See who was nominated for Ashley Dearing Award as Savannah's most versatile male athlete
Nominees for the 71st annual Ashley Dearing Award recognizing the most versatile male high school athlete in Savannah have been announced by award chairman Karl DeMasi.
To qualify for the Dearing Award, athletes must compete at the varsity level in football, basketball and a spring sport.
Last year, Calvary Day's Jake Merklinger took home the honors as the former Cavalier star quarterback and basketball and lacrosse standout won the vote by athletic directors at public and private schools in Chatham County and members of the local media.
Merklinger isn't eligible to repeat as he graduated early from Calvary Day and is already attending Tennessee, where he is on football scholarship.
Here's a look at the 33 athletes up for the award this year.
2024 Ashley Dearing Award Nominations
Beach
James Tisby, sr. — football, basketball, track
De'Andre Jones, sr. — football, basketball, track
Benedictine
La’Don Bryant, sr. — football, basketball, track
Stephen Cannon, soph. — football, basketball, track
Wyatt Estabrook, soph. — football, basketball, lacrosse
Robert Leonard, jr., — football, basketball, soccer
John Lilly, jr. — football, basketball, track
Third Scroggins, jr. — football, basketball, track
Bethesda Academy
Charles Greene, jr. — football, basketball, track
Isaiah Reynolds, jr. — football, basketball, track
Luke Larson, soph. — football, basketball, golf
Jadon Turner, fresh. — football, basketball, track
Nick Jackson, fresh. — football, basketball, track
Steven Mitchell, fresh. — football, basketball, track
Calvary Day
Marlon Knight Jr., fresh. — football, basketball, track
Groves
Micah Calhoun, jr. — football, basketball, track
Islands
Carson Kurdys, jr. — football, basketball, volleyball
Jenkins
Demetrius Holloway, jr. — football, basketball, track
Johnson
Jahlon Polite, sr. — football, basketball, track
Memorial Day
Assir Best, jr. — football, basketball, baseball
Charles Chappell, sr. — football, basketball, baseball
Mell Flowers, fresh. — football, basketball, track
New Hampstead
Khamari Smart, soph. — football, basketball, track
Savannah High
Stephen Fox, sr., — football, basketball, track
Savannah Christian
LaDamion Guyton, fresh. — football, basketball, track
Jamari McIvory, sr. — football, basketball, track
Savannah Country Day
KJ James, sr., — football, basketball, track
Brooks Kleinpeter, jr. — football, basketball, baseball
Andrew Nicholson, jr. — football, basketball, track
Josh Washington, soph. — football, basketball, track
St. Andrew's
Zayden Edwards, jr. — football, basketball, track
Richaard Williams, sr. — football, basketball, track
Amari Cook, soph. — football, basketball, track
DEARING AWARD WINNERS
2023 — Jake Merklinger, Calvary Day
2022 — Mike Cabellero, Windsor Forest
2021 — Trent Broadnax, Benedictine
2020 — Gavin Stewart, Benedictine
2019 — Winston Wright, Memorial Day
2018 — Javonte Middleton, Jenkins
2017 — Calvin Turner, New Hampstead
2016 — Demetris Robertson, Savannah Christian
2015 — Brad Stewart, Benedictine
2014 — Brad Stewart, Benedictine
2013 — Paris Baker, Jenkins
2012 — Johnathon Chamblee, Savannah Christian
2011 — Dom DeMasi, Calvary Day
2010 — Dom DeMasi, Calvary Day
2009 — Jesse Morrell, Bethesda
2008 — John Moesch, Savannah Country Day
2007 — Scott Reed, Groves
2006 — Demarcus Dobbs, Calvary Day
2005 — Kellen Stanley, Savannah Christian
2004 — Sage Glasper, Groves
2003 — Joey Boaen, Savannah Country Day
2002 — Ben Patrick, Jenkins
2001 — Lamar Owens Jr., Benedictine
2000 — Danny McNamara, Benedictine
1999 — Rashad Chisholm, Savannah High
1998 — Kris Edge, Savannah Christian
1997 — Tommy McNamara, Benedictine
1996 — Terry Bryant, Johnson
1995 — Ronnie Rockett, Jenkins
1994 — Majiid Lanier, Beach
1993 — Bill Sparks, Savannah Country Day
1992 — Barry Kleinpeter, Calvary
1991 — Marcel Cooper, Groves
1990 — Lloyd Rowland, Savannah Christian
1989 — Pee Wee Kelley, Savannah Christian
1988 — Keith Jones, Savannah High
1987 — Corey Ladson, Tompkins
1986 — Lee Lane, Calvary Day
1985 — Peter Brennan, Benedictine
1984 — Earl Mason, Groves
1983 — Paul Jurgensen, Benedictine
1982 — Robbie White, Savannah Christian
1981 — Greg Amick, Savannah Country Day
1980 — Larry Brobst, Savannah Christian
1979 — Lamar Owens, Tompkins
1978 — Randy Lanier, Benedictine
1977 — Mark Grainger, Savannah Christian
1976 — Rufus Kelly, Savannah High
1975 — Ricky McBride, Groves
1974 — Shan Saunders, Savannah Country Day
1973 — Jo Jo White, Richard Arnold
1972 — Gene Dotson, Benedictine
1971 — Lawrence Maner, Benedictine
1970 — Bobby Reagan, Savannah Country Day
1969 — David Sasser, Groves
1968 — Joby Wright, Johnson
1967 — Julian Smiley, Savannah High
1966 — Peter Schmidt, Savannah Country Day
1965 — Roger Grove, Groves
1964 — Danny Sims, Savannah High
1963 — Dewey Warren, Jenkins
1962 — Tommy Brennan, Benedictine
1961 — Larry Patterson, Benedictine
1960 — Terry Tyler, Savannah High
1959 — Ronnie Braddock, Benedictine
1958 — Jimmy Miller, Savannah High
1957 — Tom Brown, Benedictine
1956 — Carlos Mobley, Savannah High
1955 — Charlie Moore, Benedictine
1954 — Elmer Lott, Savannah High
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Nominations announced for 71st annual Ashley Dearing Award in Savannah
