By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

CLINTON — A “Dirty Dozen” of prep basketball standouts picked up a big honor late last week, as did a few coaches.

Thirteen “Southern Six” products were selected to participate in various upcoming all-star prep basketball games as the teams were picked here at the Mississippi Association of Coaches offices.

The 2025 Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Basketball Games will be played Saturday, March 8, 2025 at the Mitchell Center on the campus of the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Ala. The girls will play at Noon and the boys will follow at 2:30 pm.

Pascagoula head boys coach Lorenzo Wright was named as the head coach for the Mississippi Boys Team in this prestigious contest. Wright led his Panthers to a 29-2 mark last season and trip to the overall Class 6A Semifinal round at The Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson. Included in that campaign was a school record 29 game win streak as well.

Pascagoula senior standout Kelan Rich was also named to Team Mississippi and will get to play for his head coach one last time before ending his prep career.

“It is a blessing to represent the great state of Mississippi and to be a part of a prestigious event,” Wright, who was an assistant in this contest last year, said recently. “We are looking forward to bringing the win back to Mississippi and showing Alabama that we are the best.”

No “Southern Six” players were selected for the girl’s game.

The 2025 Mississippi Sports Medicine North/South All-Star Basketball Games are scheduled for Saturday, March 15, 2025 at A.E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College in Clinton.

There will be four games all involving rising seniors, including 12 “Southern Six” stalwarts.

• 1A/2A/3A/4A Girls’ Game:  12 Noon
• 1A/2A/3A/4A Boys’ Game:  Approximately 1:30 PM
• 5A/6A/7A Girls’ Game:  Approximately 3 PM
• 5A/6A/7A Boys’ Game:  Approximately 4:30 PM

St. Martin girls head coach Jason Kennedy will lead the South Team in the larger classification girls’ game. He will be assisted by his Lady Yellow Jackets assistant coach Nykeshia Jenkins.

“It’s an honor to be selected to coach in this event,” Kennedy said. “I’m also excited to be coaching alongside my assistant coach Jenkins. The 2026 class is loaded with talent and it will be on full display March 15th.”

Playing for Kennedy on that squad will be St. Martin’s Kylenn Ward, Gulfport’s M.J. Avery, West Harrison Sydnei Barber and Starr Jackson of Ocean Springs.

In the larger classification boys’ game, five “Southern Six” products were picked for the South Team.

A pair of Pascagoula Panthers in Blake Nettles and Tylan Wilson were selected as was Morris Robertson, Jr., of Gulfport, Hayden Boggs of Harrison Central and JaMarcus McCaleb of West Harrison.

In the smaller classification boys game, Max Baria of St. Stanislaus along with a pair of Pass Christian products in Landon Hall and Kyran Laneaux will suit up for the South squad.

There were no “Southern Six” players picked for the smaller classification girls game.