High School Boys’ Basketball Player of the Week Nominees

The Observer is seeking input from fans to determine its high school boys’ basketball player of the week. The poll will close at noon on Friday, and voters can cast their votes as many times as they like.

Here are this week’s standout players who have been nominated for the honor:

Zeke Battier – Providence Day

As a 6-foot-7 junior, Zeke Battier has been a dominant force for Providence Day. In a 64-58 victory over Covenant Day on January 13, he contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Battier continued his strong performance with 18 points, three rebounds, and one assist in a 78-59 win over Charlotte Country Day on January 16. Additionally, he reached a significant milestone by scoring his 1,000th career point before the tip-off against Charlotte Country Day.

Kaharri Coleman – West Charlotte

Kaharri Coleman, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, delivered a standout performance in a 64-36 win over Durham Hillside at the Peace Basketball Showcase on January 17. He scored 20 points in that game. For the season, Coleman averages 18 points, four assists, seven rebounds, and three steals per game, helping West Charlotte maintain a 12-2 record.

Kyzen Coleman – Concord

Kyzen Coleman, a 6-foot-4 senior, led Concord to a 72-64 win over Jay M. Robinson on January 16 with 25 points and 11 rebounds. He also added 20 points and five rebounds in a 78-68 loss to Salisbury on January 13. His overall season averages include 16.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, contributing to Concord’s 8-7 record.

Eddie Cota – Olympic

Eddie Cota, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, played a key role in a 64-51 win over Berry on January 16 with 17 points, four assists, and two steals. In an earlier game on January 12, he scored seven points, grabbed three rebounds, dished out four assists, and recorded a steal in an 80-50 loss to Harding. Cota averages 11 points, five assists, and three rebounds per game for Olympic, which has a 7-9 record this season.

Ethan Gramaglia – Ardrey Kell

Ethan Gramaglia, a 6-foot junior, made a crucial play in a 72-71 double-overtime victory over Charlotte Catholic on January 12. He grabbed a rebound with 3.8 seconds left and sank the game-winning free throws. Gramaglia had 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench in that game. For the season, he averages 2.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game, supporting an Ardrey Kell team (14-2) that has won 12 straight games.

Josiah Guyton – Lincolnton

Josiah Guyton, a 6-foot-4 senior, had an impressive week. On January 16, he scored 40 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and recorded five steals in an 81-77 win over Bessemer City. Earlier in the week, he had 11 points, six rebounds, and four steals in an 82-46 victory over West Lincoln on January 13. He also tallied 33 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals in a 90-83 win at South Point on January 14.

Tre Ratliff – Hough

Tre Ratliff, a 6-foot-4 junior, led Hough to a 58-56 upset over North Mecklenburg on January 16 with 28 points, six rebounds, and three steals. He also scored 10 points in an 83-52 win over Legion Collegiate at the Craze Sports Live MLK Showcase on January 17. Ratliff averages 14 points and six rebounds per game for Hough, which has a 12-3 record this season.

Henry Smith – Marvin Ridge

Henry Smith, a 6-foot-4 senior, delivered a stellar performance in a 71-62 overtime victory at Sun Valley. He scored 32 points on 11-of-16 shooting, adding six rebounds and four assists. Smith averages 16.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game for Marvin Ridge, which has a 13-3 record.

Thomas Vickery – Myers Park

Thomas Vickery, a 6-foot-6 junior, contributed 24 points and 10 rebounds in a 79-54 win over Palisades on January 16. He followed that up with another double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a 59-51 win over New Hanover, earning most valuable player honors at the Brandon Ingram MLK Classic on January 17.

Malachi Wilson – Metrolina Christian

Malachi Wilson, a 6-foot-1 sophomore, scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a 51-48 win over SouthLake Christian on January 13. He also added 20 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in a 63-47 victory over Hickory Grove on January 16. Wilson’s consistent performances have helped Metrolina Christian secure wins this season.

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