Jeremy Adkins makes Class AAA all-state team

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- Spring Valley High School's Jeremy Adkins joined a talented, diverse group of players selected Sunday to West Virginia's Class AAA first-team all-state boys basketball squad.

Adkins, a 6-foot-3 junior, averaged 17 points a game for the Timberwolves. He was selected to the first team by the state's Sports Writers Association. Adkins topped 20 points in nine games this season, including a career-high 32 in a victory over Riverside.

In his final five regular season games, Adkins averaged 25 points.

Local programs also were represented by Lincoln County's Jacob Lewis, a third-team pick who averaged 20.9 points a game. Lewis eclipsed 30 points in three games and reached double figures in each outing. When totaling more than 20 points, Lincoln County won seven of 10 games.

Bridgeport senior Bryant Irwin, meanwhile, continued to stockpile postseason awards. Irwin, a 6-foot-7 senior who will continue his career at Atlantic 10 powerhouse St. Joseph's next year, has already been selected as the state's Player of the Year by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association and awarded the Gatorade West Virginia Boys Basketball Player of the Year honors.

He's now been named captain of the state's Class AAA first-team all-state squad. He was also a first-team selection as a junior.

Irwin led the state in scoring, averaging 31.3 points per game. He also averaged 8.7 rebounds and blocked 67 shots for the Indians, who finished the season 18-6.

"It was definitely a goal in the preseason to make it back on the all-state team," Irwin said. "I've played against some of the other players who made it and I'm familiar with a lot of the. Just to be mentioned with them is a great feeling and to be named the captain, that's such a tremendous honor."

Although Irwin said he appreciated all the individual awards, he said he would also give them all back for another trip to the state basketball tournament. Irwin and the Indians were denied a third consecutive trip to Charleston with a loss to archrival Robert C. Byrd in sectional play. That mind-set is one of the many aspects that Bridgeport coach Gene Randolph said makes Irwin such a special player.

Joining Irwin as returnees to the first team are Nitro guard Brett McClanahan and Jefferson forward Vance Hosby. McClanahan averaged 20.7 points per game, while Hosby poured in 19.1 points per contest.

Representing Class AAA state champion Woodrow Wilson on the first team is senior forward Damien Tunstalle, who averaged 10 points per game and was a major factor in the Eagles' run toward their 16th state title.

With senior center Travis Parkulo (15.2 ppg) being named the second-team captain and junior guard Ryan Powers (12.2 ppg) being selected to the third team, Woodrow was one of only two schools to have three players on the all-state team. Robert C. Byrd also has three.

"I think it is a real credit to our program to have three players selected," Woodrow coach Ron Kidd said. "I think it serves as a good example that you don't necessarily have to have one superstar on your team to win the state title. It takes a team. I think all three of these players really exemplify that team concept.

"I think we surprised some people at the state tournament and I think these three players earned the state's respect. They didn't give up and they really came together at the end of the season."

Rounding out the first team are South Charleston's Aaron Dobson, Capital's Malik Witten, Martinsburg's Isaac Thornton and Adkins.

Dobson, a 6-foot-3 junior, scored 17.5 points per game and helped lead the Black Eagles to the state title game for the second consecutive season. Witten (16.6 ppg) led the Cougars to Class AAA semifinals and was a major contributor for the Cougars finishing with a 19-5 record (including an impressive win against national powerhouse Veritas Christian in the Coal Classic).

Thornton, a 6-foot-2 junior, was an inside force for the Bulldogs, scoring 17.1 points per game and helping his team make it to the state tournament.

Joining Parkulo on the second team are Ripley's Noah Fischer (20.2 ppg), South Charleston freshman standout Perry Henry (11 ppg), Robert C. Byrd's Brett Ervin (14 ppg), Morgantown's Craig Carey (12 ppg), Capital's Tyrone Goard (11.6 ppg), Hedgesville's J.R. Mayles (14.7 ppg) and Preston's T.J. Thompson (17.5 ppg).

Besides Powers, the third team consists of the Robert C. Byrd duo of Steven Collins (14.2 ppg), who was selected as the captain of the third team, and Tyrell Hill (15.9 ppg), Bridgeport point guard Derek Gilbert (15 ppg), Lewis (20.9 ppg), George Washington's Chase Smith (15.9 ppg), Morgantown's Ben Hewitt (13.8 ppg) and Parkersburg South's Andy Morris (16.6 ppg).

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Information from: The Exponent Telegram, http://www.cpubco.com

Howie McCormick/The Herald-Dispatch

Spring Valley’s Jeremy Adkins was named to the Class AAA first-team all-state boys basketball squad.