AP all-state teams: Bellarmine Prep’s Malachi Flynn earns AP basketball player of the year
Malachi Flynn’s offseason has been quite eventful.
And it’s been only a month since Bellarmine Prep’s boys basketball season ended.
The Associated Press announced Wednesday that Flynn was selected as the state boys basketball player of the year for all classifications. This came after the 6-foot-2 point guard committed to Washington State University last week.
“I didn’t know it would blow up like this,” Flynn said. “But I’m thankful for that. I guess everything happens for a reason. I’ve never doubted what’s in store for me.”
Flynn averaged 29.7 points, six rebounds and four assists per game this past season, leading the Lions to the regional round of the 4A state tournament.
“The awards are never the biggest appeal to me,” Flynn said. “But when you win one, it does show that everything has paid off and I’m going in the right direction.”
Lynnwood’s Mikayla Pivec was named the state girls basketball player of the year. She averaged 22 points, 14 rebounds and five steals per game for the Royals and led them to a third-place finish in the 3A state tournament.
The teams were selected based on votes from sportswriters across the state. Players had to have at least two votes to be considered for honorable mention.
The South Sound was well represented. Flynn was joined on the 4A first team by Federal Way’s Jalen McDaniels, a 6-foot-10 San Diego State signee who led Federal Way to its second consecutive 4A state title, and Curtis’ Aushanti Potts-Woods.
Flynn broke Avery Bradley’s Bellarmine record with 743 points this season. Bradley now plays for the Boston Celtics.
What went into the scintillating senior season Flynn had?
“A lot of hard work in the gym,” he said. “Every day in the summer trying to get stronger and get a better jumper. It all comes down to work ethic — how hard are you willing to work?”
Peninsula’s JaQuori McLaughlin, an Oregon State signee, made the 3A first team, as did Wilson’s David Jenkins Jr. Life Christian’s Luke Lovelady made the 2B first team.
Beamer’s Nia Alexander, a University of San Franciso signee and The News Tribune’s All-Area girls basketball player of the year, was selected to the girls 4A first team after leading the Titans to their second consecutive third-place finish in the 4A state tournament.
Lincoln’s Tamia Braggs made the 3A first team, and Wilson’s Kiki Knox was an honorable mention selection. White River’s Kendall Bird and River Ridge’s Makenna Schultz shared 2A SPSL MVP honors, and both were named to the 2A first team.
Charles Wright’s Shoni Pritchett was selected to the 1A first team after finishing her career with 1,459 points and more than 600 rebounds. Evergreen Lutheran’s Emily Holder made the 1B all-state girls team.
Flynn plans to camp out in the gym plenty more this offseason preparing for WSU. The last Bellarmine basketball player to sign with a current Pac-12 school was Abdul Gaddy (UW) in 2008.
“You can never stop working,” Flynn said. “The Pac-12 is a great conference. So if I want to come in and contribute, I’m going to have to put in a lot of work this offseason.”
TJ Cotterill: 253-597-8677, @tjcotterill
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-STATE BOYS BASKETBALL TEAMS
State player of the year: Malachi Flynn, sr., Bellarmine Prep
CLASS 4A
4A player of the year: Malachi Flynn, sr., Bellarmine Prep
FIRST TEAM
Malachi Flynn, sr., Bellarmine Prep
Jalen McDaniels, sr., Federal Way
Tony Miller, sr., Woodinville
Aushanti Potts-Woods, sr., Curtis
Steven Beo, sr., Richland.
HONORABLE MENTION
Ferron Flavors, sr., Federal Way
Drew Magaoay, sr., Cascade of Everett
Cameron Cranston, jr., Union
Eric Wattree, sr., South Kitsap.
CLASS 3A
3A player of the year: Isiah Brown, sr., Lakeside of Seattle
FIRST TEAM
Isiah Brown, sr., Lakeside of Seattle
Jaylen Nowell, jr., Garfield
Sam Cunliffe, sr., Rainier Beach
JaQuori McLaughlin, sr., Peninsula
David Jenkins Jr., sr., Wilson.
HONORABLE MENTION
David Woodard, sr., Edmonds-Woodway
Mikey Henn, sr., Bellevue
Ryan Lacey, sr., Auburn Mountainview.
CLASS 2A
2A player of the year: Trevon Allen, sr., Clarkston.
FIRST TEAM
Trevon Allen, sr., Clarkston
Sterling Sommers, sr., Lynden
Coleman Sparling, sr., Ellensburg
Jordan Blodgett, sr., Wapato
Philip Pepple, soph., Shorecrest.
HONORABLE MENTION
Cole Rabedeaux, sr., North Kitsap
Gunner Chronis, soph., Grandview
TJ Mickelson, jr., Black Hills
Will Burghardt, jr., Mark Morris.
CLASS 1A
1A player of the year: Corey Kispert, jr., King’s.
FIRST TEAM
Corey Kispert, jr., King’s
Scotty Burge, sr., Zillah
Kienan Walter, sr., King’s Way Christian
Zach Roetcisoender, sr., Lynden Christian
Brock Johnson, sr., Castle Rock.
