Isaac McKneely ended his career at Poca High School atop West Virginia’s high school basketball mountain.
Not only did the 6-foot-4 senior lead his team to a Class AA state championship, he was named West Virginia Men’s Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year and won the Evans Award – the West Virginia Sports Writers Association Player of the Year designation – for the second year in a row.
McKneely received another honor for the second straight year by being named captain of the All-State Class AA men’s basketball team, as voted by the WVSWA. This is the third time McKneely has been a first-team All-State selection.
McKneely, who will play at the University of Virginia starting in the fall, averaged 22.1 points and 6.0 rebounds for the Dots this year, shooting 53.6% from the floor and hitting 79.3% from the floor. his free throws.
A four-year-old starter, McKneely played 92 games in which Poca compiled a 79-13 record. During his career, he scored 1,910 points with a 50% shooting percentage and he had 437 rebounds and 308 assists.
“Obviously it’s a great honor considering all the great players at West Virginia State,” McKneely said. “A lot of choices and choosing me is a great blessing. I truly appreciate it. I’m reflecting on all the hard work I’ve put in and I’m glad it’s finally starting to pay off.
“What stands out about Isaac is that he’s very selfless,” Poca coach Allen Osborne said. “I think that shows a lot of people that you don’t have to score 30 points a game to be All-State team captain. He was an all-around player. He was an all-around player. team. “
McKneely led Poca to a 26-1 record and its first state title since 2015 and third in program history (1997).
In the Class AA state title game against Bluefield, McKneely scored a game-high 22 points with four 3-pointers to lead Poca to a 65-48 victory. He said being named All-State team captain is even nicer now that he’s a state champion.
“Being state champion, there’s nothing like it,” he said. “It was my dream ever since I stepped foot on a basketball court in high school. I failed the year before and my freshman and sophomore year, we were beaten in the elite eight, so to finally get over the hump and win a state championship with my team is truly a great honor.
McKneely is joined by a deserving first-team cast. Bluefield’s Caleb Fuller faced McKneely and the Dots in the Class AA State Title game. Fuller led Bluefield with 16 points in the title game loss.
Fuller earned first-team honors after averaging 18.1 points, 2.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds. He hit 60 3-point shots this season.
South Harrison junior Corey Boulden captured statewide attention this season by breaking a school-record 10 3-pointers and scoring 58 points in a 100-49 win Feb. 5 over Roane County. He averaged 25 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.7 steals this season and drained 74 3-point shots.
Charleston’s second Catholic student, Jayallen Turner, also earned first-team honors. In his 24 games, he averaged 17 points and 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.7 steals. He shot 55.7% from the field.
St. Marys’ Little Kanawha Conference Player of the Year Grant Barnhart also made the first team. The senior is the Blue Devils’ all-time leading scorer with 1,729 points.
He had 24.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game and scored 33 points and had 15 rebounds in his two state tournament games to earn all-tournament honors.
Wyoming East senior Tanner Whitten, who averaged nearly a double-double with 20.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, made the first team as he helped the Warriors advance for the state tournament.
Magnolia senior Trevor Williamson scored 18 points per game heading into the state tournament and scored his 100th career point Feb. 11 against Weir while on the first team.
Ravenswood’s Matthew Carte made some noise in the state tournament, scoring 24 points in two games and helping his team to the semi-finals before losing to eventual champion Poca. He was named to the first team after averaging 18.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.1 steals. He has totaled 73 interceptions this season and has shot 55% from the field.
Bluefield’s second student, RJ Hairston, was named second team captain. He was joined by Poca senior Jackson Toney, Buffalo junior Caleb Nutter, Clay County senior Curtis Litton, Liberty Raleigh senior Adam Drennen, Ritchie County junior Ethan Haught, Williamstown Junior Alex Irvin and Chapmanville sophomore Zion Blevins.
CLASS AA BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM
first team
Grant Barnhart, St. Marys, 6-4, 185, Sr.
Corey Boulden, South Harrison, 6-4, 171, Jr.
Matthew Carte, Ravenswood, 6-1, 175, Jr.
Caleb Fuller, Bluefield, 6-1, 170, Jr.
Isaac McKneely, Poca, 6-4, 175, Sr. (captain)
Jayallen Turner, Charleston Catholic, 6-3, 165, Soph.
Tanner Whitten, East Wyoming, 6-5, 190, Sr.
Trevor Williamson, Magnolia, 6-2, 175, Sr.
second team
Sion Blevins, Chapmanville, 6-6, 175, Soph.
Adam Drennen, Liberty, 6-5, 190, Sr.
RJ Hairston, Bluefield 6-3, 185, Soph. (Captain)
Ethan Haught, Ritchie County, 6-1, 175, Jr.
Alex Irvin, Williamstown, 6-5, 165, Jr.
Curtis Litton, Clay County, 6-7, 200, Sr.
Caleb Nutter, Buffalo, 5-9, 178, Jr.
Jackson Toney, Poca, 6-2, 175, Sr.
Honorable mention
Noah Burnside, South Harrison; Tucker Cook, East Wyoming; DJ Coomes, Braxton County; Brody Dalton, Chapmanville; Layne Epling, Roane; Chance Johnson, Bluefield; Conner Hoover, Wirt County; Jon McComas, Catholic from Charleston; Adam McGhee, Liberty; Kambel Meeks, Poca; Ashton Miller, Ravenswood; Garrett Mitchell, East Wyoming; Toby Payne, Poca; Hayden Pyles, Magnolia; Luke Powell, St. Marys; Isaiah Smith, Chapmanville
