MMI’s Javoris Smith and Hatch’s Frankie Sullivan
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 29, 2006
are selected as Players of the Year
By Griffin Pritchard
The Selma Times-Journal
BIRMINGHAM &045; Jovaris Smith and Frankie Sullivan took home one final piece of hardware to cap the 2005-2006 season. Both players &045; Smith, who was on the AISA’s Class A runner-up Marion Military squad, and Sullivan, who was on the AHSAA’s 2A state champion R.C. Hatch squad &045; were awarded Player of the Year for their respective association by the Alabama SportsWriters Associations on Wednesday in Birmingham.
Smith, who stands 6-foot-1, led the MMI Tigers through a one-loss regular season and an Area Championship. Smith also helped the Tigers make their third trip to the AISA state title game at Huntingdon College in Montgomery.
He was also a three-time ASWA Player of the Year finalist.
During his tenure in Marion, the Tigers suffered one home loss inside the Ireland Center and that was during the Area Championship Tournament to eventual Class A champion, Warrior Academy.
During the Tigers’ 24-2 run to the AISA finals, Smith averaged 18.4 points a game, 8.2 rebounds a game, four steals and four assists a game.
Smith was coached by MMI’s Dr. Michelle Ivey.
He finished his career with the black and orange as the school’s all-time leader in scoring, assists and steals.
Sullivan, on the other hand, added another ring to his collection when the Hatch Bobcats knocked off the Lanett Tigers in overtime to win the AHSAA’s 2A crown in Homer Davis’ first year as varsity coach.
Sullivan, who has a 3.1 grade point average, has been running the point for the Bobcats since his eighth grade year. He was an essential part of Hatch winning its eighth state championship, a record in the Alabama High School Athletic Association.
Sullivan was also named to the All-State Tourney team for the third time in his career.
During the regular season, Sullivan averaged 22 points a game and eight rebounds a game.
When the Bobcats advanced from the area tournament to the regional at the University of South Alabama, Sullivan was selected to the All-Tourney team.