Lancaster’s Jordan Watford is The Herald’s boys’ basketball player of the year

Jordan Watford and his coach, Jerron Cauthen, wanted another shot at a state championship, after losing in the title game two years ago.

And the Lancaster High duo reached that goal, winning the 4A boys’ basketball state title earlier this month over North Augusta.

Watford, leading scorer on the Bruins’ team, is the Rock Hill Herald’s boys’ basketball player of the year.

And Cauthen, who guided the Bruins to a 27-1 season, is The Herald’s boys’ basketball coach of the year.

In addition, the Herald has named 10 players to its all-star team for the 2024-25 season. Eight different schools are represented on the first and second teams.

Watford, a Queens commit, had several Division I offers and was the highest-ranked recruit in Lancaster High history. His parents, Eric Watford and Greta McIlwain, were college basketball players, and Jordan began playing the sport at a young age.

In addition to his basketball talents, Watford is an excellent student who took some college classes in his senior year of high school.

“He’s just a leader,” Cauthen said of his senior standout. “And most importantly, he loves basketball.”

The same could be said for Cauthen, who has coached the Bruins to a 96-20 record in four seasons.

He is a Morris College graduate who did postgrad work at Liberty. His 2024-25 team went unbeaten against South Carolina opposition, losing only to national powerhouse Dynamic Prep, of Irving, Texas.

Player of the year: Jordan Watford, Lancaster, Sr., 6-5 ... A Queens commit, Watford earned all-state honors in leading his team to the 4A state championship. Along the way, he averaged 22.1 points and 7.5 rebounds.

Coach of the year: Jerron Cauthen, Lancaster ... In four years at the helm, Cauthen’s teams have gone 96-20. But this year’s squad finished 27-1 and won the 4A state championship. It was the school’s first 4A title in 75 years.

First team

Ry’Darius Hill, South Pointe, Sr., 6-6 ... Hill had 20 double-doubles, shot nearly 60 percent from the floor, and averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds a contest.

Gavin Hood, Great Falls, Jr., 5-11 ... The 1A co-player of the year in South Carolina, Hood averaged 22 points a game and also was an excellent rebounder for his size, with 6.1 boards per game.

Mike Jones, Indian Land, Jr., 5-10 ... Jones led an Indian Land team that set a school single-season record for victories (24) and hosted a playoff game for the first time in more than a decade. He averaged 22.4 points a game and was named to the 5A all-state team.

Logan Parker, Fort Mill, Sr., 6-2 ... One of two Yellow Jackets to earn all-state honors, Parker averaged 15 points and five rebounds a game for a Fort Mill team that captured a region championship.

Brycen Redmon, Westminster Catawba, Sr., 6-1 ... Redmon was the heart of his team’s offense, averaging 19.7 points a game. He was named most valuable player of the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association’s all-star game.

Second team

Nas Berry, Fort Mill, Sr., 6-2 ... an all-state selection, Berry scored 13.4 points a contest. He earned all-state honors and was considered to be among the best defenders in the state.

Columbus Parker, Lancaster, Jr., 6-2 ... He was the No. 2 scorer (14.6 ppg) on a state-championship team. He shot 49 percent from the floor and hit 81 percent of his free throws.

Bryce Peterson, Andrew Jackson, Sr., 6-1 ... Peterson was 2A co-player of the year in South Carolina after averaging 15.7 points a game and leading his team to the state semifinals.

Treven Raymon, South Pointe, Jr., 6-8 ... With 15.9 points and 7.4 rebounds a game, Raymon gives Stallion fans high hopes for next season. He was an all-state selection.

Antwon Young, York Prep, Jr., 6-4 ... Young was an all-state selection after averaging 18 points a game. He became the first player in school history to reach the 1,000-point mark for his career.