By Robert Wilson
Florence boys basketball coach Darrin Chancellor was well known as a scorer when he was an All-State performer at Callaway High and an All-Conference standout at Southern Miss during his high school and college playing days.
Now, he’s coaching one.
Florence senior guard Devin Carter averaged 37.5 points last week in two Class 4A, Region 5 victories to continue his torrid scoring pace this season.
For his outstanding performances, Carter has been named the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Boys Basketball Player of the Week.
The 6-foot-2 Carter scored 40 points in a 64-44 victory over Mendenhall and 35 points in an 85-44 victory over Newton County last week.
Carter is averaging 33.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.5 steals for 12-0 Florence going into this week. He scored a career-high 45 points against Crystal Springs and 44 against Ridgeland in the first two games this season. He also scored 40 points against Richland. Carter has scored at least 21 games in every game this season.
“Devin is having as good a year as anyone I’ve ever coached,” said Chancellor, who has been a head coach for 24 seasons, the last 15 at Florence. “What I like the most about him is he trusted the process, waited his turn and got better every year. He’s only the second player in Florence history to be selected to play in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game (which began in 1990). He is also the first Florence player to lead the state in scoring.”
According to MaxPreps, Carter is first in Mississippi and seventh in the nation in scoring. Kacen Gantt of Mount Olive Christian School in Athens, La., is first at 40 points per game.
The highest scorers from Metro Jackson area teams have been James Robinson of Murrah (40.7 per game in 1988-89) and Monta Ellis of Lanier (38.4 in 2004-2005). Both Robinson and Ellis were high school All-Americans and played many years in the NBA.
Carter averaged 23.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.1 assists and led Florence to a 25-8 record and the Class 4A state semifinals last season as a junior. He was named to the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard All-Metro Jackson team.
Carter’s scoring and Florence’s success brings back memories for Florence boys basketball fans of 1977 when Greg Grim averaged 26.8 points and led the Eagles to the Class AA state and Overall titles.
The Performance Therapy/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Girls Basketball Player of the Week will be announced Thursday.
Coaches please contact Robert Wilson by text or call at 601.506.2276 or email at [email protected] with your nominations by 3 p.m. Sunday.
