HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point University men’s basketball Class of 2015 commit Ricky Madison has been named the Georgia AAAAAA Region 7 Player of the Year after putting together an extraordinary senior campaign in 2014-15.
The Norcross High School standout averaged 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while leading the Blue Devils to the Georgia AAAAAA Elite 8. The senior also was named Gwinnett County Tip-Off Club Player of the Year and earned Atlanta Tip-Off Club All-Metro accolades in one of the best regions of high school basketball in the nation.
“What I’m most proud about with Ricky is he’s been able to build on and extend his game every year,” Norcross head coach Jesse McMillan said. “He’s become more versatile and we’ve counted on him each year of his career. I think that’s what’s going to translate to High Point. He’s going to be ready to play as a freshman but he’s also going to understand how to fit within a program and a system. He’ll adapt to whatever Coach Cherry needs. He’ll understand how to play, how to guard, but more than anything, he understands how to win and how to play a role on a team.”
Madison has served as a four-year leader for the Blue Devils while helping put together one of the best four-year stretches in Norcross basketball history. He was a part of the program’s AAAAAA state championship team in 2013 and led the Blue Devils back to the Final Four in 2014. Madison served as team captain in 2015 and as the program’s lone returning senior starter, he served as a leader both vocally and by example during Norcross’ run to the Elite 8 in 2015.
His career at Norcross has been one filled with unparalleled accomplishments and achievements. He is one of just two players at Norcross to make the team as a freshman during McMillan’s tenure and is the only player to start in his freshman campaign. Norcross’ all-time leader in games started and games played, Madison posted more than 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in his career while leading the Blue Devils to four-consecutive state tournament appearances.
Madison now joins an esteemed Norcross basketball alumni network that includes Al-Farouq Aminu (Wake Forest/Dallas Mavericks), Jeremy Lamb (Connecticut/Oklahoma City Thunder), Gani Lawal (Georgia Tech/Phoenix Suns/Panathinaikos) and Jodie Meeks (Kentucky/Detroit Pistons).
“One of the most important questions we ask when we are recruiting is ‘Are they winners?'” Head coach Scott Cherry said. “As you can see, Ricky has played for an extremely successful high school program and for a tremendous coach in Coach McMillan. He is a high character kid who comes from a great family. On top of that he is a very good basketball player that can cause matchup problems at the wing position. He can shoot the 3, create off the dribble and post up smaller defenders. His development as a leader and a mentor at Norcross has been something that will help him transition to the college level. We are very fortunate and excited to have him and his family join the HPU men’s basketball program and community.”
Madison is one of three incoming freshmen that will suit up for the Panthers beginning this summer. The group also includes guard Andre Fox (Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) and forward Lonzia “Zo” Tyson (Fayetteville, N.C./Trinity).