Sophomore sensation Gaven Sears is a two-way (maybe even a 3-way talent)…we’ll explain in a moment. The Banks County star had a breakout season that saw him lead the Leopards to a region title and rack up the stats and accolades along the way.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• .400 AVG (40 Hits), 5 HR, 23 RBI
• 12 2B, 17 BB, 8 K
• 8-1, 1.84 ERA, 80 K
• 53.1 IP, 1.219 WHIP, .176 BAA

Take a great, long look at these numbers. In 127 plate appearances, Sears hit .400 with 40 hits. He showed contact ability, striking out only 8 times all season. He showed patience, garnering 17 walks. He showed power, with 12 doubles and 5 homeruns to go with 23 RBI. On the mound, he was 8-1 with a minuscule 1.84 ERA across 53.1 innings, striking out 80 batters. That’s more than a batter per inning. He avoided bats, as opponents hit just .176 off him, and he registered a 1.219 WHIP. And…he can catch and play the hot corner. So to have a guy that can hit (for average and power), pitch, and catch…that’s a rarity.

VOTING RESULTS

1. Gaven Sears – 46.25 pts (5 1st-place votes)
2. Danny Grant – 38.75 (5)
3. Judd Spear – 25.75 pts (3)
4. Sawyer Bearden – 19 pts (1)
5. Cole Bonitatibus – 17.5 pts
6. Eston Simpson – 14 pts
7. Kade Nicholson – 9 pts
8. Konner Burrell – 4.75 pts

Voting included our 14-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

Sears and Danny Grant both picked up 5 1st-place votes, though Sears won out with a finalist-best 6 2nd-place votes as well. Teammate Judd Spear took a few 1st-place votes also, and Sawyer Bearden had one.

HISTORY OF BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• 2024 – Gaven Sears – Banks County SO P/C/3B
• 2023 – Julian Horner – Dawson County JR OF
• 2022 – Hampton Hutto – Commerce JR 1B/DH
• 2021 – Brady Wilson – Rabun County SR C/P
• 2020 – Hudson Sapp – Dawson County SR OF/P
• 2019 – Hudson Sapp – Dawson County JR OF/P
• 2018 – Palmer Sapp – Dawson County SR SS/P
• 2017 – Kooper Briley – Stephens County SR SS
• 2016 – Tucker Maxwell – Dawson County SR OF
• 2015 – Joseph Mancuso – Union County JR P/1B
• 2014 – Spencer Adams – White County SR P/SS
• 2013 – Brett Westmoreland – White County SR 1B
• 2012 – Zach Wall – Hayesville JR P/SS
• 2011 – David Sosebee – White County SR P/3B
• 2010 – David Sosebee – White County JR P/3B

Sears is the first to be listed at 3 positions to win POY. He’s the first Banks County player to win it, and the first sophomore ever as well. He makes the 5th different winner in a row, but has the chance to become only the third player to ever win it more than once if he can do so.