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2004
Boys ALL-STARSFor Lake, Porter and LaPorte County A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith (3-28-2004) |
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2004
Boys ALL-STARS For Lake, Porter and LaPorte County A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith (3-28-2004) |
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NORTHWEST INDIANA - Most all-star teams are based on bias. For example, what school the picker attended and where he grew up. What neighborhood he lives in. What newspaper or radio station he works for. Freed of virtually all those chains, I can tell you exactly who the best players are. Who earned what and why.
If you are sensitive, don't read this. Because it's not all praise and love. That's what your mommy is for. I'm telling you exactly what I think and I figure you want a real opinion and not just what I think you want to hear.
Understand, that if you're mentioned here
at all, I think you are a very good player.
2004
- FIRST TEAM:
C - Scott VanDer Meer (LAKE CENTRAL) 6-10 senior center
13.6
ppg, 10.3 rpg, 3.8 blocks per game
The second most successful senior transfer in 2004. Averaged 16.3 ppg. in the
playoffs and 18.0 over his last six games. Certainly the best true low post
center in our area and a mid-major Division I player when he got here. Scott
played soft at times but he is still a work in progress. When he is 23 years
old, he could put up double double (10 or more points and rebounds) numbers in
college. At Bowling Green, a mid-major, he could he a star.
SG - Tyrone Appleton (Gary Roosevelt) 6-4 junior guard
18.6 ppg, 4 assists, 5 rebounds
Scored
67 points in two playoff games and was never truly stopped except by a late
season leg injury. Scored 41 in an 82-72 sectional win over Lew Wallace. had 10
games of 20 or more. Appleton is not really 6-4 but he's as good a
non-senior college prospect as there is in this area. The Times reported
he is considering a prep school, Oak Hill in Virginia. With the athletic
situation is Gary, that would be a good move.
PF
- Danny Borys (BOONE GROVE) 6-4 junior forward
17.1 ppg, 7 rebounds
The
most improved player in northwest Indiana. Ignored by Lake County media because
he has no reputation. Averaged only six or seven points in 2003. Danny
Borys has 20 double figure games and nine 20-point games. Against Valpo,
he scored 22. Against Wheeler, he scored 21. Did not play center because of 6-6
Phil Bien and got to extend his game. He got to be a true forward and benefited
greatly. Danny must learn to dribble the ball better because he's a college
guard. If he is forced to play center next year it will hurt his development as
an all-around player, but that does not appear likely.
SG - Matt Campbell (Chesterton) 6-2 senior guard
18.4 ppg, 5.4 assists, 6.3 rebounds
The
DAC's leading scorer and a consistent performer for two seasons. The 18.4
ppg. is the 8th-best total in Chesterton history. Played on 3 winning teams in a
row in the toughest league in NW Indiana. Understand that Campbell posted these
numbers in a cut throat league where everybody plays everybody three times
(unlike the Lake and the PCC) and everybody has athletes (unlike the Lake and
the PCC). Campbell had 17 double figure games and eight 20-point games
even though the best region coaches plotted to stop him.
PG
- Gary Patterson (Bishop Noll) 6-1 senior guard
22.3 ppg, 6 assists, 89% FTs
The region's top scorer and premier player. Noll's best player even when Kenny Harris was there. A very skilled ballhandler and a very good shooter who excelled against defenses stacked to stop him. Averaged 28 ppg in the last 5 regular season games. Shot 89% from the line and played through a leg injury in the late going. You have not heard the last of Patterson who will be an elite lead guard at mid-major Division I Butler University. Gary must get stronger because he wasn't always tested around here. I worry that he's too frail to survive the big-scary monsters of D-1.
But Patterson scored 33 against sectional champion EC after his injury. Gary Patterson reminds me and will remind Indianapolis people of Notre Dame's Chris Thomas, who played at Pike. The only truly gifted player in this region, Patterson now carries a high burden. To make the most of his hand and eye coordination and his other athletic gifts.
2004
- 2ND TEAM:
C
- David Carson (ANDREAN) 6-6 senior center
20.7ppg, 8 rebounds per game
A
powerful low post player. Almost 220 pounds, Carson dominated the LAC. Scored in
double figures in ALL 22 of Andrean's games and was over 20 points 12 times.
Some slowed him but no one stopped him. Carson has to change his game in
college if he goes D-1 because a 6-6 post player is a dinosaur at that level. I
don't know if he can change so he might be best to go D-2 where he can be a
power forward.
PF - Charles Cruz (Gavit) 6-4 senior forward
19.7 ppg, 11.8 rebounds
The
most successful senior transfer. Charles Cruz came in with new coach Gary Meyer
and nobody really stopped him. Scored double figures in ALL 23 of Gavit's games
and could step out and hit the jump shot. Here's a wonderful prep player who,
like David Carson, must become a perimeter player in college. Cruz has
bounced around from school to school so he might thrive at a junior college
where he would excel as opposed to a D-1 or D-2 where he would sit.
SF - Matty Bush (Morgan Township) 6-4 senior forward
20 ppg, 6.5 rebounds
Strong wing player and Porter County's leading scorer. Strong shooter and rebounder, Bush was the 11th all-time leading scorer in Porter County. Morgan's all-time leading scorer (1,467 points), Bush scored 461 points this year. In 90 career games, he was in double figures 70 times. Matty overmatched many in the PCC and I don't know if he can work his magic against D-1 people.
Here's
an NAIA player or a D-2 player. Bethel. Indianapolis. Southern Indiana. He must
handle the ball better because he's only a guard or a wing in a 3-guard offense
in college. In the right offense, he could eventually equal his prep numbers
because he is strong and skilled.
