TIFTON — Cordell Nelson is only a sophomore, but he is already figuring into Region 1-6A’s biggest awards.

Nelson was recently named Co-Defensive Player of the Year for the region after the Blue Devils finish second in the standings during the regular season and made their 32nd consecutive state tournament.

Official stats have Nelson averaging 7.0 rebounds per game and 2.0 blocks per game through 26 contests. The 6-foot-7 forward also had 0.7 steals per night. That is in addition to averaging 7.21 points per game, with a high of 17 at Westover in December.

Nelson was the only Tift player to feature in any major awards for boys or girls this year, but the Blue Devils and Lady Devils did have several first-team selections.

J.J. Lamar, Kaden Lawson and Jalaya Miller all earned first-team.

Miller led the Lady Devils with 334 points this year, averaging 14.52 per contest. Needing 380 points this season to reach 1,000, Miller nearly did it, finishing only 46 short.

Lamar was a major revelation for the Devils in his senior year, which saw him lead the squad in scoring at 11.57 per game. He really excelled after Christmas, with three games of 23 points or more. His career high saw him score 29 points against Lowndes in the region semifinals.

Lawson, a junior, scored at a rate of 8.68 points per game. His best was also 17, scored at Coffee. Like Nelson, he was a force defensively, with 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per contest.

Mackenzie Holliday and Amiya Jordan made the second team with Jaziyah Johnson earning honorable mention. All three were first-year starters for Tift.

No other Blue Devils made the all-region list. Coach of the Year was Lowndes’ Reshon Benjamin and Player of the Year was Jabarri Williams of Valdosta.

Sharing Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors with Nelson was Isaiah Camon of Lowndes. Offensive Player of the Year went to LHS’ Kam Jackson. Colquitt County had Newcomer of the Year (Marcus Moore) and Impact Player of the Year (Kanilyn Jones).

Individual honors for the girls saw Lowndes’ Courtney Fleming named Coach of the Year. Player of the Year went to Kaci Demps of Lowndes; Offensive Player of the Year to Colquitt’s Amira Walters-Smith and Defensive Player of the Year to Mmekom Inyang of Richmond Hill.