Dan River’s Darren White named state Player of the Year

CHATHAM — It was a season of firsts for Darren White and the Dan River boys basketball team.

After claiming the program’s first Dogwood District regular season title and leading the team to its first appearance in the Group A Division 2 state championship game, White has been honored as the Group A Division 2 State Player of the Year.

“It’s a great accomplishment that I got that award,” White said Monday after the team was honored by the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors. “It’s a tremendous accomplishment, really. It’s the biggest accomplishment an individual can get — State Player of the Year — so, I’m just honored that I was chosen.”

White is the first Dan River basketball player to be awarded the highest honor in the state. It completes the trifecta of player of the year awards after the 6-foot-4 swingman was named tops in the Dogwood District and Region B.

The James Madison signee put up career highs in nearly every category in the 2008-09 season. His 19 points per game led the team and the Dogwood District. He paced the Wildcats in assists (86), rebounds (185) and steals (58).

Probably the most notable performance for White came in the Wildcats’ 77-69 state championship game loss to Radford. White scored 34 points, including 16 of the team’s 20 fourth-quarter points in a furious rally that came up just short in bringing the school its first ever basketball state championship.

White’s 17 made field goals were the second most in Dan River state history. Clarence Dickerson made 18 field goals in the Wildcats’ 91-76 loss to Blacksburg in the 1977 Group AA state semifinals.

“It’s an unbelievable accomplishment,” Dan River coach Jacob Gruse said. “To me, it’s just kind of puts the icing on the cake for his senior year and is a culmination of the three years that Darren’s had.”

White finished his career with 1,252 points, 472 rebounds, 178 assists and 140 steals. Twice he was named first-team All-Dogwood and he was named second-team All-Piedmont his sophomore year.

In a Jan. 20 game against Dogwood District and Pittsylvania County rival Chatham, White scored a career-high 43 points, which included his 1,000th career point.

In the regular season finale against the Cavaliers on Feb. 13, White scored 35 points in a 97-92 victory that secured Dan River its first regular season district title since 1978.

White posted career highs in steals against Lancaster when he stole seven passes during the Wildcats’ 63-60 comeback victory in the state quarterfinals. In an early season matchup with eventual Dogwood District runner-up Appomattox County, White recorded 12 assists in a 66-53 victory.

“You just couldn’t be more prouder,” Gruse said. “He’s a great representation of me as a coach, our team, our community, our school and I don’t know who else I could choose that could better represent Dan River.”

The 25 wins marked the most in a single season in Dan River history. And as the season was reaching it’s end, the tri-captain admitted that he gave up most of his personal goals to ensure that the team goals were met.

“It’s great. We always knew from the beginning of the season that this team was going to be special,” White said. “We thought we would be there, but it was just overwhelming when we got there. It’s really a great accomplishment that the whole team made and I’m just looking forward to next season at JMU and excited to see what the team after us will do next year.”