Edwards, Everett Co-Players of the Year
Mar 27, 2009
By: Tropics Staff
All-County (POLK) Boys Basketball: Richie Edwards & Quinton Everett Co=Players of the Year
By BRANDT MERRITT
THE LEDGER
LAKELAND - Since the 2006-07 season, Richie Edwards and Quinton Everett have been starters on the Lakeland High boys basketball team.
During that three-year span, the Dreadnaughts have gone a combined 74-12 and made their first regional final appearance since 1979 this season.
That record, as well as this season's successful run, have earned Edwards and Everett the title of The Ledger's Co-Players of the Year for boys basketball. Terrence McGriff, who led Bartow to the state final four at The Lakeland Center, is this season's Coach of the Year.
For Edwards and Everett, much of their pride comes from helping rebuild the Dreadnaughts basketball program.
"I feel like we brought it back," Edwards said. "That's not trying to be cocky, but that's what it is."
Lakeland head coach Deron Collins, who has been at the school since the 2003-04 season, said having two top players on the same team the past three seasons made his job easier.
"When it was on the line, you wanted it in Richie's hands or Quinton's hands, bottom line," Collins said.
He said most high school coaches are fortunate to have "one maybe outstanding player," but he has had two. Apart from their skill, Collins said their work ethic and commitment to the team were just as important to Lakeland's basketball team having so much success.
Edwards led the team in points per game (17.7) and rebounds (9.5), while Everett wasn't far behind in scoring (16.1)
"Even though they were better than anyone else on the team, they never got that arrogance that you can get sometimes," Collins said.
Everett and Edwards said they both wanted to get the basketball team close to the level of excellence and recognition that the Dreadnaughts football team has achieved. Edwards moved from New Zealand before his sophomore season, and the football program's success was one of the first things he recognized.
Becoming successful on the basketball court, though, started to bring the crowds to the gym.
"When you win games, people start to come out," Everett said.
Both players are listed as forwards, with Edwards a long 6-foot-7 and Everett listed at 6-foot-3. Collins said they both could score 30 points on any given night, and he tried to spread them on different sides of floor and tell his point guard, Derrick Austin, to keep working it to whichever player had the hot hand.
Edwards is trying to get cleared academically before college and is drawing interest from schools such as Nebraska, Hofstra and St. Mary's. Everett isn't getting the same interest from top programs, but Edwards said he should be.
"He's probably one of the best players in Florida that nobody knows about," Edwards said.
Collins said the Dreadnaughts will miss Edwards and Everett on the court next season, but losing their personalities off the court will leave just as big a hole.
"Both of them have a little wit about them and they like to have a good time," Collins said. "They're not replaceable."
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