Area athletes will play in All-Star games

By Gabe Whisnant
Published in Sports on July 7, 2006 2:12 PM

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From staff reports

GREENSBORO -- Charles B. Aycock's Cortez Gilbert was named to play in the N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star football game on July 19, while Southern Wayne's Akeem Royal will play in the All-Star basketball contest on July 17.

Both games, along with the All-Star soccer match (July 18), are held in conjunction with the annual coaches clinic.

Gilbert, a free safety, has signed to play college football in the fall for Appalachian State, the defending 1-AA national champion. The 2006 News-Argus Defensive Player of the Year finished with 174 tackles -- including 123 solo tackles -- with three interceptions and three sacks during his senior campaign.

Royal averaged 24.3 points per game and led the Saints to a Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference regular season and tournament championship. The 6-foot-5 sharp-shooter is likely taking his game to Western Arizona, a JUCO school.

Greenville Rose's Greg Thomas, son of former C.B. Aycock athletics director and coach and Wayne County athletics director, Dave Thomas, will coach the East football squad, while North Lenoir's Wayne Jackson will be an assistant.

Veteran Laney coach Fred Lynch will direct the East basketball team.

Dobbin to play

in Jr. Nationals

WINSTON-SALEM -- Jasmine Dobbin, a rising senior at Charles B. Aycock, will participate as a basketball competitor at USA Junior Nationals International Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio from July 24-30.

Dobbin was selected for the event after posting a solid performance at an all-state competition at Winston-Salem State University. The USA Junior Nationals offers competition at approximately 42 sites in the spring with competitions scheduled throughout the South, Midwest, East and West coasts.

Dobbin, also a standout softball player, was a key component to the Golden Falcons second place finish in regular season and tournament play in the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference. Aycock finished 16-10 last year and advanced to the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs under coach Luke Vail.