With a little refinement to his game, Porters Chapel Academy coach Jim DeLaughter believes his star guard, Hayden Hales, could be a truly dominant player.

For now, Hales will have to be content with just being really good.

Hales averaged 19 points per game, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists this season. He played a strange hybrid of guard, forward and center, and led PCA to a 16-8 record and a trip to the MPSA Class A North Central State tournament.

Along the way, the junior earned All-District 4-A honors and now the Vicksburg Post’s boys Player of the Year award. He is the first PCA player to win the boys’ award since Brandon Carr in 1997.

&#8220He’s learning, and he wants to learn. He’s not a kid who’s satisfied. He wants to continue learning, and he wants to win,” DeLaughter said.

Hales was PCA’s go-to-guy this season, and played nearly every position on the floor at one time or another.

He often brought the ball up the court, even though the Eagles had a true point guard in Blake Purvis. At 6-foot-5, he was able to battle for points in the post and grab rebounds. Yet despite his inside game, he was able to step outside and drain long jumpers and the occasional 3-pointer.

&#8220Last year I was a guard and shot threes, so I worked my way outside after Dan (Ivey) got hurt,” Hales said, referring to the PCA forward who averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds a game before breaking his foot midway through the season. &#8220I was more confident playing inside because I had more moves and I was tall. It was easier to play inside and work my way toward the hoop.”

Wherever Hales was, his teammates looked to him for points. He rarely disappointed.

Hales led the team in scoring for the season, as well as in almost every game it played. When it came down to crunchtime, Hales was also the man the Eagles turned to for the big shot. It was a role that took some getting used to, he said.

&#8220It was a lot of pressure on me, but I kind of got used to the idea I was going to have to lead my team, and I did my best,” Hales said. &#8220There were some points where I tried to take matters into my own hands. But I tried my best to be a team player and not a ball hog.”

With the leadership, size and athletic ability Hales showed this year, DeLaughter feels his star isn’t far from being a complete player with a few tweaks here or there. There’s still plenty of time to make those tweaks, though, and both Hales and DeLaughter feel that the best basketball is still to come.

&#8220To me, Hayden is still learning how to run a team and control a team,” DeLaughter said. &#8220He made some really good strides toward that this season to set himself up for next year and make a good run.”