By JARRID McCORMICK
HD Media
The two-time reigning state champion Tug Valley Panthers were well represented on the 2025 Class A All-State Boys Basketball Team as they had three players land on the First Team, including the Captain in junior guard Braydun Ferris.
Ferris, who was also named the Class A State Tournament MVP after Tug Valley’s 65-45 win over Tucker County two weeks ago, was joined on the First Team by a pair of senior teammates in Kaden Hale and Ashton Davis.
“I’m blessed to have had all three of them,” Tug Valley head coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson said. “I’m so happy for those kids. They definitely deserve it. Tug Valley High School doesn’t win back-to-back state championships if not for Braydun, Kaden, and Ashton.”
Ferris landed a spot on the First Team for the second consecutive season and was also named to the Class A All-Tournament Team for the third year in a row.
“It’s really great. I’ve always dreamed of being the first team all-state captain. It’s like all my dreams are coming true,” Ferris said.
The junior finished the season averaging 19 points a game to go with six assists and two steals a game. He improved all of those numbers in Tug Valley’s three state tournament games averaging 24.3 points on 29-46 shooting from the floor, including 5-9 from 3, along with seven assists and 2.7 steals.
“Braydun has really grown and developed over the past three years. Since Braydun became our point guard our record is 70-12,” coach Thompson. “He’s such a smart player, and he sees the floor so well. He has a great feel for the game.
“What I really liked from the state tournament was his 3-point shooting. He really shot the thing with some confidence. And when he’s shooting it well from 3, that just opens up the driving lanes. But also defensively his hands are so quick. I couldn’t tell you how many times he would rip the ball out of the other teams hands and get layups. He was just a dominant force.”
Ferris was also pleased to see his teammates recognized, especially the seniors Hale and Davis getting a spot on the First Team.
“We’ve played together our whole lives, since about the second grade. It’s really emotional seeing them go,” Ferris said of Davis and Hale.
Hale made the jump up to the First Team after a Second Team nod as a junior, after a year in which he averaged 12 points a game and was the team’s top 3-point shooter hitting 50 trifectas at a 42 percent clip.
“Kaden is such an excellent shooter. And I tell you what I really liked about Kaden at the state tournament, he was really driving to the rim and finishing at the basket,” Thompson said of Hale. “He will be hard to replace next year, because outside shooting opens up driving lanes.”
Davis capped off a four-year Tug Valley career with a spot on the First Team after a strong showing in Charleston which saw him named to the All-Tournament Team for the second straight year.
For the season Davis averaged 10 points and five rebounds per game, while also making 37 3-pointers at a 50 percent clip, despite having to play out of position as the center for the Panthers all season.
“Ashton has started every game for Tug Valley from his freshman year to his senior year,” Thompson said of Davis. “His freshman year I had to play him at point guard, then the next year I moved him to the off guard, and then the following year he played forward. Now this year, he was the biggest kid we had and had to play center. So he’s played every position on the floor for us. He’s just been the consummate teammate.”
Landing a spot on the First Team for the third consecutive season is Tucker County senior Trevan Bonner, who helped lead the Mountain Lions to their third straight runner-up finish. Bonner finished his Tucker County career with averages of 20.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists a game.
He was joined on the First Team by teammate Garrett Wilfong who, despite battling a severe ankle injury, also landed a spot on the All-Tournament Team. along with Bonner. The 6-foot-5 senior was an athletic force for Tucker County over his career and he posted averages of 13.6 points and 9.6 rebounds a game in his final season.
The other five First Team members were first time selections. Greater Beckley Christian’s Keegan Davidson made the leap up to the First Team as a sophomore, after being a Second Team member in 2024.
Davidson averaged 15.7 points and 3.7 assists a game while helping lead the Crusaders to the Class A semifinals.
Davidson wasn’t the only Crusader recognized for his strong season as senior center Drew Fitzwater also landed a spot on the First Team in his lone season at GBC.
