Nation's leading scorer from a year ago has switched schools but expect the points to keep piling up.
Grayson Rigdon, high school basketball's leading scorer last year at 45.1 points per
game, made the Small Town All-America Team as a junior while leading
Benjamin to the Class 1A state championship game in Texas.
That won't happen this year due to the fact
that Rigdon has transferred to play over 400 miles away at
Columbus (Texas).
Also a six-man football player at
Strawn (Texas) and then Benjamin, Rigdon is
considered by some to be the greatest player in state history at that level
with a 45-0 record in three seasons.
In his season opener at Columbus and 11-man debut,
Rigdon rushed for 255 yards and three touchdowns. His efforts have helped the Cardinals to a 10-1 record.
Rigdon's
basketball season will be on hold until Columbus completes its playoff
run. He will return to the hardwood with 2,577 career points,
including 1,083 last year.
The Lone Star State standout is a member of our Preseason Small Town All-America Team. Read on for a look at 15 of the best players in the country at schools with an enrollment of less than 1,000 students in towns with a population of under 10,000.
Asher Williams was the Class 3A Player of the Year in Idaho as a sophomore and junior. The 6-foot-5 guard is back to try and lead Bonners Ferry to back-to-back state crowns. (Photo: David Fish)
First Team
Scored
50 or more points six times last year with a high of 72. Led the nation with a 45.1 points per game average. Led Benjamin to
the Class 1A championship game before losing to Jayton in the final.
Will play for Class 3A Columbus this year.
Kedrick Simmons, Booneville (Miss.), 6-6, Senior
A
fourth team Small Town All-American last year, Simmons has led
Booneville to three straight Class 3A state championships and was named
the state player of the year last year while averaging 18 points and six
rebounds per game.
Ryan Moesch, Chittenango (N.Y.), 6-2, Senior
The
leading scorer in the state of New York last year at 37.1 points per
game, Moesch is a two-time Class C all-state player and had a high of 55
points last year.
Asher Williams, Bonners Ferry (Idaho), 6-5, Senior
Bonners
Ferry won the first state championship in school history behind the
play of Williams, who was the Class 3A state player of the year after
averaging 28.4 points a game.
Ladarius Brown, Marked Tree (Ark.), 6-2, Senior
Named
the Class 1A tournament MVP after leading Marked Tree to its first
state championship since 2001. Brown scored 25 points in the title game and earned all-state honors.
Second Team
An
all-state pick while leading North Linn to a 26-1 record and a Class 1A
state championship, Bechen averaged 21.3 points per game.
Lloyd Jones III, Hitchcock (Texas), 6-5, Senior
Named
to the Class 3A all-state team and 3A all-tournament team, Jones
was also named district MVP while leading Hitchcock to the state championship.
Jak Kinder, Martins Mill (Ben Wheeler, Texas), 5-10, Senior
The
leading scorer last year for the Mustangs last year at 19.4 points per
game, Kinder earned all-state honors by the Texas Association of
Basketball Coaches.
Court Gaylor, Lipan (Texas), 5-10, Sophomore
The
Class 2A tournament MVP last year as a freshman while leading Lipan to
the state championship. Had 27 points in the semifinals and 21 in the
championship game.
Docker Tedeschi, Benton (Ill.), 6-8, Senior
The
Class 2A state player of the year in Illinois, Tedeschi led Benton to
the state final and averaged 15.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
Third Team
The conference player of the year as a sophomore, Van de Graaf led Zillah to a 27-0 record and a Class 1A state championship.
Tatum Kocerha, Simla (Colo.), 6-5, Sophomore
Made all-state as a freshman and led Simla to the state tournament and a 26-1 record while averaging 17 points per game.
Adrik Jenkin, Colfax (Wash.), 6-4, Junior
The conference MVP, Jenkin led Colfax to a 29-0 record and a Class 2B state championship.
Josiah Ball, Maconaquah (Bunker Hill, Ind.), 6-5, Senior
An all-state player last year, Ball averaged 30.3 points per game last year and had a 50-point game.
Preston Sanders, Zwolle (La.), 6-2, Senior
Sanders averaged 23.4 points per game and earned all-state honors while leading Zwolle to a state championship.
