Three local players win Mr. and Ms. Basketball awards
Three local basketball players won Mr. and Ms. Basketball awards, which are given to the top basketball player in each classification throughout the state, the MHSAA announced on Tuesday.
Canton’s Jamarion Davis-Fleming and Shamira Morton won both the boys and girls award in 5A, while Ridgeland’s Phil Nelson took home the 6A boys award.
Shamira Morton, only a junior, had a monster season, averaging 23.9 points per game, 14.1 rebounds per game, 5.5 blocks per game, 1.6 assists per game, and 1.6 steals per game. Morton has become one of the state’s top recruits in the 2026 class, holding offers from schools like SMU, Southern Miss, Memphis, Auburn, and Jackson State.
Morton led Canton to a 24-5 season and a regular season and tournament region title. She will look to lead the Lady Tigers back to the MHSAA 5A title game after last season’s heartbreaking loss. Canton is scheduled to take on New Hope in the state quarterfinals on Thursday night at Mississippi Valley State, with tip-off set for 7 PM.
Jamarion Davis-Fleming of Canton took home the Mr. Basketball award on the boys side in 5A. After signing with Mississippi State before the season started as the state’s top senior basketball recruit, Davis-Fleming has been able to focus on his senior season and leading Canton to a second straight state title.
It is Davis-Fleming’s second straight Mr. Basketball award and he will look to continue that momentum into the rest of the postseason for the Tigers. Canton is scheduled to take on Gentry on Thursday night in the 5A quarterfinals at Mississippi Valley State, with tip-off set for 8:30 PM.
Phil Nelson won Mr. Basketball honors in 6A, after a phenomenal senior season. Nelson, an Itawamba Community College signee, is averaging 21 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in his senior campaign for the Titans.
Nelson has led Ridgeland to a 27-4 record and is looking to bring home a state title in his senior season, after falling in the 6A title game last year. Ridgeland is scheduled to take on Warren Central in the 6A quarterfinals on Friday night against Warren Central at Mississippi Valley State, with tip-off set for 8:30 PM.