SG - Jerome Vann (LaPORTE) 6-4 senior guard
17 ppg, 6 rebounds, 5 assists
The show-stopper. The top open court player in the region's toughest league. A Division I football player, Vann also played the point sometimes but he was better on the wing. A poor foul shooter, Vann will be a Division I football player and that's for the best. I do not think he is a D-1 college player and his game has flaws. In football, he might get an NFL tryout. In basketball, he'd most likely ride the bench refining his game.
PG
- Brent Kimmel (VALPARAISO) 5-11 senior guard
14.4 ppg, 4.6assists, 4 steals
Highly
skilled ballhandler with college level passing ability. Kimmel was the MVP of
the DAC. 16 double figure games and nine 20-point games. Not quite 5-11, a very
quick, difficult to defend player. Kimmel's size is probably what kept D-1
people away. I don't think he's physical enough to play against the big boys.
He'll do very well in NAIA.
2004
- 3RD TEAM:
Todd Dermody (La PORTE) 6-7 senior center
14 ppg, 8 rpg, 3 blocks per game
A
powerful low post player often overshadowed on an up-tempo running team.
Averaged 15.5 in the playoffs and scored 10 in the third quarter of the regional
title game against LaPorte. Dermody had 18 double figure games. A solid,
winning player. Todd never appeared to be in great shape. Clearly not D-1 but he
could star at a lower level.
PF - Nate McGinley (Morgan Township) 6-6 junior forward
13.9 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 blocks per game
A
great leaper and open court player. Has not reached his potential but was a
solid double figure scorer for the undefeated PCC regular season champs. 15
double figure games and he missed three games with a knee injury. Very athletic
and a true forward.
Nate has to learn to dribble the ball better and he must play under better
control. But the sky is the limit for a 6-6 forward who has his athletic gifts.
SF - Dustin Bothwell (Munster) 6-4 senior forward
15.6 ppg, 5 rebounds
The best of Munster's top 3 seniors. Scored 16 in each of Munster's two playoff games and averaged 18.1 ppg in his last six games. 76% FTs, 62% FGs. I don't think anybody else had 20 double figure games for a 20-win team. Dustin has more upside than teammates Josh Martin and Pete Trgovich. I see him as a low-D-1 wing where Martin and Trgovich are D-2 players at best. Just looking at him... you wouldn't walk a mile to see him play. But watch out. He could be on TV four years from now.
SG
- Buster Battreal (Portage) 6-2 junior guard
14.6 ppg,. 5 assists, 4 steals
A
wide open player who is very difficult to categorize. He clearly played three
different positions but the '2' guard is the slot when he helps his team most. A
long-armed quick player with excellent court vision for creative passes. A
streak shooter who can get stronger. Here's another player who is very difficult
to defend for 32 minutes.
Buster is wild. He must refine his game for the next level. But he could also be
a natural leader and a fan favorite.
PG - Cordale Micou (Wheeler) 6-2 senior point guard
17.0 ppg, 5 assists, 3 steals
The
true leader of Wheeler's offense and defense. A long-armed player who disrupts
almost everyone he plays against. An improved shooter with a lot of quickness.
"CJ" must get stronger and bigger (I don't mean taller). He's too
skinny and everybody knows it.
I think that JuCo is the way to go for him. But his best playing days are ahead
of him.
COACH
of the YEAR - Mike Hackett (Munster)
Last year's team won 20 but they lost a lot of that team. Hackett blended senior transfer Pete Trgovich III into a perimeter group that included 6-4 Dustin Bothwell and 6-4 Josh Martin. The Mustangs had very little inside game. Still, they lost only to Wheeler (20-5) and Lake Central (16-6). Both losses were by less than 10 points.
Look
at the 2003 Mustangs and the 2004 Mustangs. This team had no business beating
Lake Central and Andrean. Truthfully, this was about a 12-win team and they
still won 20. That can only be the coaching staff. Hacket isn't as loud or
as arrogant as most other coaches. He's humble, win or lose. He's a burnout
candidate as many young coaches are, but I would hope he has another half dozen
years and at least one regional title.
Breakthrough player of the year - Jere Taylor - Hammond - 5-8 junior guard
13.3
ppg., 80% FTs
The definition here is a little cloudy, but a true breakthrough player played
last year. Taylor, who went scoreless in the season-opening 78-46 loss to
Munster, had 17 double figure games and five 20-point games. Scored 28 against
Hobart and 25 against Wheeler on back-to-back nights and averaged 15.3 ppg. in 3
sectional games. People will see he can play again next year when Hammond better
win that sectional. Obviously, at his size, he has to get much stronger and
fitter to have any hope of playing in college, but he will be a terror next
season.
MVP - Gary Patterson (Bishop Noll)
Probably
the best backcourt player in northwest Indiana in the last 15 years.
Patterson, the leading scorer in northwest Indiana played through injury to lead his team to a second sectional title in three years.
Truthfully, if he had played at one of the media favorites (Highland, Munster, Griffith), he'd be considered one of the all-time best players in northwest Indiana. If he had played for a DAC school, he'd have been a candidate for Indiana Player of the Year.
He was northwest Indiana's leading scorer at 22 points a game despite a late season injury and he was Noll's best player for four seasons.
Patterson
stole the ball to decide the sectional title game and he always seemed to do
everything quietly. Better players than Patterson will come along but right now,
there's no guard on the horizon in NW Indiana who is as good as he is.