Sailors’ Caldwell named Sunset League Co-MVP

Newport Harbor High senior Kyle Caldwell was named Sunset League Co-MVP after an impressive boys’ basketball season that saw the 6-foot-9 center score a school-record 47 points in one game.

Caldwell, who plans to play volleyball at UCLA next year, showcased his versatility throughout the season, allowing him to share the MVP honor with 6-10 senior center Corbin Moore of Los Alamitos. Caldwell averaged 21.9 points, 13.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

Late in the season, Caldwell helped the Sailors (17-10, 7-3 in league) win six straight games to close out league in second place, one game behind the defending champion Griffins. Caldwell spurred the winning streak by scoring 47 points and grabbing 20 rebounds in Newport Harbor’s 81-71 league victory against Marina, offsetting 17 three-pointers made by the Vikings on Jan. 18.

Caldwell broke Newport Harbor’s Justin McIntee’s previous single-game record of 43 points set during the 1991-92 season.

This is the second straight year Caldwell has been named to the All-Sunset League team.

Newport Harbor senior point guard Travis Kuhns made the second team for the first time. Kuhns, more of a forward, stepped in and ran the point for the first time and performed admirably. He averaged 6.5 points and 5.8 assists per game, and had a four to one assist-to-turnover ratio in league.

The Sailors were eliminated in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division I-A playoffs.

— From staff reports