The boys high school season came to a close in Wisconsin this past weekend as five state champions including Zak Showalter and Germantown High School were crowned in Madison on Saturday.  As we close the book on the 2011-2012 boys basketball season we thought today was a perfect day to release our annual post-season awards for the year here at 414HOOPS.COM…

PLAYER(S) OF THE YEAR
SAM DEKKER (SAL) AND ZAK SHOWALTER (GERMANTOWN)

JUNIOR(S) OF THE YEAR
DUANE WILSON JR. (DOMINICAN) AND MATTHEW THOMAS (ONALASKA)

SOPHOMORE OF THE YEAR
KEVON LOONEY (MILWAUKEE HAMILTON)

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
DIAMOND STONE (DOMINICAN)

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE YEAR
CARRINGTON LOVE (MILWAUKEE PIUS XI)

MOST UNDER APPRECIATED
JOSH MONGAN (GERMANTOWN)

COACH OF THE YEAR
JIM GOSZ (MILWAUKEE KING)

GAME OF THE YEAR
SHEBOYGAN AREA LUTHERAN VS. RACINE LUTHERAN – WIAA D5 STATE TITLE GAME

FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE
SAM DEKKER – 2012 – G/F – SHEBOYGAN AREA LUTHERAN
The Wisconsin bound Dekker left his mark on high school basketball in the state of Wisconsin in impressive fashion on Saturday with a 12 point blitz in the final 48 seconds including the game winning trey ball to help Sheboygan Area Lutheran capture the Division 5 state championship.  Prior to Saturday’s exploits we would’ve been inclined to give the POY honors exclusively to Showalter given the schedule played and his performance but after yet another ridiculous performance by Dekker over the weekend it seems only fitting that he share it along with Showalter as both were exceptional on the season.  After a scintillating regular season that saw Dekker put up video game type numbers, the future Badger closed out his career with a legendary 40 point performance that will be remembered for years to come and wrapped his senior year averaging 32.5 PPG.

ZAK SHOWALTER – 2012 – G – GERMANTOWN
The #1 ranked team in the state ran wire to wire this season to capture the Division 1 state championship and Showalter was the catalyst the entire season.  His opening tip dunk over Junior Lomomba and Madison Memorial in the state semi-final game set the tone for Germantown in Madison and Showalter’s energy and clutch play was a major factor in grabbing the state chip on Saturday.  Throughout the regular season Showalter passed virtually every test that was laid in front of him as he brought toughness, energy, athleticism, instincts, and skill to the hardwood with consistency and closed out his career averaging 22.1 PPG on the season.

MATTHEW THOMAS – 2013 – G – ONALASKA
One of the premiere marksmen in the country from long range, Thomas was virtually unstoppable at times in helping Onalaska to the Division 2 state championship on Saturday.  One need only witness his electric 30 point 11 rebound performance on Saturday at the Kohl Center to confirm that Thomas is an elite national talent with exceptional skill and range.  The talented guard served as the catalyst all season for Onalaska and when it mattered the most he delivered once again.  Thomas averaged 21.3 PPG in his junior campaign.

JEAN-PIERRE TOKOTO – 2012 – SF – MENOMONEE FALLS
One of the most electric and athletic wings to ever hit the hardwood in Wisconsin never made the trip to Madison in his career but that doesn’t discount the fact that he put together an excellent senior campaign to the tune of 24.6 PPG.  Hounded throughout the year by double and triple teams, the future North Carolina Tar Heel displayed explosion, athleticism, an improved mid-range stroke, etc. and delivered a number of big time performance this season in helping the falls to a 14-10 mark.  

DUANE WILSON JR. – 2013 – PG – DOMINICAN
Sometimes saying we told you so just doesn’t do it justice but there’s no need to go beyond that as Wilson’s play throughout the year makes its own statement.  Wilson was spectacular at times throughout the season as he displayed an improved perimeter stroke, power, and explosion and finished at 18.9 PPG while helping Dominican to the Division 4 state championship on Saturday with a 24 point performance.  Wilson showed instincts, leadership, skill, explosion, range, playmaking ability, etc. and delivered an excellent junior campaign in the process.

SECOND TEAM ALL-STATE
WALLY ELLENSON – 2012 – G/F – RICE LAKE
The future Minnesota Gopher wrapped his high school career in impressive fashion as Ellenson delivered a number of impressive performances before bowing to 2013 G Matthew Thomas and the Division 2 state champions in the playoffs.  Ellenson averaged over 20 PPG on the season and continued to display his toughness, athleticism, and range in the process while delivering an excellent senior campaign.

LUKE FISCHER – 2013 – F/C – GERMANTOWN
A wrist injury sidelined Fischer for 8 games during the regular season but make no mistake that the Indiana commit was a huge factor in Germantown’s regular season and state championship performance this year.  Given his size, instinct, and skill, there wouldn’t have been a state title for the Warhawks this season without Fischer, it’s that simple.  The talented junior served as a dominant force in the paint on both ends throughout the year to the tune of 16.6 PPG and his 19 point performance in the state championship game against Milwaukee King was arguably the single biggest reason the Warhawks were able to capture the state chip on Saturday in the Kohl Center.

JARVIS GARRETT – 2013 – PG – WEST ALLIS CENTRAL
When you talk about lifting a program off the ground after over 30 years of being irrelevant at the state level that’s exactly what Jarvis Garrett did this season for West Allis Central along with his teammates.  While excellent coaching and solid role players were a huge part of the puzzle for the Bulldogs, Garrett was the straw that stirred the drink.  An exceptional lead guard with handles, quickness, playmaking ability, and solid on the ball defensive skills, Garrett averaged 13.9 PPG and close to 7 assists on the year while leading the Bulldogs to a Greater Metro Conference Championship and a 19-5 record before bowing to Milwaukee King.  

