El Dorado athletes earn All-Star status

By Tony Burns

Sports Editor

EL DORADO - The Arkansas Activities Association released the selected participants for the Arkansas High All-Star Basketball Games, which will be played on the Central Arkansas campus in Conway during the summer. Three El Dorado athletes - Daniel Gafford, Czar Perry and Mekaylan Hicks were selected to play in the game. El Dorado boys coach Gary Simmons, who led the Wildcats to a 6A state runner-up season, will be an assistant coach.

“What a blessing and honor it is for me to be a part of Daniel and Czar’s lives and high school basketball careers,” said Simmons. “Now, I am blessed even more to be able to go on the floor one more time with these two in the East-West All Star Game. God is good.”

Gafford, a 6-11 post, averaged 17.4 points, 16 rebounds and 7.7 blocked shots per game. The University of Arkansas signee shot a red-hot 70 percent from the field.

Perry, a 6-1 guard, led the Wildcats with 21.4 points, seven assists and 3.1 steals per game. He has signed with Itawamba Community College.

Hicks, a 5-11 forward, averaged 21.4 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 blocked shots in leading the Lady Wildcats to the 6A state semifinals. Hicks, who signed to play at the University of Central Arkansas, shot 53 percent from the floor.

“I’m super proud of MK. This is a great honor to be able to play in the All-Star Game,” said El Dorado girls coach Destinee Rogers. “She will already be at UCA in summer school and will get to play on her new home court. It was an absolute joy to coach her and I am so proud of the young woman and athlete she is becoming. Great things are ahead for her.”

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