Jamari McIvory of Savannah Christian is the winner of the 71st Ashley Dearing Award as the most versatile male high school athlete in Savannah.
The senior is a star in football, track and field and basketball for the Raiders and he won the respected award in a vote of local high school athletic directors and media members. To be eligible for the award, an athlete must play football, basketball and a spring sport.
McIvory, a star defensive back who has signed to play football at Northern Illinois University, helped lead SCPS to the Class 3A state title game this season as he intercepted seven passes and made 32 tackles at free safety, while running for 297 yards with 90 yards receiving and eight total touchdowns. He was an All-Greater Savannah first-team selection as a defensive back.
In the state track and field meet last May, McIvory won the Class 3A 200 meters with a time of 21.65 and took another gold medal in the 400 meters (48.10) as he was named the All-Greater Savannah Male Track and Field Athlete of the Year. On Friday, he won Region 3-3A crowns in the 200 and 400 meters, and was second in the 100 meters as he prepares to defend his state titles.
He was also a standout in basketball for the Raiders, earning All-Region honors the last two seasons.
McIvory is the 10th Dearing Award winner from Savannah Christian and the first since Demetrius Robertson won it in 2016. Zayden Edwards of St. Andrew's was second in this year's voting, with La'Don Bryant of Benedictine and James Tisby of Beach finishing in a tie for third.
"I was surprised and happy at the same time when I heard that I won," McIvory said. "It means everything to me because of all the hard work I have put in since I was young. I think playing different sports is important because it shows your versatility."
SCPS football coach Baker Woodward said McIvory is a deserving recipient of the award.
"He's one of the best athletes in the state of Georgia," Woodward said. "And what separates Jamari from the others is his speed. He runs so smooth it doesn't even seem like he's going fast — then he just blows by everybody. In football, he led our team in interceptions and saved a lot of touchdowns with that speed. He was a great defender in basketball and that speed speaks for itself when he's on the track.
"And Jamari is such a great kid. He's quiet and humble and is a yes sir, no sir type of guy. We're going to miss him at Savannah Christian, but know he'll have a great career at Northern Illinois."
DEARING AWARD WINNERS
2023 — Jake Merklinger, Calvary Day
2022 — Mike Cabellero, Windsor Forest
2021 — Trent Broadnax, Benedictine
2020 — Gavin Stewart, Benedictine
2019 — Winston Wright, Memorial Day
2018 — Javonte Middleton, Jenkins
2017 — Calvin Turner, New Hampstead
2016 — Demetris Robertson, Savannah Christian
2015 — Brad Stewart, Benedictine
2014 — Brad Stewart, Benedictine
2013 — Paris Baker, Jenkins
2012 — Johnathon Chamblee, Savannah Christian
2011 — Dom DeMasi, Calvary Day
2010 — Dom DeMasi, Calvary Day
2009 — Jesse Morrell, Bethesda
2008 — John Moesch, Savannah Country Day
2007 — Scott Reed, Groves
2006 — Demarcus Dobbs, Calvary Day
2005 — Kellen Stanley, Savannah Christian
2004 — Sage Glasper, Groves
2003 — Joey Boaen, Savannah Country Day
2002 — Ben Patrick, Jenkins
2001 — Lamar Owens Jr., Benedictine
2000 — Danny McNamara, Benedictine
1999 — Rashad Chisholm, Savannah High
1998 — Kris Edge, Savannah Christian
1997 — Tommy McNamara, Benedictine
1996 — Terry Bryant, Johnson
1995 — Ronnie Rockett, Jenkins
1994 — Majiid Lanier, Beach
1993 — Bill Sparks, Savannah Country Day
1992 — Barry Kleinpeter, Calvary
1991 — Marcel Cooper, Groves
1990 — Lloyd Rowland, Savannah Christian
1989 — Pee Wee Kelley, Savannah Christian
1988 — Keith Jones, Savannah High
1987 — Corey Ladson, Tompkins
1986 — Lee Lane, Calvary Day
1985 — Peter Brennan, Benedictine
1984 — Earl Mason, Groves
1983 — Paul Jurgensen, Benedictine
1982 — Robbie White, Savannah Christian
1981 — Greg Amick, Savannah Country Day
1980 — Larry Brobst, Savannah Christian
1979 — Lamar Owens, Tompkins
1978 — Randy Lanier, Benedictine
1977 — Mark Grainger, Savannah Christian
1976 — Rufus Kelly, Savannah High
1975 — Ricky McBride, Groves
1974 — Shan Saunders, Savannah Country Day
1973 — Jo Jo White, Richard Arnold
1972 — Gene Dotson, Benedictine
1971 — Lawrence Maner, Benedictine
1970 — Bobby Reagan, Savannah Country Day
1969 — David Sasser, Groves
1968 — Joby Wright, Johnson
1967 — Julian Smiley, Savannah High
1966 — Peter Schmidt, Savannah Country Day
1965 — Roger Grove, Groves
1964 — Danny Sims, Savannah High
1963 — Dewey Warren, Jenkins
1962 — Tommy Brennan, Benedictine
1961 — Larry Patterson, Benedictine
1960 — Terry Tyler, Savannah High
1959 — Ronnie Braddock, Benedictine
1958 — Jimmy Miller, Savannah High
1957 — Tom Brown, Benedictine
1956 — Carlos Mobley, Savannah High
1955 — Charlie Moore, Benedictine
1954 — Elmer Lott, Savannah High
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Winner of the 71st Ashley Dearing Award as most versatile male athlete in Savannah announced
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