Norcom's Finney-Smith is Player of the Year

Norcom junior Dorian Finney-Smith was named The Associated Press' Group AAA Boys Basketball Player of the Year, and Greyhounds coach Leon Goolsby was named AP Coach of the Year.

They helped Norcom become the first Portsmouth team to win a Group AAA state basketball title.

Finney-Smith, a 6-foot-7 forward, finished with 17 points, 16 rebounds and five blocked shots n Norcom's 55-54 come-from-behind victory over favored Petersburg in the title game.

"Any recognition we get is off our team's success," said Goolsby, who guided the Greyhounds to a 25-4 record. "It's more than an individual award; it's a team award."

Goolsby, Finney-Smith and the Greyhounds get a chance to defend their title next season.

Finney-Smith averaged 19.7 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks.

He also was the Virginia High School Coaches Association State Player of the Year and the All-Tidewater Player of the Year.

Finney-Smith is one of the top prospects in the Class of 2011. He was named to the ESPN RISE All-American team and is ranked No. 17 overall nationally by MaxPreps.

Finney-Smith was joined on the first team by King's Fork senior Davante Gardner who signed with Marquette. Maury junior Sim Frazier was named to the second team.

Gardner, a 6-8 center, led all South Hampton Roads Group AAA players with 23 points per game and averaged 13 rebounds and three blocks.

The All-Tidewater selection helped lead the Bulldogs to the Southeastern District regular-season and tournament titles.

The 5-11 Frazier, a first-team All-Tidewater selection, averaged 15.6 points and three assists.

His season-high 31 points helped the Commodores upset defending state champion King's Fork in the Eastern Region quarterfinals and eventually led Maury to the Group AAA state tournament.

RICHMOND — The Associated Press Group AAA girls basketball team, and the player and coach of the year, as selected by media members throughout the state:

FIRST TEAM

Dorian Finney-Smith, I.C. Norcom, 6-7, junior

Travis McKie, John Marshall, 6-7, senior

Davante Gardner, King's Fork, 6-8, senior

Max Lenox, W.T. Woodson, 6-1, senior

Du'Vaughn Maxwell, Petersburg, 6-6, senior

SECOND TEAM

Justin Burrell, Potomac, 5-8, senior

Skylar Jones, Mount Vernon, 6-4, senior

Antonio Harris Jr., J.E.B. Stuart, 6-3, senior

Sim Frazier, Maury, 5-11, junior

Dimitri Batten, Kecoughtan, 6-3, senior

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Dorian Finney-Smith, I.C. Norcom

COACH OF THE YEAR

Leon Goolsby, I.C. Norcom

Larry Rubama (757) 446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com