BISHOP GORMAN HEAD coach Kevin Murray shares All-East Texas coach of the year.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL | ALL-EAST TEXAS BOYS

Big Sandy won 30 games on the basketball court and advanced to the regional finals during the 2018-19 season.

Senior guard Josiah Johnson and head coach Kerry Strong were key parts of the Wildcats’ success, earning them superlative honors on the 2019 Tyler Morning Telegraph All-East Texas Boys Basketball Team.

Johnson was selected as the Player of the Year after scoring 29.1 points per game as a senior. The Southern Nazarene University signee also averaged 10.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 3.8 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.

Johnson made 91 3-pointers and was an 88 percent free-throw shooter.

The Texas Association of Basketball Coaches named Johnson the Class 2A Player of the Year.

Strong shares All-East Texas Coach of the Year honors with Bishop Gorman’s Kevin Murray.

Murray led Bishop Gorman to an 18-11 record and the TAPPS Class 5A state semifinals.

Grand Saline head basketball coach Leland Hand has won his share of Coach of the Year honors over the years. Now, it’s Hand’s son — Grand Saline freshman Brayden Hand — winning awards.

Hand was selected as the All-East Texas Newcomer of the Year. He averaged 10.3 points per game.

Hand led the Indians in 3-pointers (83), assists (102), free-throw percentage (83 percent) and steals (89). Hand was also a 45-percent shooter from downtown.

The All-East Texas first team consists of all seniors.

John Tyler forward Darry Moore — a Trinity Valley Community College signee — earned himself a spot on the list after averaging 20.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Moore was an All-Region selection this season and was selected to play in multiple All-Star events.

Palestine’s Matt Wages — a Weatherford College signee — is a first-team selection after averaging 21.2 points and 2.1 assists per game. Wages shot 41 percent from 3-point range and 82 percent on free throws.

New Summerfield’s Collin Wilkerson, who has signed with UT Tyler as a preferred walk-on, is a first-team selection after leading his team to a 24-8 record. Wilkerson — the New Summerfield Class of 2019 valedictorian — averaged 21.2 points, seven rebounds, three steals, 2.5 assists and one block per game. He shot 60 percent from the field, 30 percent from 3-point range and 71 percent at the line. Wilkerson finished with 1,703 career points.

All Saints guard Levi McCasland— a

Brookhaven College signee — averaged 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block per game. He was also a TAPPS All-State selection.

Cumberland Academy’s Gregory “Jackson” Kennedy— a Tyler Junior College signee — landed on the first team with 17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and two blocks per game.

2019 Tyler Morning Telegraph

All-East Texas Boys Basketball Team

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Josiah Johnson, Big Sandy, senior

About Johnson: The Southern Nazarene signee averaged 29.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 3.8 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Brayden Hand, Grand Saline, freshman

About Hand: averaged 10.3 points per game and led the Indians in 3-pointers (83), assists (102), free-throw percentage (83 percent) and steals (89).

CO-COACHES OF THE YEAR: Kerry Strong, Big Sandy; and Kevin Murray, Bishop Gorman

About the coaches: Strong led Big Sandy to a 30-5 record and the Class 2A Region II finals. Murray led Bishop Gorman to an 18-11 record and a trip to the TAPPS State Tournament.

FIRST TEAM

Darry Moore, John Tyler, senior: averaged 20.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

Matt Wages, Palestine, senior: averaged 21.2 points and 2.1 assists per game.

Collin Wilkerson, New Summerfield, senior: averaged 21.2 points, seven rebounds, three steals, 2.5 assists and one block per game.

Levi McCasland, All Saints, senior: averaged 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block per game.

Gregory “Jackson” Kennedy, Cumberland Academy, senior: averaged 17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and two blocks per game.

SECOND TEAM

Isaac Jackson, LaPoynor, junior: averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Tymarkeon Davis, Laneville, senior: The Bacone College signee averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists per game.

Eylan Goodwyn, Sabine, senior: averaged 17.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, two steals and 1.3 blocks per game.

Tyler Caron, Longview Spring Hill, senior: The St. Mary’s (San antonio) signee averaged 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists per game.

Jeremy Swalley, Hallsville, senior: averaged 20.2 points, five rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.9 assists per game with 123 made 3-pointers on 44 percent shooting from downtown.

THIRD TEAM

Cody Collinsworth, Lindale, senior: The 7-foot university of Portland signee averaged 10.2 points, seven rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.

Scottie Turner, All Saints, senior: The Tyler Junior College signee averaged 18 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks per game before suffering a season-ending injury in December.

Bradrick Blaylock, Bishop Gorman, senior: Averaged 16 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals per game for state semifinalist.

Klayton Copeland, Malakoff, sophomore: Averaged 17 points and eight rebounds a game for regional qualifier.

Jared Johnson, Brook Hill, senior: Averaged 18.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.3 steals and 2.3 assists per game.

HONORABLE MENTION

All Saints: Logan Francis

Alto: Fred Thacker

Beckville: Taylor Hightower, Austin Roys, Ryan Harris

Big Sandy: Joshua Shipman, Elijah Beard, Gabriel Lemons

Bishop Gorman: Jacob Smith

Bullard: CJ Gardner

Canton: Cooper Smith

Carlisle: Gerald Turner, Brayden Martin

Carthage: Stephen Darden

Center: Jayden Hicks

Chapel Hill: Teon Erwin

Chireno: Hunter Metteauer

Cushing: Deuce Garrett, Jeremiah Wilson

Edgewood: Sean Joyce, Brayden Allen

Gilmer: Eddie Ray

Grace Community: Jacob Shultz

Grand Saline: Jacob Akin

Grapeland: Keizion Ashford

Harmony: Easton Blackstone

Hawkins: Akim Richmond, Tristian Garrett, Cameron Taylor

Henderson: Caleb Medford, Kevin Fields

Jefferson: Lyrik Rawls

Kerens: Tyron Bailey

Kilgore: Seth Thomas

Laneville: Ricardo Pereles, Damion Brantley

Lindale: Jaymond Jackson, Jacob Koeshall, Teigan Edwards

Linden-Kildare: Ty Patterson

Longview: Malik Henry

Lufkin: Natron Wortham, Ke’Vonte Hurts

Lufkin Hudson: Teraven Rhodes, Cade Courtney

Malakoff: Kaderrious Thomas

Marshall: Savion Williams, JJ Green

Martin’s Mill: Garrett Celsur, Michael Hawes, Dylan Morrow

Mineola: Shaw Franklin

Mount Enterprise: Johnathon Wright

Neches: Bryson Barrett

Nacogdoches: Nana Antwi-Boasiako, Deonte Jackson

Nacogdoches Central Heights: Christian Adams

Oakwood: Trisdon Bynum, Key Davis

Palestine: D’Michael Bellfield, Enoch Fatade

Pine Tree: J.J. Sparkman, Isaiah Lawson

Pollok Central: Cash Carrell

Quitman: Jace Reid

Sabine: Travion Oliver

Spring Hill: Kyren Miller, Vencent Rockwall, Jay Rockwell

Tatum: OB Jones, Dartiyay Allison, Haden Crowley, Kendric Malone, Jayden Boyd

Tenaha: Ja’Qualin Franks

Troup: Weslee Ross, Quincy Kincade

Tyler Lee: Jamal Jones, Jaiden Pinson

Van: Hunter Hutchins, PJ Brooks

West Rusk: Talon Winings

Whitehouse: Cooper Clemons, Logan Whitfield

Winnsboro: Jason Dejong