.
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Here is the Gadsden Times all area team:
Gadsden Times boys all-area basketball first team
Co-player of the Year: Mica Merriman, Gaston
Why chosen: The Gadsden Times co-player of the year was one of the leading scorers in the area averaging 19.3 points per game. He added 6.3 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game while making plays all across the court for the Bulldogs.
Co-player of the Year: Eli Morton, Sardis
Why chosen: Morton, the co-Gadsden-Times player of the year averaged close to a double-double all year with 15.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He was one of the more dominant players for the Lions who were led by a strong group of seniors, that made the Sweet 16.
Guard: Garrett Morgan, Glencoe
Why chosen: Morgan averaged 18.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game last season. He was the leading scorer for the Yellow Jackets as they made the sub regional round.
Guard: Jakobi Sharp, Gadsden City
Why chosen: Sharp helped the Titans get the Ralph Graves era off to a strong start while averaging 16.1 points per game. Sharp added six rebounds and 3.2 assists per contest.
Guard: Eli Edge, Westbrook Christian
Why chosen: Westbrook Christian made a run to the subregional round behind a dominant season from the mutli-sport athlete (Class 3A low medalist in golf), Edge averaged 16.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for the Warriors.
Forward: JB Potter, Ashville
Why chosen: One of the breakout stars in the area, Potter averaged 17.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He helped the Bulldogs end the season on a strong note.
Gadsden Times boys all-area basketball second team
Guard: Aiden Cornutt, Glencoe
Why chosen: The second-leading scorer for the Yellow Jackets, Cornutt had 18.4 points per game, while adding 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per contest.
Guard: Jackson Porch, Guntersville
Why chosen: Porch averaged 18.2 points per game for the Wildcats as the made a run to the Final Four. Porch added 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest last season.
Guard: Cooper Cox, Fyffe
Why chosen: Cox averaged 18 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
Guard: Josh Scott, Fort Payne
Why chosen: Scott averaged 16.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game for the Wildcats last season.
Forward: John Welsh, Spring Garden
Why chosen: Welsh was a double-double machine for the Panthers, averaging 17.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He added two assists per game and was a defensive threat with 60 steals and 27 blocks.
Forward: Jaxon Colvin, Geraldine
Why chosen: – One of the more dominant players on Sand Mountain, Colvin was a major part of why the Bulldogs made a Final Four run. Colvin averaged 15.6 points, 8.1 rebounds per game and 2.5 assists.
Gadsden Times boys all-area basketball honorable mentions
Albertville: Cooper Colvin (G, Jr.); Collinsville: Jake Middlebrooks (C, Jr.): Etowah: Jameson Scissum (G, Jr.), Jalein Walker (G, Sr.); Fort Payne: Luke Stephens (G, Sr.): Gadsden City: James McFadden (G, Sr.): Gaston: Devon Green (F, Jr.): Glencoe: Wade Segrest (G, Jr.): Geraldine: Connor Johnson (G, Sr.); Hokes Bluff: Landon Davenport (G/F, Sr.); Plainview: Landon White (C, Sr.); Sand Rock: Ty Traffanstedt (G, Fr.); Sardis: Luke Martin (G, Sr.), Kason Moore (G, SR.); Southside: Cayden Reason (F);Spring Garden: Jacob Welsh (C, Jr.); West End: Marty Wooten (G, Sr.)
Gadsden Times boys basketball coach of the year: Michael Merriman, Gaston
Why chosen: Gaston has seen a resurgence the last two years with Merriman at the helm, going from three wins a year before he got there to 24 wins this season. What's more Merriman helped lead the Bulldogs to an Elite Eight run, only the second appearance for them.
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Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports and Jacksonville State athletics for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: 2024 Gadsden Times boys basketball all-area team
