2017-18 All-Area Boys Basketball Team

Published 8:30 pm Saturday, March 24, 2018

ALL-AREA FIRST TEAM

• Jager Dickson, Dalton, forward: The 6-foot-8 junior had a monster year for the Catamounts. Double-doubles were normal Dickson used his combination of size and athleticism to develop into one of northwest Georgia’s premier post players.

He finished the season averaging 11.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1 block a game.

On Saturday he played in the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association’s North-South Junior All-Star Classic.

This is Dickson’s first All-Area selection.

• Chris Cunningham, Northwest Whitfield, forward: Cunningham’s junior season was a breakout campaign as he established himself as one of the area’s top two-way players. His athleticism allowed him to excel in all areas of the game.

Even in Northwest’s balanced offense, Cunningham was a standout. He finished the averaging 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists a game.

He led the Bruins in scoring, steals and assists. He was labeled the team MVP by coach Ryan Richards and was named to the All-Region 6-4A team.

“Chris came out and had a really good season,” Northwest coach Ryan Richards said. “He had the ability to do multiple things. He played the point guard spot a lot for us, but he’s 6-4, handles the ball well, shoots the 3 well, drives well. He’s got a lot of intangibles. A lot of teams take something away from him and he can do something different to help us win games. He had a really great year and I’m glad we got him back for another.”

This is Cunningham’s first All-Area selection.

• Sam Dindoffer, Christian Heritage, shooting guard: The Lion senior was one of the area’s top sharpshooters with the ability to control a game with his outside shooting.

For the season, Dindoffer averaged 14.4 points a game while hitting on 42 percent of his 3-pointers (84 of 200).

“Sam is the best shooter in the region,” Christian Heritage coach Tyler Watkins said. “His shooting percentage was incredible on the year. He has started every game for us the past four years. In his career he has won 72 games which is an average of about 18 games per year. Sam is a winner. Besides stats, I believe Sam is one of the best two-way players in the region if not the best. Sam has guarded the best player on the opposing team for the last four years.”

Dindoffer picked up 101 steals for the Region 6-A champion Lions, an average of 3.3 a game.

This is Dindoffer’s first All-Area selection.

• Nasir Love-Porter, Dalton, point guard: The senior point guard finished second in All-Area Player of the Year voting. He ran the Dalton offense showing a great ability to distribute the ball, setting up Dickson or one of the other forwards for easy baskets inside, or getting it to open shooters on the perimeter.

When needed to, he could call his own number and score almost at will, whether it was with a drive to the basket or pulling up for a jump shot.

He was equally dangerous on the defensive end, able to chase down long rebounds or come up with a steal to start a fast break.

Love-Porter averaged 14.1 points, 3.8 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals a game.

This is Love-Porter’s second straight first team All-Area selection.

ALL-AREA SECOND TEAM

• Haden Newport, Murray County, post: Only a freshman, Newport started his career strong hitting a game-winner in his first varsity game. He went on to post a monster first year wearing the green and white.

He lead the Indians in points (12.2) and rebounds (6.4) shooting 43 percent from the floor including 31 percent from behind the 3-point line. He showed an ability to run the floor and stretch out defenses with his shooting and driving abilities.

This is Newport’s first All-Area selection.

• Aaron Fraire, Dalton, forward: Fraire proved to be a tremendous compliment to Dalton’s inside-out presence proving him equally dangerous driving to the basket or spotting up for a jump shot.

He had a nose for the ball to pull down rebounds and was a key defensive piece for the Catamounts with the quickness to stay on guards and the size to defend the paint.

For the season Fraire averaged 9.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.2 steals.

Also an All-Area goalie in soccer, this is Fraire’s first All-Area basketball selection.

• Maddox Adams, Coahulla Creek, guard: The senior took on a lot of extra responsibilities as the only starter returning from the Colts’ Sweet 16 team the year before.

Adams was all over the court and finished the year with 20 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals.

His 31 points on Dec. 12 against Sonoraville was a third-highest single-game total in the area this season.

This is Adams’ second straight second team All-Area selection.

• Austin Brock, Southeast Whitfield, guard: The Raiders’ junior point guard was one of the top distributors in the area. He totaled 152 assists over the season (6.8 per game) and managed a 1.55 assist-to-turnover ratio.

He also scored 7.4 points and grabbed 4.1 rebounds a game while picking up 64 total steals. Brock was a first team All-Region 6-4A selection.

This is Brock’s first All-Area selection

• Zach Gentry, Christian Heritage, guard: Gentry ran the potent Lions offense that helped the team to the Region 6-A championship and a spot in the state quarterfinals.

The junior averaged 11.6 points a game while shooting 36 percent from behind the 3-point line. He also averaged 3 steals and 4.3 assists a game (130 total assists).

Also an All-Area football selection, this is Gentry’s first All-Area basketball selection.

ALL-AREA THIRD TEAM

• Zac Cole, Southeast Whitfield, post: The junior averaged 8.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game for the Raiders. He had five double-doubles and pulled down 12 or more rebounds five times. He scored 20 or more on four occasions.

• Chaisen Buckner, North Murray, North Murray: Buckner averaged 12.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks while controlling the inside during his sophomore season with the Mountaineers.

• Trey Ramsey, Northwest Whitfield, forward: During his senior season, Ramsey averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds helping the Bruins to their region runner-up finish.

• Jalen Westfield, Dalton, guard: The junior’s outside shooting was a big asset for the Catamounts this past season. Westfield averaged 10.4 points a game and was a 33 percent 3-point shooter (55 for 166).

• Barrett Upton, Northwest Whitfield, guard: The Bruins featured a balanced offensive attack most of the season but Upton shined on many occasions, often coming up with key shots at clutch moments for the Bruins.