Local

2016: South Pointe's Derion Kendrick named 'Big 22' player of the year

ROCK HILL, S.C. — More than 30,000 votes were cast giving the honor to South Pointe High School quarterback Derion Kendrick.

Sports anchor Phil Orban flew in Chopper 9 Skyzoom to deliver the trophy and a $10,000 check to the school.

Throngs of students were at the football stadium to help congratulate Kendrick.

“He's very humble, low key,” Principal Al Leonard said. “He gives credit to his coaches his teammates just really what you want to see in a student athlete. So very easy to rally around this young man.”

“I was told a couple days ago that something like this was going to happen but I didn't know it was all of this, so I was surprised,” Kendrick said.

The community and his family has supported him in earning the trophy.

The check from Channel 9 and Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ’n Biscuits was given to the principal at the ceremony and Kendrick shared how grateful he was to earn the honor.

“It was love, everybody supporting and coming out,” he said.