At 1-singles, you get every team’s best shot. Sam Ledford delivered for Banks County as an almost automatic, and takes BLITZ POY honors.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

20-3 Record
40-7 in Sets

Going 20-3 overall at 1-singles against every team’s toughest opponent, Ledford more than earns the distinction. He was 40-7 this season in sets played overall in the process.

VOTING RESULTS

1. Sam Ledford – 47.5 pts (8 1st-place votes)
2. TJ Cox – 39.5 pts (4)
3. Josh Burris – 24 pts (1)
4. Robbie Fountain/Brady Darnell – 21 pts
5. Clayton Jones – 13.5 pts
6. Jaron Jones – 10.5 pts

Voting included our 13-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

Sam Ledford dominated with eight 1st-place votes, though TJ Cox of TFS had four as a close second. Josh Burris for Hab Central grabbed the only other 1st-place vote.

HISTORY OF TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• 2025 – Sam Ledford – Banks County JR #1 Singles
• 2024 – Will & Jack McKinney – Lumpkin County SR/JR #1 Doubles
• 2023 – Tanner Davis – Tallulah Falls SO #1 Singles
• 2022 – Kevin Wonders – Habersham Central FR #3 Singles
• 2021 – Kenny Colwell – Stephens County SR #2 Singles
• 2020 – Marcus Berninger – Jefferson SR #1 Singles
• 2019 – Marcus Berninger – Jefferson JR #1 Singles
• 2018 – Gabe Martin – Banks County SR #1 Singles
• 2017 – Trey Wilcox – Tallulah Falls SR #1 Singles
• 2016 – Trey Wilcox – Rabun County JR #1 Singles
• 2015 – Trey Wilcox – Rabun County SO #1 Singles
• 2014 – Justin Yang/Gatlin Boswell – Banks County SR #2 Doubles
• 2013 – Bobby Nguyen – Banks County JR #3 Singles
• 2012 – Jake Schaefer – Banks County JR #1 Singles
• 2011 – Will Jarrard – Lumpkin County SR #1 Singles
• 2010 – Thomas Flowers – White County SR #1 Singles

Ledford becomes the fifth Banks County award winner, but first since Gabe Martin in 2018. The award favors #1 singles players, as 11 all-time have won it from that line. He’s the sixth junior to win the hardware, and now can become a rare repeat winner if he does it again next year. If so, he’d be jus the third to accomplish that feat.

WHO WILL WIN IT NEXT YEAR?