SBLive Arkansas 2022-23 boys athlete of the year: Charleston's Brandon Scott will be remembered for helping sustain the Tigers standard

By Kyle Sutherland | Photo by Tommy Land 

Brandon Scott competed in a handful of sports during his time at Charleston and proved to be one of the best at each one. 

Scott capped his prep career as a three-time all-state selection in both football and basketball/ His senior year got off to a great start as he was tabbed all-state in golf during his lone season on the team, then led the Tigers to their first football state championship since 2014, and also helped Charleston to the quarterfinals of the 3A state basketball tournament.

For his efforts, SBLive has named Scott the SBLive Arkansas 2022-23 Male Athlete of the Year.

Along with basketball, football, and golf, Scott was on the weightlifting team, finishing in the Top 5 of his weight class each year. Until this year, Scott also ran track, earning a trip to state as a sophomore and junior in the long jump, high jump, and triple jump.

During the golf state tournament in early October, Scott finished with a score of 84 overall. Having split time between golf and football, Scott was able to shift his full focus to the gridiron a little over halfway into the season. The Tigers finished 14-1 with their only loss to 4A semifinalist Nashville and outscored opponents 621-133 with four shutouts, while Scott also contributed some at defensive back.

The season ended in the best way possible for Charleston, thumping rival Booneville 41-12 in the 3A state title game to win the ultimate prize for the first time in nearly a decade.

Scott was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after compiling 231 total yards (130 passing, 101 rushing) and four touchdowns while completing 65% of his passes. For his senior season, Scott completed an impressive 73% of his passes for 2,627 yards and 28 touchdowns while also rushing for 850 yards and 16 scores. He eclipsed 8,200 yards of total offense and 102 touchdowns in his career.

The Tigers were upset as a top seed by four-seed Centerpoint in the 2021 second round, which added even more triumph for finishing the job.

“My sophomore and junior season, we felt like it was capable for our team,” Scott said of winning a state title. “I think we kind of got let down in those two games because we did not play as good as we should have, so that is kind of what motivated us.”

Ricky May has been the head coach at Charleston since 2019 and mentored Scott throughout his varsity career. He credits Scott for continuing to set the standard of what comes with being a leader in the Charleston program.

“Brandon is always the first guy there and the last to leave,” May said. “Thursday before the state championship, we were getting our last lift of the year in doing three sets of five on power clean.

“He was the last guy to do the last rep of the year and that kind of says it all about him. Not only has he been a great athlete, but a great person and leader.”

May also pointed out how much pressure it took off of himself and the coaching staff having a veteran in Scott who was essentially another coach on the field.

“When your offensive coordinator asks what you feel comfortable with and you are able to give your quarterback options, then that is pretty important for him,” May said. “He could tell you what he is getting and what he sees. A lot of times quarterbacks can not tell you that.

“Unless he is sacked or the whistle is blown, there is always a chance for him.”

Due to the overlap with football, Scott never had the opportunity to compete in a full season of basketball. With last football season going even longer through the state finals he only played in 19 games, but still had a strong impact.

The Tigers advanced to the quarterfinals of the 3A state tournament where they fell to eventual champion Manila. Scott was one of the top scorers in the state averaging 31.8 points per game, along with 5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest. For his career, Scott averaged 19 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.

“Brandon was a special player and an even better teammate and student,” former Tigers head coach B.J. Ross said. Ross left Charleston in April to accept the boys head coaching position at Greenwood.

“He was so easy to coach because he was going to do whatever it took to win and is the epitome of what a high school student athlete is."

The Ouachita Baptist and Harding football programs showed strong interest in Scott, but he has opted to hang up athletics and move on to his next chapter solely as a college student.

Scott stacked one final layer on his memorable career in the AHSCA All-Star football game helping the West team to a 37-34 victory and earned Most Valuable Player honors. He will be attending the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith in the fall and while he does not have his mind set on a major yet, it is likely he will not be done with sports forever.

“I have been thinking about going into coaching or physical therapy,” Scott said. “I have other things, but I just really do not know. Coaching just seems like I would have the best time and more fun doing it.”

Among all of the athletic accolades, which he accomplished while maintaining a 4.0 GPA, Scott hopes that he is remembered as someone who played for something bigger than himself.

“For the kids that are coming up I just want them to be able to look at the teams we have had and be proud,” Scott said. “Just play to that standard and remember what we did and know they can do it too.

“That is pretty much what we played for - everybody in the stands and all the kids that were playing behind the endzone. I just want them to be proud of this community, team, and our coaches because that is the standard here.”