Mr. Basketball Candidate: Jaylen Alston
Gardner-Webb University commit Jaylen Alston looks to lead Eastern Guilford High School this season with his scoring prowess. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 21 points and 10.6 rebounds per outing this past season while being named to the District 7 First Team. He was named The News and Record Area Boys Player of the Year.
Alston is an athletic wing who plays with energy at both ends of the court, he always seems to find a way to get to attack the basket and get to the rim. He helped lead the Eastern Guilford to a 29-4 record and to the Class 3-A championship game, losing 70-66 to Cox Mill. He was named the MVP for Eastern Guilford in the game. That is quite a resume for a player who was 5-foot-9 entering high school.
Alston chose Gardner-Webb on August 28 over Mars Hill College, South Carolina State and Fayetteville State. He is one of those players that does a little bit of everything to help his team win. Besides his 21 points and 10.6 rebounds Alston contributed 2.4 steals and 2.7 blocks per game. He uses his athleticism to thrown down rim-rattling dunks and get by defenses.
Motor is the huge difference in Alston and other players with a game similar to his. He goes and goes. He spent the summer playing with Carolina Wolves NC and had a great spring/summer.