Clark Kellogg Award watch list

The News-Herald will present the first Clark Kellogg Award to the area’s boys basketball player of the year as part of the Varsity Chalk Talk Show at Hooley House on March 27. The following players are leading candidates. (in alphabetical order)

2016 News-Herald Player of the Year scored 29 points in a district semifinal win against Warren JFK on March 5 and a game-high 13 in a district final victory over Bristol on March 9. The 6-foot-3 Furman commit averaged 24.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game during the regular season. Mr. Basketball candidate finished third in the area with 57 made 3-pointers and shoots 47 percent from 3-point range. Division IV Northeast Lakes District Player of the Year.

Scored 43 points in Hawken’s sectional final loss to Woodridge. Lake Erie College commit ranked seventh in the area and led the Hawks in regular-season scoring at 19.5 points per game. Brown finished tied for ninth in the area with 49 made 3-pointers and averaged 3.9 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Named back-to-back CVC MVP. D-II third team all-district selection.

Scored 12 points in Brush’s district semifinal loss to Mentor. Led the 17-8 Arcs to a second consecutive outright Western Reserve Conference championship. Led Brush in scoring during the regular season at 15.5 points per game. D-I second team all-district selection.

Scored 21 points in Lake Catholic’s district semifinal victory over Edgewood and seven in the Cougars’ district final loss to VASJ. Cougars sophomore forward averaged a double-double of 20.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. D-II first team all-district selection.

Defending News-Herald Player of the Year scored 25 points in VASJ’s district title victory over Lake Catholic. Higgins won his 86th game in a VASJ uniform to become the program’s all-time winningest player, moving past Brian Parker’s 85 wins. Vikings senior point guard led the team during the regular season with 22.8 points on 47 percent shooting, 6.1 assists and an area-best 4.1 steals per game. Named NCL White Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Named D-II Northeast Lakes District Player of the Year.

Scored 13 points in the Bengals’ sectional final loss to Cleveland Heights. Named NCL Blue MVP. Bengals senior guard averaged 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and 2.3 steals per game. D-I first team alldistrict selection.

Notched a double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds in Gilmour’s district semifinal loss to Warrensville Heights. Kirincic averaged 20.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game during the regular season. Became Gilmour’s all-time leading scorer this season. D-II second team all-district selection

Scored 25 points to lead Chardon in a sectional final loss to Edgewood. Led the area in scoring with 27.8 points per game. Sulka owns the career scoring record at Chardon, and posted games of 51 and 45 points this season. D-II first team alldistrict selection.

Scored a game-high 22 points in Mentor’s district semifinal victory against Brush and had 14 points in the Cardinals’ district final loss to Solon. Led Mentor with 17.6 points, area-best 6.2 assists, six rebounds and 2.6 steals per game during the regular season. D-I first team all-district selection.