Prep notes: Houston players head local McDonald’s nominees
Two players from the state’s top-ranked Class AAA team headline the list of local players announced Thursday who have been nominated for this year’s McDonald’s All American Games.
Leading the Shelby-Metro contingent are Houston’s Mason Miller and Johnathan Lawson. Miller, a 6-foot-9 Creighton signee and Mr. Basketball finalist, leads the Mustangs (16-3) in scoring at 17.9 points per game.
Houston forward Mason Miller (right) drives the lane against CBHS defender Ben Floyd (left) during action on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
Lawson, a 6-7 Oregon signee, is averaging 16.4 per contest after transferring to Houston from Wooddale, where he was named Class AA Mr. Basketball in 2020.
Houston High School forward Johnathan Lawson (5) brings the ball up the court during a Jan. 22, 2021 game against Bartlett High School. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Joining the Houston duo is Center Hill’s Kaeden Laws. The 6-5 swingman, who will play collegiately at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, is averaging 17.8 points and 8.0 rebounds this season.
Other locals on the list include two players from Tennessee Prep, Kidtrell Blocker and Jalen Brown, and four Arkansas players: Jordan Mitchell of West Memphis, and the Marion trio Tim McDonald Jr., JaMaury Mosley and Darrius Waterford.
Three girls were also nominated: Whitehaven’s Se’Quoia Allmond (signed with Jackson State) and White Station’s Lyric Cole, neither of whom played this season due to Shelby County Schools prohibitions.
Whitehaven’s Se’quoia Allmond’s bright blue shoes stood out on the court during a game against Oakhaven High Thursday. Jan. 10, 2019. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian file)
The third is Missouri State signee Taylor Woodhouse of Southaven, who averaged 24 points through her first 14 games before her season was cut short by an injury.
Rosters will be announced later this month. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, there will not be an actual game this year; instead, the class of 2021 will be honored with a “virtual celebration,” details of which will also be released soon.
District 14-AAA tournament set
The schedule has been released for the District 14-AAA basketball tournaments.
On Monday, Feb. 22, the Arlington girls will host Bartlett, with the Bartlett boys hosting Arlington the following day. Both games will be at 7 p.m.
Due to SCS schools not taking part in the basketball season this year, the Panthers and the Tigers are the only two teams in the district and thus have already qualified for the Region 7 tournament.
Topics
High School Boys Basketball High School Girls Basketball Houston High Mason Miller Johnathan Lawson McDonald's All American GameJohn Varlas
John Varlas is a lifelong Memphian who has covered high school sports in various capacities for over 20 years.
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