By Robert Wilson

      Jackson Prep senior guard Ben Segrest became the third member of his family to win two MAIS Overall championships last week, joining his father Andy and his older brother Luke.

      Segrest had a game-high 19 points to lead Prep to a 53-51 victory over defending Overall champion Jackson Academy at Mississippi College’s A.E. Wood Coliseum/Mike Jones Court in Clinton.

      For his outstanding performance, Segrest has been named the Tatum and Wade/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Boys Basketball Player of the Week.

      Segrest made 8 of 12 shots from the field and 3 of 4 from the free throw line and had 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal despite being guarded by JA’s Caleb Gaitor, considered one of the best defensive players in Mississippi.

      Segrest joins his father Andy, who won three overalls in the mid 1990s, and older brother, Luke, who won two in 2022 and 2023. Ben was a sophomore on the 2023 team. 

      Segrest also had a game-high 21 points (8 of 15 from the field, 4 of 7 from 3-point range, and 1 of 1 from the free throw line), 5 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals in a 51-45 victory over Hartfield Academy in the Overall semifinals. He scored eight points in a crucial, two-minute span late in the fourth quarter.

      Segrest averaged 17.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3 assists and shot 37 percent from 3-point range this season for Prep, which finished 28-6 and ranked No. 4 in Mississippi by MaxPreps.

      “I know I’m biased, and there are a lot of other good players in our league, but I’ve said all year that I think Ben is the best player in our league,” Prep coach Zach Allison said. “I think he showed everyone in the Overall Tournament. It was a lot of fun to play four straight games of high level competition. I know our guys, especially Ben, embraced the challenge.

      “There are many nights, if not every night in January and February where teams did not help off of Ben. He always drew the other team’s best defender. Every scheme was employed for him to not get any easy or open looks. Ben found a way to get his offensive game going.

      “Ben put a lot of work this previous offseason, especially in the weight room. He has always been an elite shooter, but he was looking to develop his game further where he could score in a variety of ways, regardless of how the defense guarded him. The muscle and weight he put on to benefit him for his senior year is a true testament to his work ethic. And it paid off during the biggest stretch of our season. Ben is a special kid from a special family. He is a high character leader of our team. As the old saying goes, your team is only as good as your leadership. For us to win a championship, that showed how special our six seniors were to our success, and that Ben was a big part of that.”

Segrest has offers from Belhaven University, Huntington (Ala.) College and Bevill State (Ala.) Junior College.

       Ben is the son of Andy and Anna Segrest. Andy played basketball at Prep and graduated from Ole Miss. Andy was a part of three Overall championships team at Prep from 1996-98 with coach Gerald Austin. Anna ran track at Northwest Rankin and was a state finalist in the 800 meter run in 1998. She also graduated from Ole Miss. His older brother Luke played basketball at Prep and won two Overall championships with coach Tim Wise. He is now a student at Ole Miss and is a practice player and scout manager for the Ole Miss men’s basketball team. Luke’s brother Eli (10th grade), sister Macy (ninth grade), and brother Knox (fifth grade), attend Christ Covenant School in Ridgeland. Eli and Macy play basketball and tennis and Knox plays basketball, tennis, and baseball. Luke’s first cousin, Camp Segrest, was a pitcher at Madison-Ridgeland Academy and now plays for Northwest Mississippi Community College.

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

WEEK TWELVE: Dylan Rowe, Madison Central