RUTHERFORDTON - Rutherford County is more than just a stop between Christ School and Charlotte, a road trip that Greenies know all too well.
Rutherford has given us Dacen Petty ’26 and before him, Mikey Wilkins ’25, who was named the Charlotte Observer Mr. Basketball State Player of the Year for North Carolina on Thursday.
This is a legacy-making award that has only been won once before by a Christ School player. Previous winner Mason Plumlee ’09 (Phoenix Suns) is still active in the NBA – the longest professional career by any Western Noth Carolina high school graduate.
Mikey was arguably the best player on the floor in every game the three-time reigning NCISAA 4-A state champion Greenies (28-3) played this past season. He led the team in scoring (15.6 points per game), rebounding (8.0 rpg.), and blocks (1.0 bpg.).
The 6-foot-9, 243-pound center/forward had a size advantage on most teams that Christ School faced, but really showed his versatility in last week’s Nike Invitational Postseason Tournament, largely playing from the perimeter and raining 3-pointers.
Mikey will graduate as a two-time Carolinas Athletic Association Player of the Year and NCISAA 4-A all-state selection. He is one of 23 players nationwide to be invited to the (Allen) Iverson Classic All-American Game on May 3 in Hampton, Va.
He also played in the N.C. Private School All-Star game along with Madden Collins '25 earlier this month.