By Robert Wilson
Clinton Christian Academy’s KJ Sykes is so good he doesn’t have to play four quarters to have a big scoring game.
The 5-foot-8 senior point guard averaged 26 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 2.5 assists and played on 5 ½ quarters in two victories last week.
For his outstanding performances, Sykes has been named the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Boys Basketball Player of the Week.
Sykes had 22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists and didn’t play in the second half of an 84-23 victory over Tri-County Academy and he had 30 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists in 3 ½ quarters in a 105-78 victory over Riverfield, La, for the MAIS Class 4A, District 3 championship. He had 16 points, including four 3-pointers, in the third quarter against Riverfield.
“KJ’s senior leadership was evident when Riverfield challenged us, he responded with one of his best performances,” CCA coach Josh Zeitz said. “He is a scoring point guard with a deadly mid-range game. KJ rebounds well for a guard and has worked to improve his 3-point range. He excels on the court and in the classroom and is in the National Honor Society.”
Sykes – a member of the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Preseason Elite 11 Team – is averaging 24 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 4.5 steals for 31-4 CCA going into this week. He has scored 30 or more points in three of his last five games. Sykes hit the game-winning shot with 5 seconds to play to give CCA an 83-81 victory over MAIS Class 6A Madison-Ridgeland Academy in December. He had 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in that game.
CCA has won 22 of its last 23 games with the only loss in that streak to MHSAA defending Class 5A state champion Holmes County Christian. The other three losses this season were to three MAIS Class 6A teams, Madison-Ridgeland Academy, Jackson Academy and Presbyterian Christian School.
Sykes averaged 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals and helped Clinton Christian to a 23-8 record last season as a junior. He made third team All-Metro last year. Sykes scored a career-high 40 points against St. Aloysius and had 38 points in 79-78, triple overtime upset over then defending MAIS Overall Tournament champion MRA. He has been a starter since the seventh grade.
Sykes has offers from Tuskegee, Ala., Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Holmes CC, and Mississippi Gulf Coast CC.
CCA plays Canton Academy Friday at 7:45 p.m. in the MAIS Class 4A North State semifinals at CCA in Clinton.
Coaches can nominate their players by calling or texting Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276. Only players who play for teams in Hinds, Madison and Rankin Counties are eligible.
