Hatton named coaches' player of the year

By Terry Boehmker

Dixie Heights junior guard Brandon Hatton was voted Division I Player of the Year by the Northern Kentucky Boys’ Basketball Coaches Association for the second consecutive season.

Hatton, who began playing varsity basketball as a seventh-grader, averaged 23 points and 4.2 assists for the Colonels this season. He broke his team’s career scoring record and surpassed the 2,000-point mark. 

The top vote-getters for Player of the Year in the other two divisions were Holy Cross senior center Antonio Campbell in Division II and Ludlow junior center Jerad Howard in Division III.

All of the players voted to the three division all-star teams will receive awards during the coaches association’s post-season banquet on Sunday, March 17 at Lloyd High School.

Awards will also be given to the 9th Region Player of the Year and the Coach of Year in all three divisions during the banquet. The ballots for those awards have not yet been submitted.

DIVISION I ALL-STARS

Brandon Hatton (Dixie Heights), Nick Ruthsatz (CovCath), Andrew Sampson (Simon Kenton), Nick Jackson (Scott), Samuel Hammerich (Conner), Corey Holbrook (Campbell County), A.J. Collins (Cooper), Brenden Stanley (Boone County), Zach McNeil (Cooper), Nate McGovney (Campbell County), Drew Mays (Ryle), Will Stuhr (Ryle). 

  Player of the Year – Brandon Hatton (Dixie Height)
  Best Defensive Player – Jared Swanson (Simon Kenton)
  Mr. Hustle Award – Jared Bowling (Simon Kenton)
  Academic Award – Collin Myers (Scott)

DIVISION II ALL-STARS

Antonio Campbell (Holy Cross), James Bolden (Holmes), Michael Bueter (NewCath), Drew McDonald (NewCath), Justin Saunders (Brossart), Jasean Short (Newport), Christian McClendon (Holy Cross), Alex Trentman (Brossart), Quan Palmer (Holmes), Jordan Noble (St. Henry), Chris Engelmon (Holmes), Niko Carter (Lloyd).

  Player of the Year – Antonio Campbell (Holy Cross)
  Best Defensive Player – Antonio Campbell (Holy Cross)
  Mr. Hustle Award – Michael Best (St. Henry)
  Academic Award – Niko Carter (Lloyd)

DIVISION III ALL-STARS

Jerad Howard (Ludlow), Mitchell Cody (Ludlow), Cole VonHandorf (Villa Madonna),
Zack Poinsett (Bellevue), Joe Hornback (Bellevue), Troy Phelps (Villa Madonna),
Andy Piccirillo (Villa Madonna), Derek Holt (Dayton), Nick Whitt (Calvary Christian), Jake Lamb (Calvary Christian), Andrew Smith (Villa Madonna). 

  Player of the Year – Jerad Howard (Ludlow)
  Best Defensive Player – Andrew Smith (Villa Madonna)
  Mr. Hustle Award – Andrew Smith (Villa Madonna)
  Academic Award – Randy Lund (Villa Madonna)