Ezell-Harding’s Shannon Beaty and Lipscomb Academy’s Clayton Pickens were the winners at the annual Nashville City Civitan Club Moss-Oliver Awards, which were presented Wednesday at Swett’s Restaurant.
Lipscomb Academy’s Clayton Pickens (left) and Ezell-Harding’s Shannon Beaty each received Moss/Oliver awards on Wednesday.
The awards, named in honor of former Nashville administrators J.D. Moss and William Henry Oliver, are given annually to one male and one female high school basketball player in the Nashville area who represent the best in ability, academics, sportsmanship and community service.
“I’m blessed and honored to have received this award,” said Pickens, the son of former Lipscomb Academy basketball coach Ritchie Pickens, who resigned in February after leading the Mustangs for nine seasons. “Throughout the years growing up and watching the older guys play I saw the top-notch ones that were able to win this award, and I’m very honored to among them.”
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“It’s a great honor to get noticed for your service and your leadership in basketball,” added Beaty. “It’s an honor being here with two people I’ve played against and with. I knew both of the girls were very deserving. It seemed like we were all pretty equal, so it really is a great honor.”
In addition to personalized plaques and trophies, Pickens and Beaty will also be awarded with a $500 college scholarship to the schools of their choice.
Pickens, a two-time All-District 10-AA selection who also played football for the Mustangs, will attend Lipscomb University, where he plans to study law or accounting.
Beaty, a 2016 all-district selection who helped lead the Lady Eagles to a 27-5 record and a Division II-A state semifinal appearance, will attend Harding University next fall.
A total of six finalists were in attendance at Wednesday’s luncheon — three male and three female.
University School of Nashville’s Kaitlyn Rabb and Christ Presbyterian Academy’s Chelsea Burt were among the female finalists, while Hunters Lane’s Sam Wreh and Pearl-Cohn’s Bryson Baker were the other two male finalists.
From lef, the 2016 Moss-Oliver Award finalists: Hunters Lane’s Sam Wreh, Pearl-Cohn’s Bryson Baker, Lipscomb’s Clayton Pickens, Ezell-Harding’s Shannon Beaty, USN’s Kaitlyn Rabb and CPA’s Chelsea Burt.
Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.