Cal Faulkner helped Lumpkin County make some history in 2023-24. The junior standout athlete is rewarded with a BLITZ Player of the Year award.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 21.4 PTS
• 5.4 REB
• 2.4 AST
• 1.4 STL
• 1,000 Career Pts
• 1st Team All-Region

Cal Faulkner averaged 21.4 points per game, making him the only local player in our coverage area to go for 20-plus per night. But he’s far from one dimensional. The junior guard was good for 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while leading Lumpkin County to a Sweet 16 for the first time in nearly a decade. During the historic run, he eclipsed 1,000 career points while also being named 1st Team All-Region.

VOTING RESULTS

1. Cal Faulkner – 67.5 pts (8 1st-place votes)
2. Trey Harvey – 59 pts (5)
3. Houston Henry – 33 pts (1)
4. Zane Floyd – 25.25 pts (2)
5. Huey Blalock – 22.25 pts (1)
6. Enzo Combs – 20.25 pts (2)
7. Neyo Bain – 5.5 pts

Voting included our 19-person panel made up of sports reporters, writers, video producers, former coaches, players, GHSA officials, and sports experts. The voting is Heisman-style, with the following points system:
1st place votes: 5 pts; 2nd: 3 pts; 3rd: 2 pts; 4th: 1 pts; 5th-6th: 0.5 pts; 7th-8th 0.25 pts

Though Faulkner won the vote, 6 different finalists received 1st-place votes. It might have been the tightest group of finalists we’ve had yet. Trey Harvey had 5 1st-place votes behind Faulkner’s 8, and both Enzo Combs and Zane Floyd had 2 1st-place tallies. Houston Henry and Huey Blalock had 1 apiece.

HISTORY OF BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• 2023-24 – Cal Faulkner – Lumpkin Co JR G
• 2022-23 – Jadon Yeh – White Co SR G
• 2021-22 – Connor McKay – Rabun Co SR G/F
• 2020-21 – Kolby Moss – Towns Co SR G
• 2019-20 – Carl Cleveland – Banks Co SR G/F
• 2018-19 – Carl Cleveland – Banks Co JR G/F & Luke Chism – Dawson Co SR G
• 2017-18 – Dylan Orr – Banks Co SR F
• 2016-17 – Kahmal Wiley – Banks Co SR G/F
• 2015-16 – Zez Steeple – Banks Co SR G
• 2014-15 – Austin Venable – Banks Co SR C & Austin DiNofrio – Rabun Co SR G
• 2013-14 – Spencer Adams – White Co SR G
• 2012-13 – Tyler Dominy – Dawson Co SR G/F
• 2011-12 – Patrick Burns – Habersham Central SR F
• 2010-11 – Jacob Evans – Dawson Co SR G/F
• 2009-10 – Luke Crumley – White Co JR C

Faulkner becomes the first ever from Lumpkin County to win POY honors. That’s quite an accomplishment. He’s also the first non-senior to take it since 2018-19. Overall, it marks only the third time a junior has won the hardware, and the 6th true guard to take it.