Juwan Tyus has gotten used to receiving honors and recognition over the past couple of years, and that list grew even longer after the Verbena senior was named The Clanton Advertiser’s 2017 Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

It was the second straight season in which Tyus was named the top player in Chilton County, and was well deserved following a monstrous season.

Tyus was a double-double machine and averaged 29.2 points and 17.9 rebounds per game.

His stats speak for themselves and were not only the best in the county and state, but also throughout the nation.

At one point during the season, Tyus led the nation throughout all classifications in rebounds per game. He finished the season second in rebounding and 30th in points.

“All the hard work both in the offseason and during the season really paid off,” Tyus said.

It was a rarity for Tyus to leave the floor during his junior and senior season, as he seemingly played every minute of every game.

“Knowing that my team needed me out there, just made me work more and more on my conditioning,” Tyus said.

A typical routine for Tyus included running one to two miles after practice had ended.

Tyus is part of the current senior class that has built quite the legacy during their time at Verbena.

The group has left their mark throughout the athletics program with back-to-back playoff appearances in football, as well as winning the area championship and hosting a playoff matchup in basketball.

“It couldn’t be any sweeter than happening my senior year,” Tyus said. I’m always going to look back home at what got me to where I’m at today. I’m going to miss all of it.”

Something that Tyus will always take pride in is the fact that he will graduate as the leading scorer in the history of the basketball program. He finished about 100 points shy of 2,000.

Tyus credits playing AAU travel basketball in eighth, ninth and 10th grades.

“I really began to get the concept of how to play basketball, and it excelled from there,” Tyus said.

He will be playing football under scholarship at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the fall, but may also have an opportunity to play two sports as a member of the basketball team as well.

 

 

All-County Basketball Team

 

First Team

Donte Davis, Chilton County, Sr., Guard

Christian Fortner, Thorsby, So., Guard

Wes McGehee, Jemison, Sr., Guard

Juwan Tyus, Verbena, Sr., Forward

Ryan Thompson, Jemison, Jr. Center

 

Second Team

Terence Dunlap, Maplesville, Sr. Guard

Will Johns, Jemison, Sr., Guard

Anthony Miller, Verbena, Sr., Guard

Mondez Jones, Chilton County, Jr., Forward

Bailey Sellers, Thorsby, Sr., Center