One year after Socastee midfielder Wesley Durant was named an honorable mention selection from Region VII-AAA coaches, the senior has elevated his game to earn the region's top individual award.
Durant was named the Region VII-AAA Player of the Year after he helped ease the loss of five starting seniors from last year's Lower State runner-up team. He pushed the Braves to Saturday's Lower State semifinals, where Socastee fell to Brookland-Cayce.
Myrtle Beach's Jason Himmelsbach was named the Region VII-AAA Coach of the Year after the Seahawks won the division and earned the top overall seed for the Class AAA playoffs. Myrtle Beach also lost Saturday in the Lower State semifinals.
The Seahawks led the region in first-team selections with four players earning a spot on the top squad.