High School Sports

Kendall Wright is the type of player coaches dream about. He can shoot lights out, play defense, jump out of the gym and completely take over a game.

Wright stands a shade under 6-foot, but the gold-medal winner in the long and triple jumps has been known to dunk from just inside the free throw line. One of his highlight videos on YouTube has more than 6,000 views.

His name has been synonymous with East Texas basketball for the past four years, and this year is marks the third straight he has appeared on the annual Tyler Courier-Times-Telegraph All-East Texas basketball team.

The Pirates' star led the area in scoring the past two seasons, including almost 30 points per game as a junior and 24.5 points per game as a senior. He led his team to the regional tournament after being knocked out in the regional quarterfinals the past two years. Pittsburg lost to eventual state-champion Kennedale in the 3A Region II semifinals, where Wright scored 30 points.

"It's unbelievable some of the things he can do," Pittsburg coach Tim Ender told the Tyler Paper when Wright was just a sophomore. "It just seems like he's head and shoulders above the rest. Some of the things he does, it seems like it's unreal for a high school kid to be doing."

Two years later, Wright graduates as one of the more dominant basketball players to come through the area. He is headed to play football and basketball at Baylor. He tried baseball this semester, but decided to focus just on track, where he said he hopes to reach 50 feet in the triple jump.

- Chase Colston

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Stats: Averaged 24.5 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals per game for Pittsburg. This is his third straight appearance on the All-East Texas first team and first as Player of the Year.

Future plans: Wright has signed to play football and basketball at Baylor.

Favorite NBA player: "Michael Jordan, because he was the best."

In 10 years I'll be ... "Hopefully playing football or basketball, one of the two."

Best player played against this year: Demarius Jones, Dallas Pinkston.

Interesting fact: Wright won gold medals in the long and triple jumps last year at state, and is a heavy favorite to accomplish the feat this year. He long-jumped 23-9 and triple-jumped 48-10 at the District 16-3A meet.

John Tyler had a rough first season under new coach Gerald Anthony, but a team with eight sophomores — and one of them being Jaron Johnson — the Lions have a lot to look forward to over the next two seasons.

Johnson, a youngster with a big smile and a vibrant personality, took another step after being named District 12-5A’s Newcomer of the Year to winning the same honor on the All-East Texas Team.

The wing averaged 9.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for JT, and led the team in 3-pointers made with 38.

“He really came on in district,” Anthony said after the all-district team was released. He added that Johnson’s 21 points against rival Robert E. Lee put him over the top to win the district honor.

— Chase Colston

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Stats: Averaged 9.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for John Tyler. He also led the team with 38 3-pointers.

Favorite NBA player: “Kobe Bryant, because he has so many skills off the dribble.”
In 10 years I’ll be ... “Hopefully in the NBA.”

Best player played against this year: John Bowman, Mesquite Horn.

Interesting fact: Johnson, who also runs track under coach and father Michael Johnson, calls himself a big prankster. His favorite memory is the shaving cream on the face trick while a person is asleep, except he switched to toothpaste on his cousin.

Wally Dawkins has built a tradition in Whitehouse, a tradition built on winning and having many of the best players around East Texas.

Dawkins’ Wildcats pursued a state title with only one loss entering the playoffs. Their 26-game winning streak, however, came to an end after falling to eventual state-champion Dallas South Oak Cliff, which won its fourth straight state title.

Whitehouse had the Golden Bears on the brink, but couldn’t quite pull it off. But the Wildcats’ season was an impressive spectacle headed by one of East Texas’ most heralded coaches.

The Wildcats finished their season 29-2, again the District 12-4A champs and owned a team with impeccable size and balance, showed by the various honors Dawkins’ players received this past season.

Post Jacob Holmen was named first team All-East Texas, wing Kyle Ford all-state and guard Mitch Marquis the district MVP. Wing Cade Clark was named first team All-East Texas last year as a junior.

