03/28/2024
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GREENSBORO – 2021 East Bladen graduate Garrett Melvin will be playing for the East team Tuesday night in the annual East/West High School All-Star Game at MacPherson Stadium, the home of the professional Carolina Dynamo. Game time is 8:30 for the Boys All-Stars. The Girls All-Stars will play at 6:30.

“Another well earned and well deserved honor,” said East Bladen Coach Jay Raynor. “Garrett stepped up his play this year. His technical ability as well as his understanding of the game separates him from others. He was our attacking catalyst this season. Garrett was locked in this year more so than any other year I have coached or been around him.”

Melvin was named the 2021 Three Rivers Conference Player of the Year and was also selected to the NC Soccer Coaches Association 2021 Class 2A All-State Team. The Eagle star was also named to the 2021 All-Region team for Region 6.

Despite the fact that his senior season was shortened by the coronavirus Melvin posted one of the best performances of any East Bladen player in the program’s history piling up 26 goals and 11 assists in just 11 games. Melvin averaged 2.3 goals per game and recorded 6 ‘Hat Tricks’ in 11 games including a ‘Hat Trick’ in the first round of the playoffs.

In February, Melvin was named a winner of the Performance of the Week award by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association for scoring 4 goals and dishing out 3 assists in a 9-0 victory over East Columbus then matching that performance of 4 goals and 3 assists in an 8-0 win over West Columbus.

Melvin finished his career with 57 goals and 26 assists. “Garrett has scored the most goals (by an Eagle) in the NCHSAA playoffs,” noted Raynor. “He has scored 9 goals in 9 playoff appearances and has had at least 1 goal in all 4 years of first round playoff appearances.”

It is the 2nd consecutive year that an Eagle has been selected to play in the East/West game. Gabe Barber was chosen for last year’s game, but the game was cancelled due to the coronavirus.

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