Plano East alumnus DJ Hall was presented with the most outstanding player award for the 2023-24 Class 6A boys basketball tournament in San Antonio. Photo by Roosevelt Joubert / C&S Media
By David Wolman
Plano East teams saw plenty of success during the 2024-25 school year, especially on the girls’ side, highlighted by a historic run to the state semifinals by the girls’ basketball team.
Now, it’s time to relive some of those moments in The Monitor’s final installment in a three-part series celebrating the top athletic moments, student-athletes, teams and performances from the past year.
Categories for the inaugural C&S Media High School sports awards were selected by sports editor David Wolman, with winners published over three weeks.
Part I (July 10) featured the Biggest Story, Breakthrough Moment, Newcomer of the Year and Best Team.
Part II (July 17) recognized the Best Game, Best Finish, Biggest Upset and Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year.
This week’s conclusion includes honors for Coach of the Year, Most Improved Athlete, Best Female Athlete and Best Male Athlete.
Here are the winners of this week’s awards.
Coach of the Year: Matt Hannah, Boys Lacrosse
One year after Plano East struggled to a 4-10 record – four losses by one goal – the Panthers completed a historic turnaround by winning the Texas High School Lacrosse League Class C state championship.
Thanks to a dominant second half in which the Panthers outscored George Ranch 7-3, Plano East rallied from a 9-8 halftime deficit to earn a 15-11 victory at Highlander Stadium to win its first state title since the early 2000s.
The Panthers entered the season with a roster full of juniors and seniors who had played together for at least three years. Hannah said the biggest reason behind Plano East’s turnaround was the team’s desire to win.
“It’s fantastic,” Hannah said. “These guys have put in a lot work all season, and it finally paid off with a championship. They’ve been through some lean years, some rough years, and we were finally able to put it together this year.”
Most Improved Athlete: Jackson Howard, Football
Howard began the season projected as a depth player for Plano East’s wide receiving corps.
However, following a season-ending injury to standout receiver Chance Ables — an Arizona State signee — in the third game of the year, the Panthers needed someone to step into the No. 1 role.
Plano East’s coaching staff gave Howard a vote of confidence, trusting he could handle the pressure of going against top defensive backs. He didn’t disappoint.
After catching 19 passes for 202 yards as a sophomore, Howard more than doubled his production as a junior, finishing with 29 receptions for 498 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns.
Co-Female Athlete of the Year: Simone Heard, Volleyball and Jadyn Dawson, Softball
Heard and Dawson were the heart and soul of their respective teams, albeit in different roles.
Volleyball coach Sarah Perez knew opponents would center their defensive strategy on Heard, an outside hitter. But even with the extra attention, the Georgia Tech commit often dominated.
Named the District 6-6A Most Valuable Player, Heard finished the season with a team-high 731 kills, along with 35 service aces, 46 blocks and 344 digs. She was instrumental in Plano East’s 33-win season and second straight trip to the third round of the playoffs.
Dawson, an Abilene Christian signee, delivered consistent offensive firepower throughout the softball season, helping lead the Panthers to their first regional final since 2012. Teams often pitched around her — she was walked 43 times — but when they didn’t, she made them pay.
She finished with a .458 batting average, 14 home runs and 50 RBIs. Dawson also dominated in the circle, posting a 19-7 record with a 3.39 ERA and 182 strikeouts against just 73 walks. She, too, was named District 6-6A MVP.
Best Male Athlete: DJ Hall, Boys Basketball
One year after leading Plano East to a perfect 40-0 record and the school’s first-ever state championship — where he was named the MVP of the Class 6A state tournament— Hall remained a dominant force.
As the lone returning starter from the title team, Hall carried the load for during the 2024-25 campaign, helping the Panthers to a 25-6 record and a third consecutive playoff appearance.
The 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward averaged 24.6 points and nine rebounds per game. For the second straight year, he was named District 6-6A MVP and concluded his career as Plano East’s all-time leading scorer. Hall, a Texas State signee, also earned a spot on the Texas High School Coaches Association’s Class 6A All-State Super Elite Team.
For more on this story see the July 24, 2025 print, or digital edition of the Murphy Monitor. Subscribe today and support local journalism in your community.
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