HONORABLE MENTION
Timothy Soares, sr., Mount Baker
Tyler Morris, sr., Sultan
Hunter Esary, sr., Kalama
Trey Delp, jr., Zillah.
CLASS 2B
2B player of the year: Jaron Kirkley, sr., Mossyrock.
FIRST TEAM
Jaron Kirkley, sr., Mossyrock
Kaleb Poquette, sr., Morton-White Pass
Luke Lovelady, jr., Life Christian
Roy Zavala, sr., Mabton
Ryan Ricks, jr., Northwest Christian.
HONORABLE MENTION
Wyatt Stanley, jr., Napavine
Chance Williams, sr., Brewster
JR Delgado, jr., Warden
Chase Burnham, jr., Liberty of Spangle
Brock Ravet, jr., Kittitas.
CLASS 1B
1B player of the year: Dallas Isaak, sr., Almira/Coulee-Hartline.
FIRST TEAM
Dallas Isaak, sr., Almira/Coulee-Hartline
Trazil Lane, jr., Lummi
Ryan Moss, sr., Neah Bay
Nathan Powers, sr., Bickleton
Kenrick Doherty Jr., jr., Neah Bay.
HONORABLE MENTION
Jerrod Harn, jr., Entiat
Jeffrey Parker, sr., Evergreen Lutheran
Rwehabura Munyagi Jr., soph., Neah Bay
Zach Cain, jr., Taholah
Matt Holbrook, sr., Garfield-Palouse
Luke Wagenaar, soph., Sunnyside Christian.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAMS
State player of the year: Mikayla Pivec, sr., Lynnwood
CLASS 4A
4A player of the year: Lexie Hull, soph., Central Valley.
FIRST TEAM
Lexie Hull, soph., Central Valley
Jessie Loera, sr., Moses Lake
Riley Lupfer, sr., Lewis and Clark
Braydey Hodgins; sr., Chiawana
Nia Alexander, sr., Todd Beamer.
HONORABLE MENTION
Madison Pollock, sr., Snohomish
Madeline Smith, sr., Snohomish
Taya Corosdale, jr., Bothell.
CLASS 3A
3A player of the year: Mikayla Pivec, sr., Lynnwood.
FIRST TEAM
Mikayla Pivec, sr., Lynnwood
Anna Wilson, sr., Bellevue
Shelby Cansler, sr., Bellevue
Lydia Giomi, sr., West Seattle.
HONORABLE MENTION
Kiara “Kiki” Knox, sr., Wilson
Gracie Castaneda, sr., Arlington
Jordyn Edwards, sr., Lynnwood.
CLASS 2A
2A player of the year: Uju Chibuogwu, sr., Shorecrest
FIRST TEAM
Uju Chibuogwu, sr., Shorecrest
Elisa Kooiman, jr., Lynden
Kendall Bird, jr., White River
Kassidy Malcolm, sr., Ellensburg
Makenna Schultz, sr., River Ridge
HONORABLE MENTION
Alyssa Blankenship, sr., Washougal
Tarryn Hart, soph., Wapato
Edie Breckenridge, Burlington-Edison.
CLASS 1A
1A player of the year: Kara Bajema, sr., Lynden Christian
FIRST TEAM
Kara Bajema, sr., Lynden Christian
Shoni Pritchett, sr., Charles Wright
Jordan Spradlin, jr., Montesano
Kaelyn Shipley, jr., Kalama
Alexis Castro, jr., Granger
HONORABLE MENTION
Parker Esary, jr., Kalama
Daylee Hanson, sr., King’s.
CLASS 2B
2B player of the year: Jill Townsend, jr., Okanogan.
FIRST TEAM
Jill Townsend, jr., Okanogan
Melissa Lee, soph., Napavine
Karlee Freeman, soph., Raymond
Sam Woodley, sr., Toutle Lake
Peyton Souvenir, jr., Wahkiakum
HONORABLE MENTION
Jordyn Boesel, jr., Okanogan
Makenzie Kaech, soph., Ilwaco
Irene Pineda, sr., Mabton
Desenay Guerrero, sr., Mabton
Hailey Higashi, jr., St. George's
Rachel Bozlee, sr., Northwest Christian.
CLASS 1B
1B player of the year: Zoe Moser, sr., Colton.
FIRST TEAM
Zoe Moser, sr., Colton
Katelyn Banks, sr., Sunnyside Christian
Cierra Jo McKeown, sr., Touchet
Emily Holder, sr., Evergreen Lutheran
Megan Weller, sr., Quilcene.
HONORABLE MENTION
Demi Jo Vaughn, sr., Republic
Karleena Walther, sr., Taholah
Shania Graham, jr., Republic
Adiya Jones, sr., Tulalip Heritage
This story was originally published March 30, 2016 at 11:20 AM with the headline "AP all-state teams: Bellarmine Prep’s Malachi Flynn earns AP basketball player of the year."