Seven Nashville high school basketball players honored at Nipper/Hancock Sportsmanship Awards

George Robinson, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

The Nashville Civitan Club recognized seven high school basketball players from the Davidson County area during its annual Nipper/Hancock Basketball Sportsmanship awards presentation Wednesday at Swett's Restaurant.

Hillsboro's Malachi Tate and Kamil Washum were joined by East Nashville's Jacolby Summers and Kenya-Seoul Fairs, Nashville Christian's Grayson Bond, Hillwood's Josiah Owen-Beason and Goodpasture's Xaiver Robinson were recognized as awards recipients. Goodpasture coach Adam Sonn was named Nipper/Hancock coach of the year.

The award is named after former Metro Nashville Public Schools principal A.D. Hancock and former Nashville Sports Goods owner Walter Nipper.

"I love to celebrate a kid like the ones this award represents," said Metro Nashville Schools' middle and elementary school director of athletics, Roosevelt Sanders. "These are kids that don't get the limelight and may not always get the attention, but every coach will tell you if they didn't have this player on their team, their team couldn't function."

Sonn is fresh off leading Goodpasture to its second Division II-A state championship in the last three years when the Cougars beat Notre Dame, 59-48, last month in Cookeville.

"On behalf of Goodpasture and across Davidson County and all the schools represented here, it's great because the girls and boys exemplify what you'd want from a championship member on the court but even more so off the court," Sonn said.

The seven recipients of the 2023 Nipper/Hancock Basketball Sportsmanship award includes (left to right), Hillwood's Josiah Owen-Beason, Goodpasture's Xavier Robinson, Hillsboro's Malachi Tate and Kamil Washum, East Nasvhille's Kenya-Seoul Fairs, Nashville Christian's Grayson Bonds and East Nashville's Jacolby Summers.
The seven recipients of the 2023 Nipper/Hancock Basketball Sportsmanship award includes (left to right), Hillwood's Josiah Owen-Beason, Goodpasture's Xavier Robinson, Hillsboro's Malachi Tate and Kamil Washum, East Nasvhille's Kenya-Seoul Fairs, Nashville Christian's Grayson Bonds and East Nashville's Jacolby Summers.

Hillsboro coach Rodney Thweatt introduced Malachi Tate who was a member of the Burros' District 11-4A title team and helped guide Hillsboro to the Class 4A state semifinal last month.

Lady Burros coach Cherish Stringfield brought guard Kamil Washum who helped her team captured a district tournament title and a region championship and sectional appearance.

East Nashville girls coach Kyle Upton and athletics director Marvin Olige introduced Faris and Summers. The Lady Eagles were the District 8-2A champs while Avery Patton guided his boys team to an undefeated regular season, including a district tournament crown.

Nashville Christian's Dustin Patton honored guard Grayson Bonds while Hillwood coach Pete Froedden introduced Owen-Beason.

"We incorporate a lot of community service and these kids do a lot in their community," Sanders said. "So you add to what they mean to their coaches and teammates, that's what makes them invaluable and we we celebrate them."

Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Seven Nashville area players honored at Nipper/Hancock Sportsmanship awards