Girls from Stanly, Gaston, Cleveland Co. are underclassmen of the year, via reader poll
For the first time, the Observer allowed readers to name the high school boys basketball underclassmen of the year.
To be a nominee, a player must have been a freshman, sophomore or junior in the Observer’s coverage area and rank among the top 10 in North Carolina in their class on MaxPreps in a major statistical category -- points, assists, rebounds and steals. Stats used were through games played Tuesday, Feb. 22, just before the week-long poll began.
Here are the winners:
▪ The freshman of the year is Albemarle’s Amari Baldwin. Baldwin got more than 26,000 votes to win a close race with Richmond Senior’s Jamiya Linday. At the time the poll began, Baldwin was averaging 18.5 points per game, No. 4 among N.C. freshmen. She was also ranked No. 7 in assists at 4.3 and No. 2 in steals at 7.5.
▪ The sophomore of the year is Highland Tech’s Addie McCraw, who got more than 15,000 votes. Providence’s Delanie Hill was second. McCraw was averaging 15.6 rebounds per game when the poll began, good for second most in the state among sophomores.
▪ The junior of the year is Shelby’s Maraja Pass, who received more than 50,000 votes, winning a close race over Hunter Huss’ Anyssiah Love. Pass, who helped her team reach the state semifinals in 2A, was averaging 5.5 assists per game, good for No. 7 among juniors statewide when the poll began. She was also No. 8 among juniors in steals (4.7).
Note: This is not the All-Observer or our all-state Super Team and will have no bearing on those selections, which will be named later this year.
Charlotte Observer Junior of the year finalists
Janiya Adams, Bessemer City: junior point guard ranks No. 4 in her class in scoring at 24.3 points per game. Adams also ranks No. 3 in steals among juniors (5.7).
Kennette Bess, Ashbrook: junior shooting guard ranks No. 8 in her class statewide in scoring at 23 points per game.
Olivia Boyce, Carmel Christian: junior guard averages 23 points per game, which ranks No. 7 among the state’s juniors.
Anyssiah Love, Huss: junior wing ranks No. 1 in rebounding (14.2 per game) among the state’s juniors.
Taylor Parker, Hickory Grove: averages 5.6 steals per game, which ranks No. 5 in the state among juniors.
Maraja Pass, Shelby: junior averages 5.5 assists per game, good for No. 7 among juniors statewide. Pass also ranks No. 8 among juniors in steals (4.7).
Taylor Shulenberger, Lee Park Prep: junior averages 11.5 rebounds per game, which ranks No. 8 among the state’s juniors.
Julia Zelando, Lake Norman Charter: point guard averages 5.4 assists per game, which ranks No. 10 among the state’s juniors.
Charlotte Observer Sophomore of the year finalists
Savanni Harris, Hunter Huss: Gaston County star averages 4.9 assists per game, good for No. 8 among sophomores in the state.
Delanie Hill, Providence: Averages 5.1 assists per game, good for No. 7 among the state’s sophomores.
Addie McCraw, Highland Tech: center averages 15.6 rebounds per game, good for second most in the state among sophomores.
Blanca Thomas, Charlotte Catholic: All-American center averages 10.8 rebounds per game, good for ninth among the state’s sophomores.
Saniya Wallace, Monroe: point guard ranks No. 8 among all sophomores in the state with 4.4 steals per game.
Jada Whitesides, R-S Central: Ranks No. 6 among all N.C. sophomores at 21.8 points per game.
Charlotte Observer Freshman of the year finalists
Shalyn Bell, North Stanly: Ranks No. 4 among N.C. freshmen at 12.3 rebounds per game. Bell ranks No. 4 in steals (4.8).
Amari Baldwin, Albemarle: Averages 18.5 points per game, No. 4 among N.C. freshmen. Also ranked No. 7 in assists at 4.3 and No. 2 in steals at 7.5.
Krista Davis, Cherryville: Ranks No. 5 among N.C. freshmen at 4.7 per game.
Amya Graham, South Point: Ranked No. 2 among N.C. freshman in rebounding at 17 per game.
Kamryn Kitchen, Independence: Ranked No. 6 among N.C. freshmen in assists at 4.3 points per game.
Jamiya Lindsey, Richmond Senior: ranked No. 1 among N.C. freshmen at 23.5 points per game.
Tionna Pettus, Bessemer City: Ranked No. 6 among N.C. freshmen at 11.7 rebounds per game.
Brooklyn Saunders, Butler: Ranked No. 9 among N.C. freshman in steals at 4.4 per game.
Kate Sears, Watauga: Ranked No. 3 among N.C. freshmen at 18.7 points per game. Also ranks No. 8 in assists at 4.2.
Brooklyn Swann, Hunter Huss: Ranked No. 8 among N.C. freshmen at 16.9 points per game.
Hadley Womack, Stuart Cramer: Ranked ninth in scoring among N.C. freshmen at 16.9 points per game. Womack ranks No. 7 in steals (4.7).
This story was originally published February 24, 2022 at 12:11 AM.
