By Ronnie Gallagher
rgallagher@salisburypost.com
MOUNT ULLA — The “Sherrill Show” is apparently over at West Rowan.
Coach Mike Gurley will no doubt look back and say, “The Sherrills have been very, very good to me.”
Especially the last Sherrill to play for him: Keshun, this year’s undisputed Rowan County Player of the Year.
He follows in the steps of the Sherrill named Scooter, a player of the year who is the county’s all-time leading boys scorer (2,469). And the Sherrill named K.J., his brother, another county player of the year, who finished with 1,596 points. And there’s Jamel Carpenter, a player of the year, who is the stepbrother to Keshun and K.J. He finished with 1,470 points.
Gurley was also quick to point out some Sherrills before he came, like Chris, who scored 886, and Jerry and B.J., who are also on the all-time scoring list.
Keshun finished as the county’s third all-time leading scorer with 1,907 points, trailing only Falcons Scooter and Donte Minter (2,087).
“Scooter was the best winner and Donte was the most efficient,” Gurley said. “A lot of guys were great defenders, great rebounders and great passers. But (Keshun) is the most fundamental child I’ve ever coached.”
Sherrill, who grew up with his brothers in the West gym, led the county with a 21.0 average, scoring at least 27 points in nine games as West finished 17-12. He credits a lot of his success to watching the previous Sherrills.
“It was fun to watch them play,” Keshun said. “It motivated me to keep the Sherrill name going.”
He got it going a little too much against Carson. Just when you thought his 37 points against the county’s best team, North Rowan, couldn’t be topped, he exploded for 41 against Brian Perry’s Cougars.
“I’m sure Brian’s really dying about him graduating,” Gurley joked. “He averaged about 30 against Carson over a three-year period.”
Sherrill scored big this year by changing his entire game, going from point guard to scorer.
“He had to look for his own shot, something that wasn’t the most natural for him,” Gurley said. “He likes to run the show. But he had to do it, and he stepped up and did it — and thank goodness. He was our leader that made us go.”
Sherrill’s college options include future visits to Lenoir-Rhyne and Augusta State, along with Fork Union Military.
“He’s got some soul searching to do,” Gurley said. “He’ll either play at high-level Division II or, if he wants to chase the Division I dream, maybe look at a prep school.”
It’s hard to think of West Rowan basketball without a Sherrill, but Gurley acknowledges, “He’ll be the last one I coach. I don’t know of any in the school system right now.”
There may be a future Sherrill star in the crib somewhere, but if not, the school has plenty of memories of that famous last name.
Especially the last one.