4A BOYS HONORS: Green Valley’s McDonald leads by example

When Durrell McDonald transferred to Green Valley after spending his junior year in Mississippi, the Gators got more than an exceptional athlete capable of getting his own shot whenever necessary.

“He’s a great leader out there, too,” Green Valley coach Lorenzo Jarvis said.

The 6-foot-2-inch McDonald averaged 21.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists in leading the Gators into a four-way tie for the Southeast League title.

For his efforts, he was named the Sunrise Region Most Valuable Player by area coaches.

“He’s a special player,” Jarvis said. “He goes out and works extremely hard and leaves it all on the court, night in and night out. He just plays the game and takes what it presents to him.”

Jarvis said he was especially pleased with the DePaul commit’s desire to win.

“It’s a treat to have a player of that caliber that understands it’s all about winning,” Jarvis said. “It’s not all about stats or him taking the big shots. If it’s about him creating for someone else or passing to someone else, he’s all about that.”

McDonald also highlighted the All-Southeast League team as its MVP.

McDonald and the Gators bounced back after a rough start to win the Sunrise Region tournament and advance to the Class 4A state tournament, which begins today in Reno.

The area’s other state tournament team, Bishop Gorman, had the MVP in the Sunset Region. Shabazz Muhammad, considered the top college recruit in the senior class. Muhammad also took Southwest League MVP honors.

Muhammad averaged 29.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in the regular season as the Gaels ran the table in the Southwest League.

McDonald was joined on the All-Sunrise Region team by Valley’s Caleb Carter; Canyon Springs’ Shaquille Carr and Gerad Davis; Coronado’s Michael Louder and Teyshawn Campbell; Silverado’s Ruben Jackson and David Ware; Las Vegas’ Hasaan Henderson; Foothill’s Brannon Cresanto; Eldorado’s Da’Quon Thrower; and Desert Pines’ Julian Jacobs.

Carter was named the Northeast League MVP, and first-year Canyon Springs coach Freddie Banks was the Northeast Coach of the Year.

Silverado’s Martin Ferriter took the Southeast League coaching honor.

The All-Sunset Region team consisted of Muhammad and teammate Rosco Allen; Clark’s Kentrell Washington, Sir Washington and Bryan McGriff; Centennial’s Marcus Allen and Malcolm Allen; Palo Verde’s Eris Winder and Nahjee Matlock; Durango’s Joe Tuss; Cimarron-Memorial’s Erik Brewer; and Legacy’s Zach Lane.

Brewer and Marcus Allen were co-MVPs in the Northwest League, and Centennial’s Todd Allen was Northwest Coach of the Year.

Gorman’s Grant Rice took the Southwest coaching honor.