Friday, March 28, 2014

A look at The Morning Call's all-area boys basketball team for 2013-14

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/

FROM KEITH GROLLER


As player of the year, Central Catholic's Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman is considered a member of The Morning Call's All-Area Team in boys basketball for 2013-14.
Here are the other 10 terrific players and kids who made the cut this year:
JEANLEE BAEZ
Central Catholic, 6-foot-5, Senior, Forward
Averaged 12.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game and was a major contributor to four District 11 title teams at CCHS along with this year’s Lehigh Valley Conference championship squad. … Finished his career with just under 1,100 points. … Had 23 points against Bethlehem Catholic in the league semis and 25 against the Golden Hawks in the district semis. … Repeats as an all-area first team choice, an all-LVC first team selection and was also selected to the Via “Team of the Year.” … “He has been a leader in our program since he was a freshman and has just has a very charismatic way about him that brings people together,” coach Dennis Csensits said. “He has worked hard at his game and made outstanding improvement.” … Baez is considering several Division II PSAC schools, including Kutztown.
JACOB BATTLE
Stroudsburg, 6-foot, Senior, Guard
Averaged 15.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.5 steals per game. … A three-year starter who went over the 1,000-point mark in the District 11 4A consolation win over Liberty. Also had the game-winning shot in that game as part of a season-high 29-point effort as the Mounties reached the state tournament for the first time since 1999. … Was a first-team all-MVC selection and a second-team all-area pick last year. … “He showed such steady improvement every year,” coach Shawn Thornton said. “Anything we told him to do to improve he did. Early on in his career, he was a big scorer. He had to learn how to rely on other players and he did and became a great teammate.” … Considering several Division II and III programs including DeSales, Misericordia and East Stroudsburg.MC-BOYS-BASKETBALL-ALL-AREA
NATE FEIERTAG
Emmaus, 6-foot-4, Senior, Forward
Averaged 16.3 points and  6.8 rebounds this season and finished his career with 874 points. … Was the MVP of the Constitution Christmas tournament in Philadelphia when the Hornets went 3-0. … Was chosen first-team all-LVC and named to the Via “Team of the Year.” … He averaged 15.4 points per game last season when he was a second-team all-area selection. … “Our progress was the highlight of the season,” he said. “We weren’t predicted to go very far but we got into the league tournament and the district finals. We also got into states. I’m very happy with our season.” His overall career highlight was being on a LVC title team as a sophomore. … He is considering several schools including Bloomsburg, DeSales, Muhlenberg, Kutztown and Marywood or may walk-on at Drexel.
DESHAWN OYENIYI
Liberty, 6-foot-4, Senior, Forward
Averaged 18.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game in repeating as a first-team all-area selection. … In  four district games, Oyeniyi averaged 21 points and had career-highs of 29 points and 16 rebounds and a blocked shot on the final possession in a 74-73 win over top-seeded Pocono Mountain West. … He shot 48.7 percent from the field (134-for-275) and 76.3 percent from the free throw line (116-for-152). … “Having Deshawn the last three years has made it a lot easier to coach things on the offensive end,” coach Chad Landis said. “He did a great job scoring the basketball.” … Oyeniyi plans to play in college and is considering several Division II schools, including East Stroudsburg. … He finished his career with 822 points and 541 rebounds.

TANNOR REED
Notre Dame, 6-foot-2, Senior, Guard
Averaged 22.4 points per game and had a stretch of 15 straight games with at least 20 points or more. … Key figure in team’s 13-game win streak and run to the Colonial League and District 11 2A titles. …He scored 31 points in the District 11 2A title game and had 29 in the PIAA first-round loss to Delaware Valley Charter. He shot 48 percent from the floor and finished his career with more than 1,000 points. He also averaged 13.8 rebounds per game during the season and was the Colonial league MVP. … He was a third-team all-area selection last year. … “Tannor was amazing down the stretch,” coach Pat Boyle said. “The big statistic for me was that in the district championship he had 31 points on 17 shots and he had 29 points on 14 shots in the state game. He was a lot more efficient with his shots than people realize.” … Reed hasn’t finalized his college choice, but is leaning toward Misericordia.
NICK RINDOCK
Parkland, 6-foot-3, Senior, Forward
Averaged 14.8 points, six rebounds, two steals  and three assists. … Finished his career with 844 points. …Was one of the keys as the Trojans repeated as District 11 4A champs and advanced to the second round of the state tournament for the second straight year. …All-LVC selection. … He had 19 points in the first-round PIAA win over Central Bucks West and 20 in the second-round loss to West Chester Rustin. … Trojans struggled without him when he went out with a sprained ankle and missed three games. … Considering DeSales and Muhlenberg. … “Nick was just a great kid who improved so much since his freshman year,” coach Andy Stephens said. “He’s going to make someone real happy in college because there’s a lot of room for growth. I’m glad he’s going to stay local so we can watch him.”
JEREMY RINGLAND
Bangor, 6-foot-7, Senior, Forward
Averaged 16.7 points per game, had 27 assists, 24 steals and collected 129 rebounds while blocking 110 shots. … Shot 51 percent from 2-point range and was 53-for-133 from 3-point range (40 percent) and was 66 percent at the foul line … He scored 28 points twice — vs. East Stroudsburg North and Palmerton. … He started each of the past two years when the Slaters went 36-13 and won the 2012-13 Colonial League title. … Was a first-team all-Colonial League selection and made the Via “Team of the Year.” … “Jeremy was a big part of us winning our first championship in 25 years and helped to elevate our program,” coach Bron Holland said. “I think his best basketball is in front of him.” … Ringland is uncertain of his college plans.
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BRENDAN WAGNER
Central Catholic, 6-foot-8, Senior, Center
Averaged 8.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. Shot 64 percent from the field. … Played his first season at CCHS after transferring from Souderton. … Became a major force down the stretch for the Vikings with 21 points on 10-for-12 shooting and eight rebounds in the PIAA 3A second-round win over Bishop McDevitt. He also had 24 points in the 77-63 regular-season win over Parkland. … “Brendan has been a real pleasure to coach,” Csensits said. “I thought just the way he came in and accepted his role spoke volumes about him as a person. He was used to being the leading scorer and rebounder where he was and accepted a role that was not as prominent. You’d be hard-pressed to find many back-to-the-basket post men in the state better than him.” … He is considering several college options.
JOE WIGGINS
Pocono Mountain West, 5-foot-9 Senior, Guard
Averaged 23.5 points per game and had 38 assists, 95 offensive rebounds and 82 defensive boards. … Became the first boys player in school history to score more than 1,000 points and was the Mountain Valley Conference player of the year after leading the Panthers to their fourth straight league title. … Over his career at Pocono West, the team went 83-21 and won five championships overall. … He had a season-high 34 points in a triple-overtime game against Allen. … Shot 50.8 percent from the field, making 21 3-pointers. … Was chosen to the Via “Team of the Year.” … Was a third-team all-area choice last year.
JUSTIN ZAJKO
Parkland, 6-foot-1, Senior, Guard
Averaged 14.9 points, five rebounds, two steals and two assists. … Started already as a freshman and finished his career with over 1,000 points, reaching the milestone in the district quarterfinals against Allen. … First-team all-LVC selection and chosen to the Via “Team of the Year.”  … “Justin can play and defend all five positions on the court,” Stephens said. “Justin was mature at a young age and so coachable, a real leader. He was just a real competitive kid who gave us everything he had.” … Was one of three captains along Rindock and Jimmy Hahn. … Among his college options are Cabrini, West Chester, Bloomsburg and DeSales.

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