Poca standout headlines 25 players who get it done at schools under 1,000 students.
When it comes to choosing a small town high school basketball player of the year, Isaac McKneely of Poca (W.Va.) checks all of the boxes.
McKneely's accomplishments are many. He led the Dots to a Class 2A state championship. He earned MaxPreps State Player of the Year honors. He ranks among the top 100 players in the nation, coming in at No. 57 in the nation in the Class of 2022 according to 247Sports. All of this while playing at a small school in a small town.
McKneely highlights the small town high school basketball All-America Team, which consists of 25 players who attended schools with an enrollment of less than 1,000 students in towns with a population of less than 10,000.
McKneely is one of four players to earn MaxPreps State Player of the Year honors, joining Titus Yearout of Lapwai (Idaho), Joe Hurlburg of Enderlin (N.D.) and Kalen Garry of DeSmet (S.D.).
Isaac McKneely is headed to the University of Virginia next year, where he will join one of the nation's top recruiting classes.
247Sports Photo
Taylor Groves, East Robertson (Cross Plains, Tenn.)
6-3 | Guard | Senior
One of the top defensive backs coming out of Tennessee, Groves was also a talented basketball player who led his school to its first Class 1A state championship in 30 years. Named the 1A tournament MVP, Groves averaged 22.3 points, 2.8 assists and 6.5 rebounds on the season.
Joe Hurlburt, Enderlin (N.D.)
6-10 | Center | Senior
State
records list Hurlburt as North Dakota's all-time rebounder with 1,475
boards. The MaxPreps State Player of the Year also averaged 25.2 points
to go with 14.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks and finished his career with
2,188 points.
Lucas Lorenzen, Okoboji (Milford, Iowa)
6-4 | Forward | Senior
Led
the state in scoring with 744 points for an average of 31 points. He
concluded his career with 1,883 points and he was named the Class 2A
state player of the year.
SMALL TOWN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Isaac McKneely, Poca (W.Va.)
6-3 | Forward | Senior
The
Dots won the Class AA state championship behind the play of McNeely. He
averaged 20.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists and scored 1,905
points in his career.
Titus Yearout, Lapwai (Idaho)
6-2 | Guard | Senior
The MaxPreps State Player of the Year averaged 15.5 points as a senior and finished his career with 2,039 points. He led the Wildcats to an undefeated state championship.
Second Team
Jake DiMichele, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Coraopolis, Pa.)
6-3 | Guard | Senior
The
Beaver County Times named DiMichele its player of the year after he led
the Chargers to a state record 68 wins, including 27-0 this year with a
Class 2A state championship. The PIAA Class 2A player of the year
averaged 31.9 points and 8.1 rebounds and ended his career with 2,642
points.
Kalen Garry, DeSmet (S.D.)
6-3 | Guard | Senior
The
MaxPreps State Player of the Year, Garry led the Bulldogs to the Class B
state championship while averaging 20.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7
assists. He will play at South Dakota State.
Cedquavious Hunter, North Panola (Sardis, Miss.)
6-0 | Guard | Senior
One
of the leading scorers in Mississippi at 28 per game, Hunter had 55
points against Rosa Fort and scored 1,931 points in his career. He
earned a spot on the Clarion Ledgers' all-state first team.
Eli King, Caledonia (Minn.)
6-3 | Forward | Senior
King
was part of a Warriors team that went 73-4 over the past three seasons.
He averaged 19 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals per game and
was a finalist for the state's Mr. Basketball Award.
Lamarcus Penigar, Clarendon (Texas)
5-11 | Guard | Senior
The Amarillo Globe named Penigar its all-area player of the year after he led the Broncos to a second Class 2A state championship. Penigar scored 41 points in the championship game, marking the fourth time in state history that a player had scored 40 points in the final.
Third Team
Isaac Bruns, Dakota Valley (North Sioux City, S.D.)
6-5 | Forward | Junior
The
leading scorer for the Panthers, who were named by MaxPreps as the top
Small Town basketball team in the nation. After averaging 23 points a
game as a sophomore, Bruns averaged 24.2 points and 9 rebounds in
leading Dakota Valley to the Class A state championship.
Lorenzo Johnson, Warren County (Warrenton, Ga.)
6-1 | Guard | Senior
Johnson
earned Class 1A player of the year honors from the Atlanta Journal
Constitution after leading the Screaming Devils to the 1A championship
game. He went over 1,000 points for his career and averaged 23 points a
game this year.
Cole Millican, Plainview (Rainsville, Ala.)
5-11 | Guard | Senior
A three-time all-state selection and the 3A player of the year in Alabama this year after leading the Bears to the 3A state championship.
6-6 | Forward | Senior
A
first team all-state pick by All-Arkansas Preps, Pinion is a Top 100
player in the nation by ESPN and has signed to stay at home at Arkansas.
Layne Sarver, Tri-Village (New Madison, Ohio)
6-5 | Center | Senior
The Ohio Division IV state player of the year by the Associated Press averaged 21 points per game while leading his team to the state final four. He is the all-time leading scorer for the Patriots.
Fourth Team
Tremaine Dixon, Raymond (Miss.)
5-10 | Guard | Senior
The
Class 4A state player of the year, Dixon led the Rangers to the state
championship. He also earned a spot on the Clarion Ledgers' all-state
team.
Anthony Johnson, Midfield (Ala.)
6-3 | Forward | Senior
Johnson averaged 22.6 points and 4.3 assists in earning ASWA Class 2A state player of the year honors. He was also all-state in football.
Travis Perry, Lyon County (Eddyville, Ky.)
6-2 | Forward | Sophomore
Made
first team all-state by the Courier-Journal and averaged 27.5 points
per game. A starter since seventh grade, Perry already has 3,189 career
points with two more years still to play.
Clay Robinson, Yuma (Colo.)
6-1 | Guard | Senior
Robinson
earned Class 2A all-state player of the year honors after leading the
Indians to a state championship and a 25-1 record. He averaged 18.3
points per game and had 1,326 points in his career.
Layne Taylor, Farmington (Ark.)
6-0 | Guard | Sophomore
One of the highest scoring sophomores in the nation, Taylor averaged 30 points per game and had a single-game high of 61 points. He earned first team all-state honors by All-Arkansas Preps.
Fifth Team
Garrett DeVault, Norwood (Mo.)
6-2 | Forward | Senior
The
Pirates won the Class 2 state championship in Missouri behind the play
of DeVault, who was named the state's Class 2 player of the year. He
averaged 24.2 points and 6 assists.
Drenin Dinkins, South Iron (Annapolis, Mo.)
5-11 | Guard | Senior
The
Class 1 player of the year after leading the Panthers to a second
straight state championship. He averaged 27 points, 8 rebounds and 3.5
assists.
Sam Grieger, Randolph (Wis.)
6-4 | Guard | Senior
Setting a Division 5 state championship game record with 44 points, Grieger averaged 22.4 points and finished his career with 1,531 points.
John Lustig, Colfax (Wash.)
6-2 | Guard | Senior
One
of the leading scorers in Washington with 30 points per game, 9.9
rebounds and 4.4 assists. He earned all-state and was the Class 2B state
player of the year.
Connor Millikan, Platteview (Springfield, Neb.)
6-1 | Guard | Junior
Millikan earned All-Super State honors after averaging 28.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.5 steals.
Layne Taylor, Farmington
Photo by Michael Woods
