A Raymond Depwe Award became a nice way to end the high school basketball career of Central standout T.J. Atwood.
“It was a nice way to end it, but … I’m not trying to sound selfish, but the ultimate way to end this would be a state championship, but I am happy the way it ended,” T.J. Atwood said.
Atwood won the award for best swingman in Southeast Texas prep hoops. The awards were presented Saturday night at the Park Central Holiday Inn in Port Arthur during a banquet.
Dontre Thomas of Silsbee won the Depwe Award for best center, and Kountze’s Grayland Arnold won for best guard, putting an excellent cap on his basketball career overall. Arnold is signed with Baylor as a football cornerback and return man.
“It means a lot,” Arnold said. “All the hard work and dedication and blood, sweat and tears into four years of basketball … it’s a good way to end my career.”
Atwood is taking his basketball game to Lamar University next season, where he is part of a signing class of six that includes Lamar State College Port Arthur standouts Colton Weisbrod and Christian Albright.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “I’ve talked to [the current LU players] already. I’ve seen a few of them play already. I just know this, all of us are ready and biting at the bit. I just can’t wait to get it started. I know we’re going to have a lot of fun and we’re looking to change the culture to a winning culture and not worry about what everybody else thinks. But if we keep God first, we’ll be fine.”
Atwood averaged about 16 to 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. He helped Central finish 28-7 and share the District 22-5A championship with Ozen. Central reached the area round of the 5A playoffs.
Arnold completed a prolific scoring career at Kountze while helping the Lions reach the 3A Region III championship game against East Chambers. A four-year starter, he scored more than 2,500 points and nearly recorded a double-double average this season (22 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists per game).
Arnold scored 50 points against Deweyville and had multiple 40-point games as well.
“In a nutshell, he’s a phenomenal leader out there on the court,” Joubert said. “He can make things happen on the offensive and defensive side of the court. He started going for 25 points per game in the playoffs. He just started to turn up his game.”
Other finalists for the Depwe Awards included: for centers, Dane Piper of Bridge City and Delvin Bennett of Central; for guards, Nijal Pearson and Michael McCain of Silsbee; and for swingmen, T.J. Stanford of Kountze and Travious Gibbs of Silsbee.