By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

BRUNSWICK – He got to wear the Granger colors one final time.

On Saturday afternoon, LaGrange High’s LaPerion Perry was part of a select group of players who participated in an all-star game at Brunswick High.

Perry was in the starting lineup and scored 13 points for the South team during the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association all-star game.

The game featured some of the top seniors from across the state, and there were 11 players on Perry’s South team, and 12 players on the North squad.

LaGrange head coach Mark Veal made the trip to the southern part of the state along with his family to watch Perry in action, and he said he held his own.

One of Perry’s teammates was Westlake’s Chuma Okeke, who was named Georgia’s Mr. Basketball by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

“It’s unbelievable some of the talent that’s out there,” Veal said. “Sitting back and watching, I thought he played really well.”

Perry capped his outstanding high-school career with a memorable senior season.

Perry, a 5-foot-6 guard, averaged more than 20 points per game while leading the Grangers to a third straight region championship and a spot in the Class AAAA state quarterfinals.

After the season, Perry received numerous honors, and one of the biggest was his inclusion in the GACA all-star game which featured a select field.

Veal said there’s no doubt Perry belongs in that company.

“I’ve always said I think LaPerion is one of the best guards in the state, but I think he’s one of best players in general in the state of Georgia,” Veal said. “He’s just good. He’s just a phenomenal player. He’s one of the best players, plain and simple.”

Veal added that Perry “is such a nice kid. After the game, he takes time with everybody to take a picture, and talk. It’s all just genuine.”

After high school, Perry will be heading to West Georgia where he plans on playing football and basketball.

“It was a goal,” Perry said of playing two sports. “I really like basketball, and I like football, too. If I get to playing just basketball, I’m going to miss football. So I was going to go somewhere where I was going to get the opportunity to play both. They gave it to me, and I ran with it.”