KEVON LOONEY – 2014 – SF – MILWAUKEE HAMILTON
One of the most highly regarded sophomores in the country did not disappoint as Kevon Looney was exceptional throughout the season to the tune of 22.2 PPG.  Equipped with exceptional length, instincts, and a solid face up skill set off the bounce, Looney served as a stable force for the Wildcats this season with a number of high quality performances despite double and triple teams at times.  Looney continued to show an advanced skill set and showed first hand why he is coveted nationally with a strong sophomore campaign.

CARRINGTON LOVE – 2012 – PG – MILWAUKEE PIUS XI
Few, if any, improved as much the past six months as the UW-Green Bay bound Love did and the prove is in the pudding so to speak as Love helped lead Milwaukee Pius XI to their second trip to Madison before bowing to eventual Division 2 state champion Onalaska in the semi-finals.  Quick and instinctive with solid defensive skills and explosion, Love took his offensive game to another level this year as he showcased handles, quickness, playmaking ability, dribble penetration, and range to the tune of 18.7 PPG.  This young man made himself a player with hard work and he delivered an excellent senior campaign as a result.

THIRD TEAM ALL-STATE
RILEY BAMBENEK – 2012 – G – GALE-ETTRICK-TREMPEALEAU
The Winona State bound Bambenek wrapped his career in impressive fashion as he led G.E.T. to the Division 3 state title game before bowing to Brillion despite a 15 point performance from Bambenek.  He finished at over 20 PPG on the season and delivered a number of excellent performances in the process.  

DEONTE BURTON – 2013 – SF – MILWAUKEE VINCENT
Burton returned to Wisconsin this year and had to sit some games before finally hitting the court but when he did his impact was immediate.  The Marquette commit was excellent at times as he helped resurrect the Milwaukee Vincent program back to respectability with season that saw him score close to 20 PPG and help Vincent back to the upper echelon of the City Conference before eventually bowing to West Allis Central in the WIAA Division 1 Regionals.  Burton showed power, rebounding prowess, explosion, and an improved stroke beyond the arc that made him virtually unstoppable at times this year.

NICK FULLER – 2013 – G/F – SUN PRAIRIE
Fuller started out putting together a decent junior campaign and then it clicked and the sharpshooting wing went on a tear that featured a number of 30+ point performances as he helped Sun Prairie to a respectable 18-7 record on the season.  Fuller has excellent range and he displayed improved scoring ability off the bounce as well as he closed out his junior campaign at a 23.6 PPG clip.

TYSON KAILEN – 2012 – G – CHIPPEWA FALLS
A solid marksmen from long range, Kailen delivered an exceptional senior campaign to the tune of 25.6 PPG while helping Falls to a 16-8 mark on the year.  Kailen finished in the top 5 in scoring for the state of Wisconsin and served as a catalyst for Chippewa Falls with a number of exceptional performances this season.

AUSTIN MALONE-MITCHELL – 2013 – PG – MILWAUKEE KING
No one expected Milwaukee King to end up in the Division 1 state championship game this season and one of the biggest reasons why was the play of Malone-Mitchell who served as a leader and catalyst throughout the season for the Generals who finished at 24-2 on the year.  Mitchell was a model of consistency throughout the year as he knocked down mid-range looks, hit trey balls, and was an integral part of the defensive pressure that served as King’s calling card on the season.  Mitchell capped a stellar junior campaign averaging 14.3 PPG.

HONORABLE MENTION
Luke Heller – D.C. Everest
Brett VandenBergh – De Pere
Devin Yurk – Sheboygan North
Seth Mortag – Brookfield Central
Josh Mongan – Germantown
Jordan Poydras – De Pere
Tonnie Collier – West Allis Central
Shomari Triggs – Milwaukee Riverside
Diamond Stone – Dominican
Jamall Taylor – Dominican
Elliot Ashbeck – Marshfield
Brady Ellingson - Sussex Hamilton
Corey Vaassen – Cuba City
Ryan Reinke – Brillion
Trevor Krizenesky – Brillion
Matt Van Scyoc – Green Lake
Turner Botz – Little Chute
Sean McGann - Baraboo
Tanner Plomb – East Troy
Nick Arenz – Onalaska
Austin Arians – Madison Edgewood
Jamaar McKay – Milwaukee Washington
Jason Miller – Kaukauna
Brandon Staffeil – De Forest
Joe Tagarelli – Waunakee
Cody Wichmann – Pulaski
Chris Golden – Wisconsin Lutheran
Stephen Pelkofer – Whitnall
Larry Fitzgerald – Milwaukee Pius XI
Najeal McMillian – West Allis Central
Jake Heuer – Beaver Dam
Jordan Fouse – Racine St. Catherines
Peter Drummond – Racine Lutheran
Arroyo Edwards – Milwaukee King
Brandon Tyler – Omro
Trevor Wattawa – Thomas More
Toby Hegner – Berlin
Jordan Shea – Lodi
Riley LaChance - Brookfield Central
Nate Dodge – East Troy
Ryan Benoy – Baldwin-Woodville
Cameron Ward – Marshall
T.J. Schlundt - Oconomowoc
Nick Allen – Milwaukee Morse/Marshall/Juneau
Christopher Jones – Milwaukee Bradley Tech
Jake Verhagen – Appleton West

Stay tuned to 414HOOPS.COM for the latest in Wisconsin Hoops coverage all day everyday…