The 6-foot-7 big man averaged a double-double on the season with 14.7 points and 10.8 boards a night, and upped those averaged in the two Class A state tournament games averaging 24 points and 12.5 rebounds in Charleston which got him an All-Tournament nod.
A Teets from East Hardy also made the First Team for the third year in a row, but this time it wasn’t JW who was a First Team member each of the past two seasons, but instead younger brother Jordan.
Jordan followed up where his brother left off after graduating as he averaged 18.1 points and four rebounds a game while also making 95 3-pointers as a senior. The state champion golfer had the Cougars one win shy of their first appearance in a state championship game for the second year in a row.
Rounding out a spot on the First Team are two of Class A’s leading scorers in Clay-Battelle’s Preston Luzader and Magnolia’s Kingston Christen.
Luzader, who stands at 6-foot-6, led the Cee Bees back to the state tournament after a dominating season in which he averaged 23.4 points, 14 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks a night.
Christen also helped lead Magnolia back to Charleston after a junior season in which he lead coach Dave Tallman Sr.’s squad averaging 21.5 points a game.
Six-foot-4 Wahama senior Eli Rickard was named Captain of the Second Team while St. Joe’s Isaiah Sanders and freshman Noah Keaton, Valley’s Gavin Derby, East Hardy’s Evan Hamilton, Montcalm’s Tristen Cline, Parkersburg Catholic’s Preston Randolph, Hundred’s Colt Sandy, Pendleton County’s Chase Owens, and Paw Paw’s Donovan Tanaoye were also named to the Second Team. Tanaoye finished as the state’s leading scorer averaging 27.4 ppg.
Wooden plaques in the shape of West Virginia that include the player’s name, school, licensed WVSWA logo, and year of the honoree are available to all-state first-team, second-team, and honorable-mention selections and can be purchased from the Bear Wood Co. through WVSWA.org or Bearwoodcompany.com.
Class A
First Team
Braydun Ferris, Tug Valley, 5-10, Jr. (Capt)
Keegan Davidson, Greater Beckley, 5-11, So.
Drew Fitzwater, Greater Beckley, 6-7. Sr.
Trevon Bonner, Tucker County, 5-11, Sr.
Jordan Teets, East Hardy, 6-0, Sr.
Kingston Christen, Magnolia, 5-11, Jr.
Kaden Hale, Tug Valley, 5-10, Sr.
Preston Luzader, Clay-Battelle,6-6, Sr.
Garrett Wilfong Tucker County, 6-5, Sr.
Ashton Davis, Tug Valley, 6-1, Sr.
Second Team
Eli Rickard, Wahama, 6-4, Sr. (Capt)
Isaiah Sanders, St. Joe Central, 6-1, Jr.
Noah Keaton, St. Joe Central, 6-0, Fr.
Gavin Derby, Valley, 5-9, Sr.
Evan Hamilton, East Hardy, 5-8, Jr.
Tristen Cline, Montcalm, 5-10, Sr.
Donavan Tanouye, Paw Paw, 6-2, Sr.
Preston Randolph, Parkersburg Catholic, 6-2, Jr.
Colt Sandy, Hundred, 6-2, Jr.
Chase Owens, Pendleton, 6-1, Jr.
Honorable Mention
Nymir Bryant, St. Joe Central; Eli Christman, Wood County Christian; Baron Davis, Calhoun County; Braylan Dawson, Wirt County; Colton Dunbar, Greenbrier West; Micaiah Ehirim, St. Joe Central; Dubale Greathouse, Magnolia; Kolten Holbert, Gilmer County; Josten Lewis, Webster County; Mark Meadows, Van; Brayden Neff, Paden City; Carson Newsome, Tug Valley; Hunter Oates, Magnolia; Austin Porta, Trinity Christian; Trent Roles, Meadow Bridge; Cooper Roush, Wahama; Javonte Spencer, Greater Beckley; Luke Tagliante, Sherman.
