Justin Wise selected by readers as high school boys basketball Player of the Year

The results are in and it's time to announce your winning nominee for 2024 Athens-area high school boys basketball postseason player of the year.

You selected North Oconee freshman Justin Wise with 38.11 percent of votes. Wise averaged 13.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, three assists and 1.5 steals per game. He had 19 points in the state finals and earned himself his first-ever All-Region second team honors. His coach, Rick Rassmussen, called him a "major Division I talent" with an incredible future.

Monsignor Donovan players came in second and third with Dylan Arnold (26.1 percent) and Jordan Marnell (16.41 percent).

Below are the nominees from this season's action, selected by their coaches for their outstanding performances for their teams.

Athens-area high school boys basketball player of the year for 2023-24

Apalachee

Nate Valles, 2024

Valles earned All-Region honors.

Athens Academy

Justen Goudelock, 2024

Goudelock was the leading scorer and rebounder his coach, Don Hurlburt, said.

Kymel Williams, 2024

Williams was the leading "everything else," Hurlburt said.

Westbrook Adams, 2024

Adams is going to Vanderbilt in the fall, but not continuing his athletic career. Hurlburt said he hit seven of nine three-point attempts in their Sweet 16 game.

Isaac Rorey, 2024

Rorey is committed to continue his career in basketball at Covenant College in the fall.

Athens Christian

Christian Hubbard, 2026

Harper Ford, 2026

Ford averaged 12 points, four rebounds and three assists per game.

Hampton Ford, 2024

Ford won GACA Co-Player of the Year after averaging 17 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals per game.

Bethlehem Christian

Colin Oates, 2025

Oates earned GIAA All-Region honors.

Andrew DeLorenzo, 2025

DeLorenzo earned a GIAA All-Region Honorable Mention.

Johnny Dickinson, 2024

Dickinson earned GIAA All-Region and All-State honors.

Aiden Cramer, 2024

Cramer earned a GIAA All-Region Honorable Mention.

Cedar Shoals

Devin Hubbard, 2026

Alexander Koch, 2024

Robert Mack, 2024

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Clarke Central

Marcus Gillespie, 2025

Gillespie averaged 28.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks per game.

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Laneric Gill, 2024

Gill averaged 14.1 points and three assists per game.

Tom Gilley, 2024

Gilley averaged six points and four rebounds per game.

Jamarion Davis, 2024

Davis was called a "workhorse" by his coach, Stefan Smith, and averaged two points, nine rebounds, two steals and three assists per game.

Jackson County

RJ Knapp, 2026

Knapp averaged 11.8 points, four rebounds, 3.8 assists and two steals per game. He was 81-percent accurate when shooting from the charity stripe, too.

EJ Heath, 2025

Heath averaged 12 points, seven rebounds, two blocks per game. He was 69-percent accurate when shooting from the field.

Jefferson

Drew Williamson, 2024

Jaden Butts, 2024

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Madison County

Grant Smith, 2025

Mason Smith, 2024

Jay Carruth, 2024

Monsignor Donovan Catholic

Jordan Marnell, 2026

Devin Jones, 2026

Dylan Arnold, 2025

Nick Huff, 2024

Trip Thompson, 2024

North Oconee

Justin Wise, 2027

Wise averaged 13.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, three assists and 1.5 steals per game. He had 19 points in the state finals and earned himself his first-ever All-Region second team honors. His coach, Rick Rassmussen, called him a "major Division I talent" with an incredible future.

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Khamari Brooks, 2026

Brooks averaged 13 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. He had 28 points in the state semifinals and 14 points and six rebounds in the state finals, earning him his second All-Region honors. Rasmussen said the two-sport athlete is an "incredible defender" and "Division I prospect in both football and basketball."

Justin Payne, 2024

Payne averaged 13.5 points, 5.5 assists and one steal per game. Rasmussen called him "the glue, and the floor general." He had nine assists to zero turnovers in the state title game and was named to the All-State and All-Region teams.

Byrd Carter, 2024

Carter averaged 14 points, 4.5 rebounds, three assists and 1.6 steals per game. He had 20 points alone to lead his team in the state title win and was named to the All-State and All-Region teams.

Evan Montgomery, 2024

Montgomery averaged nine points and nine rebounds per game. He had 17-point, 15 rebound and 16-point, 14 rebound performances in the playoffs and was named to the All-Region second team. Rasmussen called him "the anchor of the defense."

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Oconee County

Mason Hall, 2027

JR Dickens, 2025

Levi Slaten, 2024

Oglethorpe County

Javaun Pittard, 2024

Pittard averaged 19 points, eight rebounds, for assists and three steals per game. He was named a Player of the Year in his region.

Jaelin Lumpkin, 2024

Lumpkin averaged 14 points, four rebounds, four assists and 5.5 steals per game. He was named a Player of the Year in his region.

Cole Appling, 2024

Appling averaged 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals per game. He was named to the All-Region first team.

Prince Avenue Christian

Harrison Jefts, 2025

Steven Skaggs, 2025

Will Martin, 2024

Westminster Christian

Reed Carson, 2025

Carson averaged 10 points per game and was a GIAA All-Region nominee.

Jon Donatelli, 2024

Donatelli was called a "great defender" by his coach, Steve Crouse, and averaged 10 points per game. He was a GIAA All-Region nominee.

Winder-Barrow

Jerrin Samuel, 2026

Samuel averaged 13.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game and was on the All-Region team.

Jordan Samuel, 2025

Samuel averaged 8.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.2 steals per game and was an All-Region Honorable Mention.

Jeremiah Shealey, 2025

Shealey averaged 10.5 points per game and a 39-percent shot accuracy from the arc. He was an All-Region Honorable Mention.

Jaden Baskin, 2024

Baskin averaged 11.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 blocks per game and was on the All-Region team.

Tyrin Sims, 2024

Sims averaged 10.4 points and 4.2 assists per game and a 37-percent shot accuracy from the arc. He was on the All-Region team.

Sara Tidwell covers Athens-area high school sports and University of Georgia athletics for The Athens Banner-Herald. Contact her at stidwell@gannett.com and follow her @saramtidwell on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Justin Wise is readers' high school boys basketball Player of the Year