By Robert Wilson
Madison Central boys basketball coach Ben Gardner believes his point guard Dylan Rowe is the best point guard in Mississippi.
And last week, the 6-foot-3 senior led the Jaguars to a huge win to advance them to the MHSAA Boys State Tournament.
Rowe had 17 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals and led Madison Central to a 54-52 overtime victory over Starkville in the Class 7A quarterfinals.
For his outstanding performance, Rowe has been named the Tatum and Wade/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Boys Basketball Player of the Week.
Rowe has been instrumental to Madison Central’s success this season and is averaging 16.2 points, 8.3 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.
“Dylan is the most competitive and driven kid I’ve ever coached,” Gardner said. “He has had a single goal all season and that is to lead this team to the state championship. This game showed who he is. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, and he had some tough moments in the game, but when it mattered, he made winning plays. At the end of regulation, he had a chase down block that was called a foul that led to two missed free throws, essentially that kept the game going. Then he had an assist on the game tying basket. In overtime, he was perfect from the line and took a charge on the next to last possession to help seal the victory.”
Rowe – a member of the Tatum and Wade/Mississippi Scoreboard Preseason Metro Jackson Elite 11 Team – averaged 16.8 points, 6.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.7 steals and helped Madison Central to a 22-12 record and a MHSAA Class 7A quarterfinal finish and was second team on the All-Metro Jackson team last season as a junior.
“Dylan is special,” Gardner said. “I’ve missed players before who have left my program, but none have ever left a void that couldn’t be filled. Dylan’s that type of player. A leader, a champion, a legend. Loved by his teammates, respected by his opponents, revered by his peers. Any school would greatly benefit from having Dylan in their program. He’s a loyal kid, which is rare in this culture.”
Rowe has offers from Jackson State, Southern University and Nicholls State.
He averaged 14.1 ppg, 3.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.1 steals and helped Madison Central to a 18-14 record and the second round of the MSHAA Class 6A playoffs last season as a sophomore.
Rowe is the son of Marc and Tasha Rowe. Marc graduated from Marion, Indiana, High and Indiana University. Tasha ran track in high school in Hattiesburg and graduated from Mississippi State. Rowe’s sister, Madison, was a cheerleader at Madison Central and is a freshman cheerleader at MSU. Rowe’s brother, Brice Rowe, was a three-year starter in basketball at Madison Central and played basketball at Delta State and Virginia State. Rowe’s brother, Devan Rowe, went to South DeKalb High School and attended West Georgia and works in Atlanta. Rowe’s brother, Matthew Rowe, attends University of North Carolina-Greensboro.
Madison Central plays Germantown Thursday at 8 p.m. for the Class 7A state championship.
Mississippi Scoreboard selects a boys basketball player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by text or call to Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.
WEEK ONE: Phil Nelson, Ridgeland
WEEK TWO: Jamarion Fleming, Canton
WEEK THREE: Mike Williams, Germantown
WEEK FOUR: Ben Segrest, Jackson Prep
WEEK FIVE: Caleb Gaitor, Jackson Academy
WEEK SIX: Kevin Roberts, Jackson Prep
WEEK SEVEN: Wiggy Ball, Hartfield Academy
WEEK EIGHT: Mike Williams, Germantown
WEEK NINE: Marcus Goodloe, Jackson Academy
WEEK TEN: Kaden Arterberry, Pearl
WEEK ELEVEN: Jaivyn Carter, Hillcrest Christian
