Vote for The Observer’s boys’ basketball player of the week (Jan. 23, 2025)
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Eight nominees posted standout stat lines; several have 20+ ppg season averages
- Poll is open now and closes at noon Friday; readers may vote repeatedly online
- Top contenders include Badio, Dollar, Guyton and McConneyhead by impact
Here are the nominees for The Observer’s high school boys’ basketball player of the week.
The poll closes at noon Friday. You may vote as often as you like.
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This week’s nominees
Zeke Battier, Providence Day: The 6-foot-7 junior scored 20 points to go with 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals in a 64-58 win at Covenant Day on Jan. 13.
Battier also scored 18 points, to go with three rebounds and one assist to lead Providence Day to a 78-59 victory over Charlotte Country Day on Jan. 16. Battier was also honored for scoring his 1,000th career point before the tip against Charlotte Country Day.
Kaharri Coleman, West Charlotte: The 6-4 sophomore scored 20 points in a 64-36 win over Durham Hillside in the Peace Basketball Showcase at West Charlotte on Jan. 17.
Coleman is averaging 18 points, four assists, seven rebounds and three steals per game for West Charlotte (12-2) this season.
Kyzen Coleman, Concord: The 6-4 senior scored 25 points and had 11 rebounds to lead Concord to a 72-64 at Jay M. Robinson on Jan. 16.
Coleman also scored 20 points and grabbed five rebounds in a 78-68 loss to Salisbury on Jan. 13.
Coleman is averaging 16.8 points and 9.3 rebounds for Concord (8-7) this season.
Eddie Cota, Olympic: The 6-2 sophomore scored 17 points, had four assists and two steals in a 64-51 win at Berry on Jan. 16.
Cota also scored seven points, had three rebounds, four assists and a steal in an 80-50 loss to Harding on Jan. 12.
Cota is averaging 11 points, five assists and three rebounds per game for Olympic (7-9) this season.
Ethan Gramaglia, Ardrey Kell: The 6-foot junior grabbed a rebound with 3.8 seconds left and then made the game-winning free throws to give Ardrey Kell a 72-71 win over Charlotte Catholic in double overtime on Jan. 12.
Gramaglia had 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench in the Charlotte Catholic victory.
Gramaglia is averaging 2.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game for an Ardrey Kell team (14-2) that has won 12 straight games this season.
Josiah Guyton, Lincolnton: The 6-4 senior poured in 40 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and had five steals in an 81-77 win over Bessemer City on Jan. 16.
Guyton opened the week with 11 points, six rebounds and four steals in an 82-46 win over West Lincoln on Jan. 13.
Guyton also scored 33 points, had 10 rebounds and three steals in a 90-83 victory at South Point on Jan. 14.
Tre Ratliff, Hough: The 6-4 junior scored 28 points to go with six rebounds and three steals to lead Hough to a 58-56 upset at North Mecklenburg on Jan. 16.
Ratliff also scored 10 points in an 83-52 win over Legion Collegiate at the Craze Sports Live MLK Showcase at Jackson Day on Jan. 17.
Ratliff is averaging 14 points and six rebounds for Hough (12-3) this season.
Henry Smith, Marvin Ridge: The 6-4 senior scored 32 points, on 11-for-16 shooting, to go with six rebounds and four assists in a 71-62, overtime victory at Sun Valley.
Smith is averaging 16.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game for Marvin Ridge (13-3) this season.
Thomas Vickery, Myers Park: The 6-6 junior scored 24 points and had 10 rebounds in a 79-54 win over Palisades on Jan. 16.
Vickery posted another double-double, with 22 points and 11 rebounds in a 59-51 win over New Hanover to earn the most valuable player honors at the Brandon Ingram MLK Classic at Kinston High on Jan. 17.
Malachi Wilson, Metrolina Christian: The 6-1 sophomore scored 20 points and had eight rebounds in a 51-48 win over SouthLake Christian on Jan. 13.
Wilson also scored 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had five assists in a 63-47 win over Hickory Grove on Jan. 16.
Note: Information published today includes statistics through January 17.
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This story was originally published January 19, 2026 at 8:00 PM with the headline "Vote for The Observer’s boys’ basketball player of the week (Jan. 23, 2025)."
