The Vandegrift Vipers boys basketball team continues their winning way, extending their latest win streak to 22 games following several wins over Cedar Ridge 65-54 on Jan. 21, Hendrickson 71-49 on Jan. 24, and Vista Ridge 63-46 on Jan. 28.
That also kept the Vipers perfect in district at 11-0 and 26-2 overall coming into Friday night’s Round Rock game at RRHS.
Greg Brown III — who was named a McDonald’s All-American on Jan. 23 — continues to lead the way for the Viper team. He scored 34 points vs Cedar Ridge and 38 vs Hendrickson while also pulling down 17 rebounds in each game. In the Vista Ridge game he had 27 points and 11 rebounds.
In the Cedar Ridge game Brown was helped out in the contest as senior Jake Hatch poured in 13 points and Nolan Mylet added 8.
In the Hendrickson game it was senior Gabe Rayer adding 13 and Mylet reaching double figures with 11.
In the Vista Ridge game, Rayer and Hatch had 12 points (with 6 assists) and Mylet 8.
“Everyone is contributing to the winning streak at the moment as the Vipers continue to rattle off consecutive victories. Twenty-two game win streaks don’t happen too often for any 6A basketball program,” said Cliff Ellis, VHS head basketball coach.
“The 26 season wins eclipsed the school record for wins (24 in the 2017-18 season) with six regular season district games to go,” Ellis said.
The prestigious McDonald’s All-American status is truly deserving and an incredible feat. It represents the highest award in the country for High School Basketball. There are 900 boys nominees from all across the United States and only 24 selected, Ellis said.
“Greg was the only player from Texas to receive the honor and only the 4th player in the 48 year history of the game from the Austin area,” Ellis said.
Former Austin standouts that also have been named McDonald’s All-Americans include: Kris Clack (Anderson HS), Brad Buckman (Westlake HS), and Jarrett Allen (St. Stephen’s School of Austin).
Other famous alumni of the game include: Michael Jordan, James Harden, Magic Johnson, and the late Kobe Bryant. The McDonald’s All-Star game takes place this year in Houston at the Toyota Center on April 1st. There will be a special jersey presentation in the coming weeks at Vandegrift HS gymnasium.
“I’m so happy for Greg and this accomplishment. It is the culmination of thousands of hours of hard work he has put in on and off the court,” Ellis said.
