Derrick Diggins of Cedar Rapids Kennedy is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school boys this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Diggins, just a 15-year-old sophomore, is a key member of the Kennedy basketball team and a rising star in the Mississippi Valley Conference.

Diggins scored 20 points in a victory at Spirit Lake last Saturday and poured in a career-high 25 points in a victory at Xavier Friday night. He is averaging 16.5 points and has scored in double figures in all four of Kennedy's games.

Diggins has the rare ability to pop in 3-pointers and make explosive drives to the basket, where he is strong enough to finish at the rim with either hand or get to the foul line. He is also a solid ballhandler and has a high basketball IQ.

Xavier Coach Ryan Luehrsmann raved about Diggins after Friday's game and predicted he has the ability to play Division I basketball in college. The scholarship offers have not arrived yet, but Kennedy Coach Jon McKowen is confident he'll start getting phone calls from DI coaches in the near future.

McKowen said Diggins is an extremely hard worker who absolutely loves the game. Diggins has grown three inches from last season and has spent considerable time in the weight room, making him a strong player at 6-foot-2.

Diggins was summoned to the varsity during the holiday break last season and averaged 5.8 points for the Cougars as a freshman and helped them reach the Class 4A state tournament as a key reserve.