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FEDERALSBURG – Colonel Richardson High School junior Ja’Zir Dickerson has accomplished something rarely seen in Bayside Conference athletics – being named North Bayside Player of the Year in both football and basketball in the same academic year.
“This is the first time I’ve heard of [an] athlete winning Bayside Player of the Year for football and basketball,” said Dickerson’s football, track, and basketball coach, James Jackson.
Jackson watched Dickerson develop in youth football long before he ever made it to CRHS. “I started hearing about this Dickerson kid,” he said, “I started following him throughout youth football. So I was like, okay, this kid could be special…he’s been special the last three years for us.”
Both Jackson and Colonel’s head basketball coach Brad Plutschak said that Dickerson’s mindset is what sets him apart from other student athletes, “His work ethic, his determination on the field, off the field, he doesn’t want nobody to be better than him,” Jackson said. “He can really affect the outcome of a game just by his athleticism,” Plutschak added, “he just hates to lose…he usually finds a way for us to be close or to win it.”
Dickerson’s versatility is also a defining part of his game. On the football field, he played free safety and running back, while also trying out the role of quarterback in practice. “You can put him in the backfield, you can put him at quarterback, you can put him at wide receiver… Defensively, you can put him anywhere and you know he’s gonna thrive,” Jackson said.
That same flexibility carries into basketball, where Dickerson has filled roles from center to point guard depending on team needs. Plutschak said that all-around ability is just part of what makes Dickerson such a valuable part of the team.
Plutschak earned his own accolade as North Bayside Coach of the Year for basketball. He said that recognition “means a lot, but it’s really about the group.” He pointed to players like Dickerson as a major reason for the team’s success.
For Dickerson, everything starts at home. “I grew up in Federalsburg…I went to Federalsburg Elementary, came to Colonel Richardson Middle, and now I’m in Colonel Richardson High School.” He credits his introduction to sports to his family, namely older cousins and father figures like his late uncle.
“What sets me apart [is] my support system,” Dickerson said, “I have a crazy support system from my mom, my father, my stepdad, my grandmother… even the kids in the school.” That last group has been crucial for Dickerson, as he said it’s his teammates and friends that hold him up during the difficult times.
Beyond athletics, Dickerson emphasizes faith and purpose. “It all goes to the man above, God. I put Him first,” he said. He also enjoys playing for his family members, both living and departed, and takes pride in making them proud.
As his high school career continues, college programs have taken notice. Coaches from schools including the University of Virginia, Shepherd, Merrimack, Villanova, and Duke have shown interest. “My recruitment process is starting to open up a lot,” Dickerson said. Looking ahead, he sees himself competing at the Division I level and beyond. “After high school, I see myself being at a powerhouse football program… and hopefully going to the next level after,” he said, referencing a bid for the NFL.
For younger students watching his success, Dickerson keeps his message simple. “Ask for help. It’s okay to ask, because nobody’s perfect,” he said. “It didn’t just come naturally… you have to work.” As far as his hometown of Federalsburg, “It’s a very small town…I just [want to] show the little kids that [there’s] a way out and you don’t have to leave just to have a way out.”
