King Cotton Holiday Classic 2023: Top performers, all-tournament teams and final scores

The King Cotton Holiday Classic wrapped up late Friday night following three days of basketball featuring 24 games

The always highly-anticipated King Cotton Classic tipped off Wednesday at the Pine Bluff Convention Center and concluded Friday night after playing eight games apiece over those three days. 

Gonzaga (D.C.) took home the King Cotton Classic championship trophy with a 76-72 win over Westminster (Fla.). 

𝐀 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍𝐄𝐃 👑
.
.@GonzagaHoops 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 🏀🫡 pic.twitter.com/0X5hdZXRDK

— The King Cotton Holiday Classic (@TheKingCottonHC) December 30, 2023

30 blue-chip players from coast-to-coast took part in the event that included local Arkansas Razorbacks targets Terrion Burgess (Benton), JJ Andrews (Little Rock Christian) and Jai'Chaunn Hayes (White Hall).

Below are the top performers, followed by the All-Tournament teams and each score from all 24 matchups. 

Pine Bluff head coach Billy Dixon talks with University of Missouri football signee Courtney Crutchfield during the Zebras' game against Duncanville on Wednesday. (Photo by Justin Manning)

JJ Andrews, Little Rock (Ark.) Christian 

The sophomore averaged 19.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2 blocks per game, including a double-double (33 points - varsity career high, 19 rebounds) in the Warriors' one-point overtime loss to Booker T. Washington.

Jalil Bethea, Archbishop Wood (Pa.) 

The University of Miami (Fla.) signee averaged 23 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2.3 steals per game. 

Landren Blocker, Little Rock Christian  

The Louisiana Tech University signee averaged 13 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 steals. 

Annor Boateng, Little Rock (Ark.) Central 

The University of Missouri signee averaged 22 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists per game, including a 34-point performance against Westminster. 

Amari Brown, Sandy Creek (Ga.)

The senior averaged 16 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1 steal. 

Terrion Burgess, Benton (Ark.) 

The junior averaged 24 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists per game, including 33 points in the double overtime loss to Archbishop Wood. 

Odis Carter, Booker T. Washington (Texas) 

The senior averaged 19.3 points and 4.6 assists per game. 

Alex Constanza, Westminster Academy (Fla.) 

The sophomore averaged 17 points and 10.5 rebounds. 

Courtney Crutchfield, Pine Bluff (Ark.) 

The University of Missouri signee averaged over 25.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals. Crutchfield joined Kaleb Higgins as the only Zebra to averag 30 points through the first two games of the tournament. 

Derek Dixon, Gonzaga (D.C.)

The junior averaged 18.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. 

Kayden Edwards, Duncanville (Texas) x

The junior averaged 30.7 points, 4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, highlighted by a 41-point performance on Duncanville's win over Silsbee.  

Randy Emerson, Pine Bluff

The senior averaged 16 points and 7 rebounds. 

Camren Fleming, St. Frances (Md.)

The junior averaged 16.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1 steal. 

Keenan Gray, McDonough (Ga.)

The senior averaged 20.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals. 

Deriyon Graydon, Pine Bluff 

The junior averaged 17 points and 10.3 rebounds. 

Christian Gurdak, Gonzaga 

The junior averaged 15 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2 blocks. 

Jared Harris, Silsbee (Texas) 

The senior averaged 23.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. 

Jai'Chaunn Hayes, White Hall (Ark.)

The junior averaged 19 points, 9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. 

Sam Johnson, Booker T. Washington 

The junior averaged 11.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.3 assists. 

Nyk Lewis, Gonzaga 

The junior averaged 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1 steal. 

Alex Lloyd, Westminster 

The junior averaged 18.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals. 

Chris McDermott, Booker T. Washington 

The senior averaged 28.3 points, 16.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals. His double-double games included 31 points, 14 rebounds, 28 points, 16 rebounds and 26 points, 20 rebounds. 

Drelon Miller, Silsbee 

The University of Colorado football signee averaged 17.3 points, 2,8 rebounds and 1.3 assists. 

Luke Moore, Little Rock Central 

The junior averaged 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per game. 

Harrison Pickett, Benton 

The junior averaged 9 points, 9 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 3 assists, including a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) in Bentons double overtime loss to Archbishop Wood. 

Jeremiah Police, Westminster Academy 

The senior averaged 15.5 points and 8 rebounds. 

Julius Price, St. Joseph (Calif.)

The sophomore averaged 22.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists. 

BJ Davis-Ray, Duncanville  

The junior averaged 19 points and 7 rebounds.

Josh Reed, Archbishop Wood 

The senior averaged 26 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4 steals. 

Julius Price, St. Joseph (Calif.)

The sophomore averaged 22.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

Nigel Thomas, McDonough (Ga.)

The junior averaged 12 points and 4.6 rebounds.

Clyde Walters, Pinson Valley (Ala.) 

The sophomore averaged 18.3 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.

Tounde Yessoufou, St. Joseph 

The junior put up 46 points, an all-time tournament single game record, in St. Joseph's win over Duncanville. For the tournament, Yessoufou averaged 33 points with 9.3 rebounds and scored no less than 25 points in a contest. He was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Tounde Yessoufou - St. Joseph

FIRST TEAM

Courtney Crutchfield - Pine Bluff

Chris McDermott - Booker T. Washington 

Nyk Lewis - Gonzaga 

Terrion Burgess - Benton 

Kayden Edwards - Duncanville 

SECOND TEAM

Derek Dixon - Gonzaga College 

Alex Lloyd - Westminster Academy 

Jalil Bethea - Archbishop Wood 

Josh Reed - Archbishop Wood

JJ Andrews - Little Rock Christian 

THIRD TEAM

Jared Harris - Silsbee 

Annor Boateng - Little Rock Central 

Alex Constanza - Westminster Academy 

Cam Fleming - St. Frances 

Christian Gurdak - Gonzaga College 

DAY ONE RESULTS

McDonough 58 Benton 57

Silsbee 78 Pinson Valley 68

Sandy Creek 66 White Hall 50

Westminster Academy 58 Little Rock Christian 43

Gonzaga 68 St. Joseph 48 

St. Frances 83 Booker T. Washington 78

Pine Bluff 84 Duncanville 79

Little Rock Central 68 Archbishop Wood 62

DAY TWO RESULTS 

Pinson Valley 48 White Hall 45

Benton 71 Silsbee 65

Booker T. Washington 79 Archbishop Wood 77

Little Rock Christian 65 McDonough 50

St. Joseph 94 Duncanville 77

St. Frances 60 Sandy Creek 46

Gonzaga 91 Pine Bluff 70

Westminster Academy 62 Little Rock Central 45 

DAY THREE RESULTS 

McDonough 64 White Hall 38 

Sandy Creek 58 Pinson Valley 50 

Duncanville 90 Silsbee 85

Archbishop Wood 89 Benton 82 (double overtime) 

Booker T. Washington 80 Little Rock Christian 79 (overtime)

St. Joseph 57 Little Rock Central 36 

Gonzaga 76 Westminster 72 *CHAMPIONSHIP GAME*

Pine Bluff 64 St. Frances 57

(Cover photo by Justin Manning)

– Kyle Sutherland | @k_sutherlandAR