Devin Pope’s name was in the meat of the conversation for 2016-17 Post-Journal Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
But with talents like Jamestown’s James Rojas, Frewsburg’s Cordell O’Brien and Sherman’s Chris Robson playing their final seasons in local high school uniforms, Chautauqua Lake’s star junior had to settle for a spot on the First Team.
In 2017-18, with the local boys basketball spotlight focused on him, Pope made the most of his senior season.
The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 30.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.3 steals and 2.8 assists per game to lead the Thunderbirds to a 14-8 record, including 7-5 in Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 1 West play.
He scored a career-high and school-record 52 points on 22-of-33 shooting from the floor in a 97-72 non-league win over Panama on Jan. 23.
His 22nd point during a 29-point Section VI Class C quarterfinal victory over Salamanca on Feb. 23 in Mayville gave him 2,000 points for his five-year career.
With 16 points in his final game — a sectional semifinal loss to Randolph — Pope finished with 2,023 points at Chautauqua Lake to place him in the top 100 all-time in New York state history, tied with Traditional’s Don Juan Tyson.
“Everything he gets I love, because he’s put the time in with this program,” Putney said as Pope approached the 2,000-point milestone.
The total also made Pope the fourth-highest scorer in Chautauqua Lake history behind Jamestown’s Maceo Wofford (2,258), Fredonia’s Michael Heary (2,235) and Maple Grove’s Chris Secky (2,067).
Pope started the season out with a bang, scoring 35 and 41 points, respectively, in wins over Panama and Westfield before netting 40 points in a loss at non-league Franklinville.
The Ripley native eclipsed 30 points 13 times in 22 games, including topping 40 points in four of those games.
Pope had a triple-double with 40 points, 18 rebounds and 10 steals in the 72-60 Dec. 11 loss at Franklinville.
He grabbed double-digit rebounds in 10 games and also surpassed five steals in 10 games.
The all-time leading scorer in Chautauqua Lake history will take his talents to NCAA Division III SUNY Geneseo next season where he will team up with two-time Post-Journal Player of the Year Zack Panebianco for the Knights.
For climbing the Chautauqua County record books and putting together one of the finest seasons local basketball fans have ever seen, Pope is the 2017-18 Post-Journal Boys Basketball Player of the Year.