In his long coaching career, Vicksburg coach Dellie C. Robinson has had several great players, Quentin Smith, D.J. Jones, Willie Powers and Jonathan Phelps to name a few.

Robinson says, however, he has not had a pair quite like Kelsey Howard and Mychal Ammons.

Click here to view all-county team

Ammons and Howard led Robinson to his best single-season record in 2009-10. The Gators went 25-4 and advanced to the North State Class 6A semifinals before getting beat by eventual 6A champion and Grand Slam champion Starkville

For their efforts, Howard and Ammons share the Vicksburg Post’s 2010 player of the year award.

“Mike and Kelsey made quite a one-two punch. Both of them averaged right at 20 points a game, and it was hard for teams to double-team just one guy,” Robinson said.

Howard, who was player of the year as a junior, will now depart the scene for the next level. Ammons, who battled through a tough sophomore season with a leg injury, will be back and is expected to be one of the nation’s top recruits.

Robinson likes what is in store for both of the co-players of the year.

“Kelsey has a great future, especially if he makes his (ACT) score. He’s Division I. If not Meridian (Community College) is there. Coach (George) Brooks has recruited Kelsey the same way he recruited Willie Powers. He’s real high on Kelsey,” Robinson said.

“The thing with Kelsey this year is that he took on that leadership role. He took the big shots, but he really shined with his leadership ability,” Robinson said.

For Howard, his senior season was one of great highlights and of some disappointment. For the first time in three years, the Gators did not get to the Mississippi Coliseum as the Mississippi High School Activities Association changed its basketball playoff format.

“We had a great season, but we still didn’t get to go the Coliseum.” Howard said.

The big test for Howard comes this month when he retakes his ACT test.

“I need an 18. I’ve got a 15. If I make it in April, I’ll be able to sign Division I,” Howard said.

Three in-state schools have shown the most interest and they include Southern Miss, Mississippi State and Jackson State.

Ammons, who regularly plays with the state’s elite players in AAU ball, says Howard is special.

“Just the way he plays makes him good. I have more confidence in him than I did with my game,” Ammons said.

Ammons, meanwhile, is preparing for another travel-packed season with the Jackson Tigers, an under-18 AAU team.

Next week he is off to his first tournament in Milwaukee, Wis.

“We play something like 11 tournaments during our season. The first one is in Milwaukee.  We have one in Virginia, then there is the Peace Jam and then Nationals down the line.”

Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com