By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
July 29, 2001
Balance was a key word for boys' basketball coach Crandal Porter at Louisville in the 2000-2001 basketball season.
Balance is also a key word on The Meridian Star's All-Area Boys' Basketball Team as well.
Porter was selected Coach of the Year after leading the Wildcats to a 19-13 record and a berth in the Class 4A North State Tournament.
And they were a balanced group of guys. None were chosen for the all-area team, but six Louisville players received honorable mention.
Fourteen players were named to the all-area team with no player of the year being named.
Selected to the all-area team are:
junior Corey Boggan (23.5 ppg) of Enterprise, 13-17;
senior Kenny Boyd (17.1 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 2 blocks) of Kemper County, 25-12;
senior Cory Sims (18 ppg, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 82 percent FT, 56 3-pointers) of Livingston;
senior Jeremy Ruffin (16.5 ppg, 11 rpg, 3 assists) of Meridian, 26-9;
senior Mario Qualls (18.9 ppg, 12 rpg, 3 steals, 5 assists, 80 percent FT shooter) of Class 2A state quarterfinalist Newton, 27-11;
junior Tony Smith (16 ppg, 7 rebounds) of Newton County, 17-12;
senior Jimmy Kelly (16 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 assists, 3 steals) of Northeast Lauderdale, 17-12;
senior Reginald Roby (17.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.7 assists, 1.7 steals) of Noxubee County, 19-16;
sophomore Rashaun Hill (16.3 ppg) of Philadelphia, 18-14;
senior Renaldo McKenzie (16 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 assists, South All-Star team) of Quitman, 15-13;
senior Anthony Horner (18.2 ppg) of Southeast Lauderdale, 3-28;
senior Jeremy Law (18 ppg, 5.8 assists, 15 double-doubles, MVP Area 7 Tournament) of Sumter County;
sophomore Dietric Slater (18 ppg, 11 rpg) of Wayne County, 25-4;
and sophomore Calvin Moore (24 ppg) of West Lauderdale, 17-16.
Porter credits many area coaches for taking him under their wings.
Porter is the son of Jackson Lanier coach Thomas Billups.