Here’s our list of the top boys and girls athletes in South Mississippi for 2021
The Mississippi Coast is always home to a large pool of exceptional athletes and 2021 saw the rise of many and the return of more.
State titles were won across a number of sports, including football and soccer.
Coastal stars made headlines throughout the calendar year but these 12 made our final list of the top athletes.
Boys
Bray Hubbard, Ocean Springs football/baseball
Hubbard was set to breakout in a big way this year and he did just that. The Southern Miss baseball commit had a stellar season on the gridiron, earning 6A Mr. Football honors and a scholarship offer from USM football.
Dante Dowdell , Picayune football
The junior ripped through defenses all season long and garnered a number of individual honors. Dowdell led the Maroon Tide to a state title and received his first college offer the next day.
Sam Murray II, Harrison Central basketball
There are several basketball stars in the area with next-level talent but none are bigger than the senior Murray. He’s got offers from Baylor, Texas and Arizona State just to name a few. He’s got the Red Rebels 8-3 so far in his final year.
Kedrick Osby, Moss Point basketball
Osby’s stock is quickly rising in Moss Point as the forward continues to grow and takeover the keys to the Tigers’ game. The junior broke through last season with 16 points and seven rebounds a game. He continues to show up against top competition, scoring 16 in a recent game against Biloxi.
Kaden Irving, Gautier football/baseball
One of the biggest young names on the Coast, Irving is an Ole Miss baseball commit and was named to the 5A First-Team his sophomore season as a pitcher and infielder. On the football field, Irving grabbed attention across the state with 39 passing touchdowns and a spot on the All-State team.
Gehrig Conard, Stone baseball
Conard dominated opposing hitters in 2021 and left the mound with a 0.73 ERA and 133 strikeouts. Just two days after the tragic passing of his father in May, he tossed a playoff shutout. Conard signed with South Alabama in November.
Girls
Kate Smith, Gulfport soccer
Gulfport has built a program nearing dynasty status and Smith is a big reason why. The senior is the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year and is angling for a third straight title before heading to Ole Miss.
Kealey Skinner, Pass Christian soccer
Skinner has arugably been the best defensive soccer play on the Coast in 2021. She had 99 steals last season and was named Defensive Player of the Match in the Coast All Star game. Skinner is nearing 50 steals halfway through her senior year.
Brooklynn Montana, Gulfport softball/volleyball
The junior has been terrorizing pitchers for years, most recently posting a .484 batting average with 31 RBIs as a sophomore. Montana was the Fan Choice Softball Player of the Year. She also had 154 kills on the hardwood with a .228 hit percentage.
Jadyn Burney, Harrison Central softball
A 2021 graduate, Burney ended her high school career on a high note as the Sun Herald Softball Player of the Year. She hit .490 and stole 19 bags in her final season. Burney will suit up next for Chipola Junior College.
Lauren Brooks, East Central softball
The Hornets made an impressive run all the way to state title series and did so behind the impressive play of Brooks. Now a senior, Brooks hit .444 and registered a hit in 30 different games. She also earned 13 wins on the mound with six of them coming in the playoffs.
Simaru Fields, Gulfport basketball
Gulfport girls have dominated across the board and Fields is one of those stars roaming the halls. She earned Sun Herald Player of the Year honors for her efforts in her junior season, averaging 18 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
This story was originally published December 26, 2021 at 8:00 AM.
