Cooper, Grandy honored while Chargers sweep Eagles
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On the night Wayne Country Day honored senior Linwood Grandy and junior Jaden Cooper for scoring 1,000 career points, the Chargers swept Wayne Christian.
The Chargers won the boys’ game 82-67 and the girls’ game 64-35 on Tuesday night at home. Wayne Christian sophomores led the way for the Eagles (8-9, 2-4 1-A/2-A CPIC) as Jayquan Curry had the game high in the boys game with 24 points and Rayshawn Boston added in 16 points. The Chargers (21-4, 4-1 1-A/2-A CPIC) had three players in double figures as junior Carlos Raven finished with team high 20 points, Grandy put in 19, and Mike Best had 12.
Chargers senior Lexi Jeffreys finished with the game high in the girls’ game with 24 points. Wayne Country Day (18-4, 5-0 1-A/2-A CPIC) freshman Ja’kea Brunson knocked in 16 points and sophomore guard Kimora Cox put in 14 points. Wayne Christian (10-7, 1-5 1-A/2-A CPIC) was led by sophomore Bri Verme’s 12 points. Senior Abi Harrelson also notched 10 points.
But the biggest story of the night was Cooper and Grandy. The two players were key players in the Chargers’ run to the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A state title game.
Grandy came to WCDS from Kinston high school three years ago and has helped the Chargers to three straight 18 win seasons. Grandy scores the 1,000th point against Spring Creek on Dec. 26.
“It was a huge accomplishment,” Grandy said. “I been wanting it so it felt good.”
The 6-foot-5 wing is receiving interest from Limestone, Mount Olive and various other schools. Grandy is happy that he got to share the moment with Cooper, someone who he’s played with since middle school.
“For is to do this together, on my senior night, it felt very good,” Grandy said.
Cooper has been a member of the Chargers since his eighth grade year and was the leader in points during the Chargers’ playoff run in 2019. Cooper scored his 1000th point on Dec. 7 to become the 26th member of the 1000-point club in school history. The ceremony came just days after Cooper’s visit with Columbia’s basketball program. He holds offers from ECU and has been heavily recruited by Columbia who can not offer a scholarship until his senior year.
“I feel like the hard work paying off,” Cooper said. “Staying in the gym getting up shots and it’s paying off to where I’m starting to see colleges and 1000 points is just another thing to add to my resume.”
The 6-foot-3 junior guard scored nine points against Wayne Christian. Cooper and Grandy both say they are focused now on winning the state championship after coming up short last year.
