Winner of the 71st Ashley Dearing Award as most versatile male athlete in Savannah announced

Jamari McIvory of Savannah Christian is the winner of the 71st Ashley Dearing Award as the most versatile male high school athlete in Savannah.

The senior is a star in football, track and field and basketball for the Raiders and he won the respected award in a vote of local high school athletic directors and media members. To be eligible for the award, an athlete must play football, basketball and a spring sport.

McIvory, a star defensive back who has signed to play football at Northern Illinois University, helped lead SCPS to the Class 3A state title game this season as he intercepted seven passes and made 32 tackles at free safety, while running for 297 yards with 90 yards receiving and eight total touchdowns. He was an All-Greater Savannah first-team selection as a defensive back.

In the state track and field meet last May, McIvory won the Class 3A 200 meters with a time of 21.65 and took another gold medal in the 400 meters (48.10) as he was named the All-Greater Savannah Male Track and Field Athlete of the Year. On Friday, he won Region 3-3A crowns in the 200 and 400 meters, and was second in the 100 meters as he prepares to defend his state titles.

He was also a standout in basketball for the Raiders, earning All-Region honors the last two seasons.

McIvory is the 10th Dearing Award winner from Savannah Christian and the first since Demetrius Robertson won it in 2016. Zayden Edwards of St. Andrew's was second in this year's voting, with La'Don Bryant of Benedictine and James Tisby of Beach finishing in a tie for third.

"I was surprised and happy at the same time when I heard that I won," McIvory said. "It means everything to me because of all the hard work I have put in since I was young. I think playing different sports is important because it shows your versatility."

SCPS football coach Baker Woodward said McIvory is a deserving recipient of the award.

"He's one of the best athletes in the state of Georgia," Woodward said. "And what separates Jamari from the others is his speed. He runs so smooth it doesn't even seem like he's going fast — then he just blows by everybody. In football, he led our team in interceptions and saved a lot of touchdowns with that speed. He was a great defender in basketball and that speed speaks for itself when he's on the track.

"And Jamari is such a great kid. He's quiet and humble and is a yes sir, no sir type of guy. We're going to miss him at Savannah Christian, but know he'll have a great career at Northern Illinois."

DEARING AWARD WINNERS

2023 — Jake Merklinger, Calvary Day

2022 — Mike Cabellero, Windsor Forest

2021 — Trent Broadnax, Benedictine

2020 — Gavin Stewart, Benedictine

2019 — Winston Wright, Memorial Day

2018 — Javonte Middleton, Jenkins

2017 — Calvin Turner, New Hampstead

2016 — Demetris Robertson, Savannah Christian

2015 — Brad Stewart, Benedictine

2014 — Brad Stewart, Benedictine

2013 — Paris Baker, Jenkins

2012 — Johnathon Chamblee, Savannah Christian

2011 — Dom DeMasi, Calvary Day

2010 — Dom DeMasi, Calvary Day

2009 — Jesse Morrell, Bethesda

2008 — John Moesch, Savannah Country Day

2007 — Scott Reed, Groves

2006 — Demarcus Dobbs, Calvary Day

2005 — Kellen Stanley, Savannah Christian

2004 — Sage Glasper, Groves

2003 — Joey Boaen, Savannah Country Day

2002 — Ben Patrick, Jenkins

2001 — Lamar Owens Jr., Benedictine

2000 — Danny McNamara, Benedictine

1999 — Rashad Chisholm, Savannah High

1998 — Kris Edge, Savannah Christian

1997 — Tommy McNamara, Benedictine

1996 — Terry Bryant, Johnson

1995 — Ronnie Rockett, Jenkins

1994 — Majiid Lanier, Beach

1993 — Bill Sparks, Savannah Country Day

1992 — Barry Kleinpeter, Calvary

1991 — Marcel Cooper, Groves

1990 — Lloyd Rowland, Savannah Christian

1989 — Pee Wee Kelley, Savannah Christian

1988 — Keith Jones, Savannah High

1987 — Corey Ladson, Tompkins

1986 — Lee Lane, Calvary Day

1985 — Peter Brennan, Benedictine

1984 — Earl Mason, Groves

1983 — Paul Jurgensen, Benedictine

1982 — Robbie White, Savannah Christian

1981 — Greg Amick, Savannah Country Day

1980 — Larry Brobst, Savannah Christian

1979 — Lamar Owens, Tompkins

1978 — Randy Lanier, Benedictine

1977 — Mark Grainger, Savannah Christian

1976 — Rufus Kelly, Savannah High

1975 — Ricky McBride, Groves

1974 — Shan Saunders, Savannah Country Day

1973 — Jo Jo White, Richard Arnold

1972 — Gene Dotson, Benedictine

1971 — Lawrence Maner, Benedictine

1970 — Bobby Reagan, Savannah Country Day

1969 — David Sasser, Groves

1968 — Joby Wright, Johnson

1967 — Julian Smiley, Savannah High

1966 — Peter Schmidt, Savannah Country Day

1965 — Roger Grove, Groves

1964 — Danny Sims, Savannah High

1963 — Dewey Warren, Jenkins

1962 — Tommy Brennan, Benedictine

1961 — Larry Patterson, Benedictine

1960 — Terry Tyler, Savannah High

1959 — Ronnie Braddock, Benedictine

1958 — Jimmy Miller, Savannah High

1957 — Tom Brown, Benedictine

1956 — Carlos Mobley, Savannah High

1955 — Charlie Moore, Benedictine

1954 — Elmer Lott, Savannah High

Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah Christian's Jamari McIvory wins the 71st annual Dearing Award