Jay Jeannotte of Narragansett and Torey Jones of LaSalle Academy have been chosen as the 2009 Gatorade Rhode Island Boys and Girls Basketball Players of the Year, respectively.
The prestigious award honors athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the court. Among each of the state award winners, one player will be chosen as Gatorade National Player of the Year in his or her sport.
Jeannotte, a 6-2 senior guard averaged 22.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in leading the Mariners to the Division 2 state finals and regular season South title. Ranked third in his class, Jeannotte is also a peer math tutor, winner of the school's Math and Science Achievement Medal as a junior and a volunteer with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and at local basketball camps and clinics.
Jones is a 5-9 guard and two-time All-Stater who averaged 16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals and played a pivotal role in three Division I state basketball championships and four North regular season titles. She has committed to NCAA Division II Caldwell College in New Jersey.
Martin and Baron stand out in New England All-Star Challenge
The first annual New England High School All-Star challenges, featuring the best public and prep school players from all six New England states, was played at Springfield College.
The Public All-Star game was won by the South, 111-99, and included 6-2 senior guard Billy Baron and his six-time Bishop Hendricken state championship head coach Jamal Gomes. Baron, who will be playing as a postgrad next season at Worcester Academy, knocked down 3-of-5 three-point attempts in a 13-point effort.
Behind 21 points by 6-2 senior guard Sam Martin of Worcester Academy, Team West defeated Team East, 107-100, in the Prep School All-Star game. Martin, who will be attending and playing for Yale University, linked up with Exeter native Ben Crenca, a 6-9 teammate from Worcester Academy, another Division I recruit who will be playing for Vermont.
More Prep School Honors for Several RI Players
Erik Murphy, a 6-10 center from Wakefield, concluded a superb career at St. Mark's School (MA), scoring 18 points to lead the Lions to a successful defense of their NEPSAC Class 'C' title. Murphy, who has committed to play at Florida next season, also grabbed 9 rebounds in an 86-53 triumph over Holderness. Murphy's brother, Alex, a 6-6 freshman, added 13 points in the win.
Murphy will play in the Reebok All-American Game on April 18 at American University's Bender Arena in Washington, D.C.
Mike Marra of Smithfield, a 6-5 guard who averaged 16.3 points this season at Northfield Mt. Hermon and will play for Big East champion Louisville next year, has been chosen to play in two post-season tournaments: Derby Festival Basketball Classic on April 11 at Freedom Hall, future home court at the University of Kentucky and in the inaugural Academic All-American Hoops Classic in Ontario, California. on May 9, which features 25 national prospects with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Senior point guard Corey Wright, Jr. of Pawtucket contributed 16 points and dished off six assists for Marianapolis Prep Academy (CT) in an 87-78 overtime loss to Tilton (NH) in the NEPSAC Class B championship game held at Endicott College.
