Senior staff writer
Beech Grove coach Matt English and Center Grove standout Trayce Jackson-Davis are a part of this year’s Indiana Junior All-Star basketball team.
Jackson-Davis, a 6-9 power forward, is among six core players on the 24-member team. He helped in leading the Trojans to a 20-7 season and to the Seymour regional championship game against New Albany.
A prime contender for the 2019 Mr. Basketball honor, he is listed as the nation’s 25th-ranked high school prospect in the nation by ESPN.com and No. 28 by Rivals.com. He is sought by several Big Ten teams, including Purdue and Indiana, as well as Butler, among others.
English, who also serves as athletic director, was named head coach of the team.
English completed his ninth season with a 19-6 record as the Hornets reached a 3A sectional championship game against Danville for the second straight season. English is 50-13 during his past three seasons.
The Junior All-Stars play the Indiana All-Stars June 6 and face the Kentucky Junior All-Stars June 1 in the Bluegrass State and June 2 in Indiana, sites to be determined.
He also was named an Indiana Basketball Coaches Association District 2 Coach of the Year. He has a 110-108 record at Beech Grove and previously coached at Huntington (Tenn.) and Seegar.
English, who continues to battle brain cancer, and wife Angela support Coaches vs. Cancer with an annual night to celebrate and honor cancer survivors at halftime of a home game.
The Marion County Basketball Coaches Association recently held an all-star game at Beech Grove to raise funds for Relay for Life.
Players named to all-conference teams:
• Indiana Crossroads – Kenny Washington, Jomar Seals, Jayln Curry, Beech Grove.
• Mid-State – Jeffrey Reynolds, Brayden Kincaid, Eric Moenkhaus, Greenwood.
• Circle City – Kellen Schreiber, Jack Hegwood, Roncalli.
• Conference Indiana – Semaj Danley, Perry Meridian; Brevin Jefferson, Southport; Isiah Morgan, Franklin Central.
• Mid-State Coach of the Year: Joe Bradburn, Greenwood.