10 PLAYERS SET TO ROCK WIAA STATE TOURNAMENT
By Antonio Curro - NY2LA Sports
February 22, 2008
1.
6'2" G DeMarcus Phillips - Milwaukee Washington - The
conversation can't even begin without mentioning Mr. Phillips who led his
Milwaukee Washington Purgolders to an undefeated record, a City Conference
Championship, and City Conference Player of the Year honors. The
explosively athletic Phillips is the key to any run for Milwaukee Washington and
a strong run by him in the tournament could have Washington holding the trophy
when it's all said and done.
2. 5'10" PG Korie Lucious - Milwaukee Pius XI - The top player in the Class of 2008 has the job of trying to navigate his team through a loaded Sectional 8, which includes the likes of Wauwatosa East, Milwaukee Custer, Milwaukee King, and Milwaukee Washington. While short on depth, Lucious gives Pius XI the single best player in the 08' class and the one guy who has the ability to put a team on his back and carry them. Despite missing a shot to play in the McDonald's All-American game later next month (Note to reader...there are at least 2 PG's one on the East and one on the West who Lucious is head and shoulders better than but politics are politics), he still has a shot to finish his career with a bang if he can lead Pius XI deep into the tournament.
3.
6'6" SF Jeronne Maymon - Madison Memorial - The long athletic
slashing SF prospect has already shown the ability the put it down locally and
nationally as his play in last year's tournament along with the same during the
spring/summer travel scene with the Madison Spartans firmly established him as
one of the top 09' prospects in the Midwest. Maymon is a versatile matchup
problem for any team. Strong play by him and 2010 super soph Vander Blue
could have Memorial holding the trophy when it's all said and done.
4.
6'5" F Marvin Fitzgerald - Milwaukee Vincent - Easily the most
underrated and unheralded senior in Wisconsin, Marvin simply gets it done
whenever he takes the floor. Marvin is and has always been the glue that
keeps his team together as he has the ability to grab rebounds, score points,
and make things happen when he's on the floor. A nuts and bolts type guy,
Marvin won't do anything flashy but at the end of the day he'll pop 18 points
and 8 rebounds night in and night out. Vincent is gonna need that type of
production every game if they expect to make a run again this year.
5.
6'7" SF Jamil Wilson - Racine Horlick - The top 09' prospect in
Wisconsin and one of the very best in the country proved just that again this
year as he led his Racine Horlick squad to a conference championship and a top
seed in their sectional. Wilson is just scratching the surface of his
enormous talent and a strong performance by Wilson could have Horlick making a
very deep run in the tournament. The play of Wilson and fellow 09'
prospect Antwon Oliver will determine just how deep that run goes this year.
6.
6'0" PG Kwamaine Mitchell - Whitefish Bay Dominican - The St.
Louis commit is completely healed from a an ankle injury suffered last fall and
he's the key to Whitefish Bay Dominican grabbing the Division 3 state
championship this year. The ability of Mitchell to hit the outside shot
game in and game out while distributing and creating on the offensive end will
determine whether Dominican is holding the trophy or whether they just had
another strong year. Mitchell has shown the ability to be absolutely
dominate over the years and Dominican will need that type of play if they expect
to end up on the podium in Madison.
7.
6'0" G Lamar Wall - Milwaukee Northwest - Who...u say?
That's right, the single best story in the Milwaukee Metro area this year
deserves some burn and we're giving it to him. Labeled for the past couple
of years as a player who didn't get the most out of his abilities, Wall blast on
the scene this year to lead Coach Hubbard and Milwaukee Northwest to an
exceptional season. It started early when he completely dominated Sussex
Hamilton and standout guard Kameron Cerroni to lead Northwest to a lopsided
victory over Sussex Hamilton at the 2007 NY2LA Sports Classic. It
continued throughout the year as Wall put up basket after basket while Northwest
collected win after win. Wall, Seroyer, and the rest of the Milwaukee
Northwest squad will have to continue that type of play if they expect to get
past Mitchell and Domincan and end up in Madison when it's all said and done.
Note to reader - The potential Division 3 matchup between Milwaukee Northwest
and Whitefish Bay Dominican is a must see!
8.
6'5" SF Flavien Davis - Wisconsin Lutheran - The top Class of
2010 prospect in Wisconsin and one of the tops in the country is always expected
to lead when he takes the floor and those expectations won't change this year as
his performance on both ends of the floor will be key to how far Wisconsin
Lutheran goes. The long athletic Davis will need to get it done if
Wisconsin Lutheran expects to end up in Madison holding the Division 2 trophy.
Don't get to ahead of yourself though as Wisconsin Lutheran has to get past a
tough Brown Deer team and a highly athletic and underrated Milwaukee North team
just to reach the sectional final. The play of Davis and teammate Brandon
Whiteside, as well as the interior play of Heard will determine just how far
Coach Walz and the Vikings go this year.
9.
6'5" SF Jake Barnett - Wauwatosa East - Can't talk about players
without mentioning arguably the top team in the state or at the very least the
deepest and most versatile in Wauwatosa East. Simply put, Tosa East goes
as Barnett goes. Not to slight the likes of Brice Powell, Tony Walls, Eric
Williams, or a host of other players on the Red Raiders roster, but the play of
Barnett early this year and in big games has been a key factor in the success of
Wauwatosa East this season. Barnett's ability to shoot the trey ball as
well as his awareness and versatility opens up a lot of offensive options for
Tosa East. If Barnett hits 15-20 per game and Powell continues his stellar
play on both ends, Wauwatosa East will be an extremely difficult team to beat in
the tournament.
10.
6'7" F Ben Averkamp - Germantown - Last but not least we head
over to Coach Showalter and a Germantown squad that has a potential matchup with
Milwaukee Vincent standing in their way of a trip to Madison. While
Waukesha South and a 3rd round matchup against either Sussex Hamilton or
Arrowhead coming first, Germantown's solid play this season has them positioned
to head to Madison. The play of 09' F Averkamp will be key as his ability
to create matchup problems for opposing teams and put up consistent numbers in
terms of rebounds and points will determine just how far Germantown goes this
year. His play and that of PG Bowers could become major stories during the
tournament.
E-mail us at info@ny2lasports.com
Note: Antonio Curro of NY2LA Sports is the editor of NY2LASports.com and the Midwest Editor (i.e. Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota) for the HoopScoop Online