Meet the All-South Mississippi Boys Basketball Team for the 2025-26 season
Gold balls and banners returned to the Mississippi Coast for the first time in over a decade during what was a banner season for basketball in the lower six counties.
Two championship titles were claimed, one by 6A Pascagoula and the other by 3A St. Stanislaus. The Panthers were led by Sun Herald Coach of the Year Lorenzo Wright and Player of the Year Blake Nettles.
Meet the full All-South Mississippi team for the 2025-26 season.
Sun Herald Player of the Year
Blake Nettles, Pascagoula
The senior point guard was one of the most productive players in the state during the Panthers’ title run. Nettles scored 18.7 points a game while logging 6.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
Nettles was named MVP of the Mississippi-Alabama All Star Game and will continue his career at Jackson State. Pascagoula has each of the last two Player of the Year winners following Kelan Rich earning the honor in 2025.
Fan’s Choice Player of the Year
Keyshawn Nesbitt, Resurrection
The junior guard earned the vote of the people after helping lead Resurrection to the Final Four. Nesbitt scored 15.1 points per game with 5.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 4.4 steals.
Nesbitt earned 58 percent of the vote, pacing Nettles and West Harrison’s Logan Robinson.
Coach of the Year
Lorenzo Wright, Pascagoula
Wright’s final season at Pascagoula saw him deliver the school its first state championship. His Panthers are the first team from Jackson County to bring home a Gold Ball.
The Panthers finished 28-6 and had a spotless 12-0 region record. Wright is set to begin a new chapter as the next head coach at Harrison Central.
Sun Herald Starting Five
Blake Nettles, Pascagoula: The Mr. 6A winner reached the 1,000-career points milestone during his championship campaign.
Landon Hall, Pass Christian: Hall was named Mr. 4A after scoring 18 points a game with nine rebounds. Hall is signed to play at Pearl River C.C.
Max Baria, St. Stanislaus: The senior was a participant in the Mississippi-Alabama All Star Game after averaging 14 points, 11 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game. Baria is heading to Jones C.C.
Morris Robertson, Gulfport: The Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. signee scored 16.7 points and grabbed 6.6 rebounds an outing as a senior. Robertson knocked down 46 three-pointers during the year.
Kyran Laneaux, Pass Christian: Laneaux is Hinds C.C. bound after averaging a double-double with 15 points and 11 boards a game.
All-South Mississippi Boys Basketball Team
Anthony Robinson, Bay High: Robinson was among the Coast’s top scorers with 19.9 points scored per game for the Tigers.
Carnellous Lenard, Biloxi: Lenard paced the Indians with 15.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 steals a game. He hit 50 three-pointers during the year.
Kentrell Beasley, Biloxi: Beasley filled the stat sheet with 12 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists to go along with 3.7 steals a game.
Tahj Hill, Christian Collegiate: Hill was the Coast’s scoring champ, averaging 21.5 points a night with 8.5 rebounds added.
Noah Davis, Christian Collegiate: Davis hit a Coast-best 70 three-pointers while averaging 18.1 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Brody Howard, East Central: Howard led the Hornets with 14.3 points scored per game. The senior averaged 4.4 rebounds and hit 54 shots from beyond the arc.
Anthony Bonfiglio, East Central: Bonfiglio gave the Hornets 9.7 points a game while hauling in 8.2 rebounds.
Evan Smith, Gautier: Smith led the Gators with 11.2 points scored per game. He knocked down 56 three-point shots.
Travor Frost, Gulfport: The sophomore stalwart provided 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds a game from the post.
Denzel Jackson, Gulfport: Jackson was a two-way standout, scoring 11 points a game and hitting 42 threes while averaging 3.7 steals.
Jonathan Espinoza, Harrison Central: Espinoza hit 45 three-point shots as the Red Rebels’ leading scorer.
Keadrian Brown, Harrison Central: Brown added 8.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
Keveun Smyers, Long Beach: Smyers was the Bearcats’ top scorer at 13 points a game. He added 6.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
Donovan Magee, Long Beach: Magee scored 11.5 points a game with four rebounds and 3.4 steals.
Leroy Cameron, Long Beach: Cameron scored 10.4 points per game with 2.4 assists and 2.4 steals for the Bearcats.
Marcus Cooper, Pascagoula: The junior played in the North-South All Star game after a season that saw him score 10.4 points and haul in 3.8 rebounds per game.
Jacob Griffin, Pascagoula: Griffin scored 8.3 points per game with 2.5 rebounds and two assists.
Adam Griffin, Pascagoula: Another Panther in the North/South All Star game, Griffin averaged 10.8 points a game and was the team-high scorer in the state title game.
Ireyion Harvey, Pascagoula: Harvey provided the Panthers with 9.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.7 steals a game.
Jeremiah Mark, Picayune: Mark nearly averaged a double-double, scoring 13.5 points and grabbing 9.9 rebounds per game.
Kelton Stewart, Picayune: Stewart provided the Maroon Tide with 11.7 points a game and 2.9 rebounds with 2.8 assists.
Jordan Hathorne, Picayune: The Millsaps College football signee scored 10.3 points and averaged 3.8 rebounds.
Tyrese Ricardo, Resurrection: Ricardo averaged a double-double, scoring 13.2 points and pulling down 10.9 rebounds per game.
Simeon Ballard, Resurrection: Ballard was an interior force with 9.6 rebounds and 3.4 blocks an outing to go along with his 10-point average.
Denzel Eaton, Resurrection: Eaton scored 10 points a game while knocking down 37 three-pointers. The sophomore registered 3.3 steals per game, as well.
RJ Keys, St. Martin: Keys scored 16.3 points with 3.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game for the Yellow Jackets.
Markel Simmons, St. Martin: Simmons gave the Jackets 11.6 points with 6.6 rebounds a game.
Rafael Cohen, St. Stanislaus: Cohen led the Rock-a-Chaws in scoring with 16.5 points per game. The junior added four assists, four rebounds and three steals.
Jason Forte, St. Stanislaus: Forte scored eight points a game with six rebounds and three steals added.
Alan Gilliam, St. Stanislaus: Gilliam added nine points and five rebounds per game for the Rocks.
Jabari Moye, Stone: Moye led the Tomcats with 19.8 points scored per game, along with 4.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists and three steals.
Cleon Johnson, Stone: Johnson averaged 11.3 points a game plus five rebounds and two assists with two steals.
Logan Robinson, West Harrison: Robinson hit 53 three-pointers in a season where he averaged 14.1 points, five rebounds and 2.8 steals a game.
Kameron Bolden, West Harrison: Bolden contributed with 11.7 points per game, a team-best 2.7 assists and 2.8 steals.
