For the first time in history, a player from Canton High School has been named Mississippi Boys Gatorade Player of the Year.
Jamarion Davis-Fleming was announced Thursday as the 2024-25 winner of the prestigious award, which has seen Mississippi greats like Devin Booker, Al Jefferson, Rodney Hood, and Malik Newman, among others, hoist.
Davis-Fleming, a 6-foot-9 senior weighing in at 210 pounds, led the Tigers to a 21-10 overall record and an appearance in the MHSAA 5A state championship game. He averaged 25 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks per game along the way.
Winning 5A Mr. Basketball twice in a row, Davis-Fleming was always an X-factor to consider for opposing coaches. Even with the extra attention he drew on the court, the Canton big man was rarely slowed down.
“Fleming does a great job of utilizing his size and skill set,” Cleveland Central head coach James Strong said. “He came back this year with a younger team and battled through the early part of the season, but a champion will rise to the top when it matters most.”
Off the court, Davis-Fleming is also a star. He has maintained a 3.18 GPA while volunteering locally in multiple capacities. From setting up tents at Juneteenth celebrations to speaking to students at elementary schools about making positive choices, Davis-Fleming has consistently given back to the community he calls home – something Gatorade takes into account when choosing its player of the year.
“As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner,” a press release from Gatorade noted. “To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $5.6 million in grants to winners across more than 2,000 organizations.”
Davis-Fleming is committed to continuing his playing career at Mississippi State University. Assuming they do not declare for the NBA Draft or transfer after the current season, he will team up with former Mississippi Gatorade Players of the Year Josh Hubbard (2022-23) and EJ Paymon (2023-24).
On the girl’s side, Hernando High School junior Fran Kelly was named Mississippi Girls Gatorade Player of the Year. The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 26 points, four rebounds, three assists, and four steals per game when leading the Tigers to a 22-7 record and an appearance in the MHSAA 7A quarterfinals. She has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom.