Dawkins, who has 559 wins in 27 years of being a head coach, will be back with a vengeance next season with Holmen and Marquis back.

— Chase Colston

Stats: Averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds per game to lead Arp to its second state tournament in four years. This is Johnson’s third straight appearance on the All-East Texas Team.

Future plans: Johnson signed a scholarship to play both football and basketball at Iowa State.

Favorite NBA player: “Either LeBron James or Tracy McGrady. They take over games and carry their teams.”

In 10 years I’ll be ... “Hopefully playing football or basketball in the pros somewhere. If not, I hope to have a good job.”

Best player played against this year: Trumaine Jones, Winnie East Chambers.

Interesting fact: “I’m scared of the dark.”

Stats: Averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds per game to lead Whitehouse to the regional semifinals, where it lost to eventual state-champion Dallas South Oak Cliff.

Favorite NBA player: “Kevin Garnett. He’s a leader on the court. He came in and completely changed the Celtics.”

In 10 years I’ll be ... “Hopefully in The League or playing overseas.”

Best player played against this year: J’Mison Morgan, South Oak Cliff.

Interesting fact: Holmen wears purple and pink “fuzzy socks” during track season.

Stats: Averaged 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.9 assists per game.

He led the Bulldogs to the 2A Region II final, where they lost to eventual state-champion Ponder in overtime.

Favorite NBA player: “Dirk Nowitzki. He’s just so tall and plays like a guard.”

In 10 years I’ll be ... “Hopefully doing something that involves sports. Maybe a college coach.”

Best player played against this year: Nathan McPherson, Ponder.

Interesting fact: Jameson is currently No. 1 in his class.

Stats: Averaged 19 points and nine rebounds per game for the Dragons, who finished second in District 12-4A behind Whitehouse.

Favorite NBA player: “Kobe Bryant, because he’s a scorer.”

In 10 years I’ll be ... “Living near a beach with a beautiful young lady.”

Best player played against this year: “Jay Jimenez, Jacksonville.

Interesting fact: Hall played alongside current Texas star Damion James as a sophomore. “He taught be how to shoot quicker and be a better player,” Hall said. He said the two stay in touch.

All Saints: Ike Onwuzurumba, Jacob Flowers, Sam Hughes. Arp: Lavocheya Cooper, Chris Keith, Trumaine Jones. Avinger: Willie Moody, Eric Gibbs. Brownsboro: Ryan Smith, Andrew Adair, Tristain Warren. Bullard: Daniel Howard, Brandon Beavers, Charlie Moore. Canton: Keavon Milton. Cayuga: Billy Duncan, Traylon Shead, Malcome Kennedy. Chapel Hill: Chris Mass, T.J. Riley, Matthew Tucker. Edgewood: Justin King, Chase Sage, Darrius Rodgers. Frankston: Waymon Coleman. Grace Community: Tucker Glaske. Hawkins: Kyle Strickland, Ryan Gattis. Henderson: Hunter Skelton. John Tyler: Darris Sirles. Kilgore: Drake Bickham. Laneville: Gerraylon Carey, Byron Blanton. LaPoynor: Josh Saunders. Lindale: Cedric Jones, Cameron Dossey, Imran Chotani. Longview: Clema Holland, Damien Lawson. Mabank: Albin Gashi. Martins Mill: B.J. Brawner, Cody Mewbourn. Robert E. Lee: Kerry Jones, Devin Wheeler, Dralen St. Paul. Rusk: J.J. Session, Horrace Lewis. Sabine: Colton Kirk, Noah Jackson. Tatum: Cashas Pollard, Bryce Beall. T.K. Gorman: Nick Brunson, Miles Kemp, Stephen Ray. Troup: Reginald Wade, Derrikk Thompson. Van: Aric Stroop, Jermie Calhoun. West Rusk: Reggie Wallace, Braylon Williams. Winona: Chester Webb. Whitehouse: Kody Molloy, Cade Clark.

WRIGHT
(-Staff Photo By Tom Turner)