Tug Valley's Ferris Repeats as Class A All-State Captain

Trinity's Porta, C-B's Huggins named to second team

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:08am

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Tug Valley point guard Braydun Ferris has been named the captain of the Class A All-State boys basketball team for the second straight year by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. Ferris led the Panthers to their third straight state championship and finished his career with 2,030 points, becoming just the second Panther to surpass 2,000 points.

Why it matters

Ferris' selection as All-State captain for the second year in a row cements his legacy as one of the greatest players to come out of Tug Valley High School. His ability to lead his team to three consecutive state titles and rack up individual accolades is a testament to his skill and competitive drive.

The details

The 6-foot-1 Ferris averaged 24.8 points, 5 assists and 2 steals per game in his senior season. He scored 223 points in 11 career games at the state tournament, joining former Huntington High standout Patrick Patterson as the only players to be named to the all-tournament team all four years.

  • Ferris was named the Class A All-State captain on Tuesday.
  • Ferris led Tug Valley to their third straight state championship this season.

The players

Braydun Ferris

A 6-foot-1 senior point guard who finished his career at Tug Valley with 2,030 points, becoming just the second Panther to surpass 2,000 points.

Garland 'Rabbit' Thompson

The 15th-year head coach of Tug Valley who praised Ferris' 'heart of a fighter' and 'will to win'.

Zade Rash

A junior guard at Tug Valley who averaged 14.4 points per game and made the all-state tournament team.

Isaac Hodges

A 6-foot-7 senior at Ritchie County who led Class A in scoring at 25.3 points per game.

Iziah Gordon

A 6-foot-3 freshman at Greater Beckley Christian who averaged 21.3 points per game.

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What they’re saying

“God put in that kid the heart of a fighter, of a warrior. He's got a will to win that I've never seen before. He is a champion in every aspect. I'm just so proud and so blessed that I have been able to coach him the past four years.”

— Garland 'Rabbit' Thompson, Tug Valley head coach

“As an athlete, you should have that killer mentality, because if you don't have that, you're not going to be really successful. If you get knocked down seven times, you should get up eight times. You've just got to keep the confidence and want-to.”

— Braydun Ferris

What’s next

Ferris has received offers to continue his basketball career at the college level from WVU Potomac State, Appalachian Bible College and Kentucky State University.

The takeaway

Ferris' selection as a two-time All-State captain solidifies his legacy as one of the greatest players in Tug Valley history. His combination of individual accolades and team success at the state tournament is a rare accomplishment that underscores his elite talent and competitive spirit.