The 5-foot-5 senior closed her career by scoring nearly 28 points per game and finishing second on the NCHSAA career scoring list. And after leading Sylva Smoky Mountain to a state championship, DeGraffenreid was named The Associated Press girls prep basketball player of the year for North Carolina.

DeGraffenreid also averaged 7.5 steals, 6.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists this season, helping Smoky Mountain (30-2) win its first state title despite missing six games with an elbow injury. In her final game, she scored 36 of 42 points after halftime in the 85-62 win against Graham in the Class 2-A final.

Dwight Jones has gotten plenty of attention for his big-play ability on the gridiron, where he became one of the nation's top recruits before signing with North Carolina.

The two-sport star averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds per game, leading Burlington Cummings to another state championship. His year of big performances was enough to make him boys player of the year.

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