Make it four straight seasons that a different Banks County boys basketball senior has taken home the BLITZ Player of the Year award. It’s unfathomable. But going back to ’14-15 when Austin Venable won it, each year that Leopard standout was a 1,000 point scorer, or in this case very close. First Venable, then Zez Steeple, followed by Kahmal Wiley and now Dylan Orr, who finished with 930 career points.

The Leopards have had their greatest run of success during Orr’s four years in the program, making the Sweet 16 in each season and going 96-21. Orr flashed on the scene first in 2015-16, coming off the bench to play alongside brother Zac Orr and flashy guard Steeple, throwing down some thunderous dunks. The following year, last season, Orr teamed up with Wiley and freshman Carl Cleveland to dominate opponents.

DYLAN ORR CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

This season has been leaps and bounds above even that. Once upon a time we went to a high school game and MIGHT see a dunk, and if we saw two…well that was insane. Fast forward to 2017-18, and Orr would punish the rim typically a minimum of twice per game, sometimes four of five times. That’s not the only reason he’s player of the year worthy. He crashed the boards hard, corralling rebound after rebound. He swatted away opposing players’ shots at an alarming rate. He was flat-out dominant in the paint on both ends of the floor. We can’t go without mentioning that Orr was propelled by his incredible teammates and coaches – including sensational passes from Darius Bonds!

Orr finished the 2017-18 season with 22 double-doubles and 4 triple-doubles, posting career single-game highs in points (28; 12/19/17 vs Monticello), rebounds (22; 2/16/18 vs Coosa) and blocks (11; 12/1/17 vs Hart). Orr’s stat sheet produced single-game averages of 16.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, 4.8 blocks, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals. He shot 60% from the floor. For those who are sad to see another Orr leave the program – we are too – cry not…there’s another one up-and-coming that showed signs of similar skills this season (Sophomore Dakota Orr).

Here’s the breakdown of Orr’s career by season:

2014-15: 2 pts, 1 reb, 1 blk
2015-16: 121 pts (3.9), 139 reb (4.8), 26 blk (0.9)
2016-17: 309 pts (10.7), 268 reb (9.2), 95 blk (3.3)
2017-18: 498 pts (16.1), 383 reb (12.4), 150 blk (4.8)
TOTALS: 930 pts, 791 reb, 272 blk

VOTING RESULTS

Our panel of 15 voters, made up of media reporters/broadcasters, former BLITZ players, former coaches and a couple of fans, submitted their Heisman-style ballots for the seven finalists for the award:

HISTORY OF BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Orr becomes the fourth straight Banks County player to take home the award. Here’s a crazy trend – in nine of the ten winners of this award all-time, they were seniors, with only the very first year of BLITZ the award went to a junior in Luke Crumley of White County.

2017-18 – Dylan Orr – Banks Co SR F #40
2016-17 – Kahmal Wiley – Banks Co SR G/F #34
2015-16 – Zez Steeple – Banks Co SR G #0
2014-15 – Austin Venable – Banks Co SR C #35 & Austin DiNofrio – Rabun Co SR G #21
2013-14 – Spencer Adams – White Co SR G #12
2012-13 – Tyler Dominy – Dawson Co SR G/F #14
2011-12 – Patrick Burns – Habersham Central SR F #34
2010-11 – Jacob Evans – Dawson Co SR F #34
2009-10 – Luke Crumley – White Co JR F #32

LOOKING AHEAD – THE NEXT FAVORITE(S)

This seven-man class of finalists was solid. Unfortunately, most are seniors including Orr, Cullen Reed, De’Undra Singleton and Tahj Moss. Two return for their senior year – Ty Nails and Austin Harris. Carl Cleveland will be a junior next year. Those three will likely lead the way, but look out for Dakota Orr or Bosko Norman from Banks County as well, or one of Rabun’s talented players…or someone new.