Vote for The Charlotte Observer boys’ athlete of the week: Jan. 26
Below are the nominees for The Charlotte Observer high school athlete of the week.
The poll closes Friday.
You may vote as often as you like.
Note: Poll results may not always be shown.
This week’s nominees
Markell Carothers, North Gaston basketball: The Wildcats’ junior point guard had 30 points in an 80-57 loss at Ashbrook Jan. 16.
Carothers also scored 22 points in an 82-52 loss at Crest Jan. 19.
Carothers is averaging 17.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game for North Gaston (3-13).
Aidan Gatewood, Sugar Creek Charter basketball: The 6-foot-2 junior had a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists to go with four steals and one block in a 97-32 win over Apprentice Academy Jan. 18.
The previous night, Gatewood scored 21 points, grabbed seven rebounds, had five assists, one steal and one block in a 67-63 loss at Valor Prep Academy.
Gatewood is averaging 14.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.5 steals per game for Sugar Creek Charter (9-7).
Brett Freeman, Ardrey Kell basketball: The 6-3 junior scored 26 points, had five rebounds, three assists and two steals to help Ardrey Kell to a 77-63 win at Palisades Jan. 19.
Freeman had 13 points and went 5-for-6 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter of that game.
Freeman is averaging 18.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists for an Ardrey Kell team (12-4) that has won 11 of their last 12 games through Monday.
Grant Hamilton, Weddington basketball: The 6-2 senior scored 28 points, grabbed three rebounds and had three assists, one steal and two blocks in an 87-56 win over Cuthbertson Jan. 19.
Hamilton, a Roanoke College commit, is averaging 22.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.1 steals for Weddington (15-1).
Jesus Jarquin, Monroe wrestling: The Redhawks’ junior won the 192-pound title at the Rocky River conference tournament at Piedmont Jan. 19.
Jarquin is 32-0 this season and won his third consecutive conference title.
Jeremiah Jones-Franklin, Bradford Prep basketball: The 6-2 sophomore scored 18 points, had 17 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and one steal to lead Bradford Prep to its first-ever win over Mountain Island Charter in school history Jan. 16. Bradford Prep won 94-73.
Jones-Franklin also scored 19 points, had 12 rebounds, four blocks, two steals plus an assist in a 79-60 loss to Corvian Charter Jan. 19.
Grant Lawless, East Lincoln basketball: The 6-4 sophomore scored a career-high 30 points to go with 14 rebounds and three blocks in a 74-67 win over St. Stephens Jan. 16.
Lawless scored 11 points, had seven rebounds and six assists in an 86-60 victory over West Iredell Jan. 17.
Lawless finished off the week with 12 points, five rebounds and three steals in an 83-64 win at North Iredell Jan. 19.
Lawless, who is also the starting quarterback on the East Lincoln football team, is averaging 9.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Mustangs (10-6).
Evan Pardue, Union Academy indoor track: The Cardinals’ junior won his heat in the 200-meter dash, running a 22.14 at Liberty University to qualify for the indoor nationals Jan. 19.
Pardue also ran a 49.46 to win his heat in the 400-meter dash at Liberty Jan. 20.
Pardue has run the fastest time for a class 1A runner in both the 300 (35.63) and 500-meter dashes (50.78) this indoor season.
Santiago Ruiz-Diaz, Providence wrestling: The Panthers’ junior won the 150-pound title at the Southwestern 4A conference tournament Jan. 19.
Ruiz-Diaz was named the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler for his efforts with a technical fall win in semifinals and a fall victory in the championship match.
Ruiz-Diaz is 35-1 overall.
Griffen Simpson, Gaston Day basketball: The 6-4 sophomore scored 17 points in a 58-53 win over Northside Christian Jan. 16.
Simpson also scored 21 points in an 81-63 victory at Hickory Grove Jan. 19.
Simpson is averaging 10.9 points per game for Gaston Day (14-8).
L.J. Smith, Lincolnton Basketball: The 6-4 freshman scored 31 points and had nine rebounds in a 64-50 win at East Burke Jan. 16.
Smith also scored 33 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a 72-65 victory at Maiden Jan. 19.
Smith is averaging 32.2 points and 7.6 rebounds for Lincolnton (14-2).
Trent Steinour, Lake Norman basketball: The 6-10 junior scored 22 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and had five blocks in a 79-58 win over Cox Mill Jan. 16.
Steinour also had 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in a 72-44 victory at West Cabarrus Jan. 18.
Steinour scored 11 points, had six rebounds and three blocks in eight minutes of play in a 73-25 win over South Iredell Jan. 19.
Steinour is averaging 14.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game for Lake Norman (15-1).
Steinour has scholarship offers from Charlotte, Clemson, Georgia, High Point, Penn State, Radford, South Carolina and Wake Forest, with interest from Notre Dame and Virginia, according to Lake Norman basketball coach Grant Hodges.
** Information published today includes statistics through January 20.
If you want to nominate an athlete: Athletes of the week highlights high school players with outstanding performances. The goal is to recognize all athletes in all sports, both the most accomplished and the underrated or underappreciated players. If you want to suggest someone to be included in the athletes of the week column, send email to Jay Edwards at edwardswork23@gmail.com. Please include the athletes’ name, school, class and applicable game performance statistics. Coaches must be willing to verify information.
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