Three thousand points.
Ashland star Zander Carter surpassed that mind-boggling number as part of a dazzling high school basketball career culminating in him being named The Herald-Dispatch boys player of the year on the newspaperÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s All-Tri-State boys team.
The 6-foot-6 guard signed with Liberty University. He was a Mr. Basketball finalist in Kentucky after averaging 23.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game to lead the Tomcats to a 24-8 record and the Elite Eight of the state tournament.
Carter, though, is not about individual statistics.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œAll you have to do is watch him play, and youÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll know he puts team first,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Ashland coach Ryan Bonner said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s an elite player but also an elite leader. He can score from all three levels.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Carter heads a talented roster of scorers and defenders. He was selected player of the year over FairlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Brody Buchanan, Spring ValleyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Harrison Riggs, Boyd CountyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Jacob Spurlock and HurricaneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Carson OÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™Dell.
Buchanan, a 5-11 senior guard selected to play in the Ohio North-South all-star game, averaged 19.3 points, 4.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game to lead the Dragons to a 21-2 record and the Ohio Valley Conference championship. Buchanan, a premier defender, signed with the University of Rio Grande.
Riggs, a 6-3 junior guard, scored 23 points per game to help the Timberwolves to the semifinals of the WVSSAC Class AAAA state tournament and the Mountain State Athletic Conference title. Riggs also averaged 8.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Spurlock, a 6-4 junior guard, combined 24 points and 7.3 rebounds per game this season. He passed former Marshall University standout Frank Lee to become the LionsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ all-time leading scorer, with more than 2,400 points. Spurlock owns several scholarship offers from NCAA Division I programs.
OÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™Dell, a sharpshooting 6-3 junior guard, averaged 22 points and one steal per game while making 92% of his free throws. OÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™Dell wowed spectators with his acrobatic shots.
Ethan Blackburn, a 6-3 senior guard, of Cabell Midland committed to Waynesburg University after averaging 13.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals per contest.
Chesapeake 6-2 sophomore guard Maddox Kazee scored 18.5 points per game to lead the Panthers to the region semifinals. Kazee also contributed 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per outing.
Isaac Meddings became WayneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s all-time leading scorer and signed with Oakland City University. Meddings, a 6-1 senior guard, averaged 21.3 points. 5.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
Spring ValleyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Clay Robertson, a 6-2 guard, scored 22.1 points a game and grabbed 7.4 rebounds to go with 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals.
IrontonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Braden Schreck, a 6-3 senior guard, averaged 21 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 1.1 steal per game.
The second unit, too, is formidable.
Colton Caldwell of Spring Valley, Taviun Chandler of Huntington High, Jackson Childers and Cole Hicks of Boyd County, Caleb Clarke and Tyson LaLonde of Ashland, Owen Johnson of Coal Grove, Cade Mock of Gallia Academy, Kaden Perkins of Chesapeake and Ethan Smith of Symmes Valley form a squad with enough size and talent to rival the guard-oriented first team.
The coach of the year is Spring ValleyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Rick Chaffin, who guided the Timberwolves to a 20-3 record, their first conference title and second consecutive state tournament appearance. He edged Bonner, FairlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Nathan Speed, Huntington St. JoeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Todd Maynard and WayneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Sean Meddings for the honor.