CCHS’s Phillips dominant on basketball court, football field
Coahoma County High School senior Markevius Phillips is a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and track.
Phillips excels in just about everything he does and has been one of the main reasons the Red Panthers have won back-to-back Class 2A state basketball championship. That is why Phillips is the first recipient of the Press Register athlete of the year for high school students in Coahoma County for his work in 2018.
Playing one sport was never an option for Phillips.
“My uncles played different sports,” he said. “My brothers – they’re older than me – played different sports, so that made me want to play different sports, too. They have the talent, so I know I have the talent and I didn’t want to waste it while I was in high school.”
Phillips’ older brothers Xavier Jones, Marquell Jones and Marion Jones all played multiple sports ahead of him.
Phillips, a guard in basketball, was the all-area boys MVP for the Press Register the past two seasons during their championships. As a junior, Phillips was on the Region 3-2A first-team, averaged 14 points, four steals, four blocks, nine rebounds and two assists per game en route to a title.
The Red Panthers are currently 3-0 in district play for the 2018-19 basketball season and Phillips is averaging 10.8 points, 1.7 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 1.8 blocks per game.
Phillips won the most all-around player for the Press Register all-area team for the 2018 football season. He finished with 28 receptions for 877 yards, 10 touchdowns, 17 solo tackles, 22 total tackles, one pass deflection, one fumble recovery, one interception and one kickoff return touchdown.
Phillips welcomes the opportunity to play offense, defense and special teams.
“This is a very small school, so you’ve got to do both – defense, offense,” he said. “We don’t have more people that want to come out and play.”
He also runs the 100- and 200-meter runs and relays in track. He has has won 100 and 200 relays and placed at regionals.
Football is his favorite sport. However, he does know what sport he will continue his athletic career in.
“I don’t know (what I plan to play in college),” Phillips said. “I haven’t decided yet.”
Phillips does have offers for athletic scholarships in college.
“From football, I have so many,” he said. “From basketball, they’re coming along right now.”
Phillips said he will also take his family into consideration as he wants his relatives to be able to come to his sporting events in college.
Most likely, he said he will play one sport in college.
Looking back, Phillips was proud of all his achievements.
“I won two state championships back-to-back, so it feels great,” he said. “It’s my last year, so I feel I could come out with more. I hate that football ended that way (with a first-round playoff loss).”
Phillips did say he was glad the Red Panthers football team was able to make the playoffs his senior year, unlike when he was a junior.
Even with all of the sports Phillips has participated in, he plans to play baseball for the first time as a senior this spring. He said he does now know what position he will play.
