All-Area boys team | Tri Cities

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Mike Adams Aurora CentralAfter an equally impressive individual effort on the football field ended in an 0-9 record, this senior must have enjoyed the Chargers' 24-3, Suburban Catholic championship run more than most. ACC wouldn't have won the title without the 12.5 points, team-best 6.4 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and team-best 3 assists a game from this 6-foot-4 senior forward. His scoring average would have been higher if it wasn't for how unselfish he played - he torched Marian Central for 34 points but spent most of his time doing whatever it takes to win. "Mike is our best all-around player," Aurora Central coach Nate Drye said. " He can score, he's our best rebounder, a great defender, blocks a ton of shots, and he's one of our best passers. He's very unselfish and really only cares about winning."

David Bryant BataviaThis 6-foot-4 senior guard capped a stellar four years on the varsity with his third selection to the All-Area team. A 25-point effort with 12-of-12 free-throw shooting in a win over West Aurora at Night of Hoops might have been his signature performance. Also fell a rebound short of a triple double against Sycamore while leading the Bulldogs at 15.7 points and 3 assists a game to go with 6.4 rebounds. "He's done a lot of different things we've asked him to do this year," Batavia coach Jim Roberts said. "Leadership, rebounding, he's done everything."

Ricky Clopton BataviaClopton, a 6-foot-5 junior forward, was one of the top big men in the area this season with his averages of 2.1 blocks and 7 rebounds a game while shooting 50 percent from the field. Clopton averaged 11 points a game. "When he is active he's a tough assignment for an opposing team," Batavia coach Jim Roberts said. "That's one thing we're going to continue to work and grow with."

Markus Cocroft West AuroraThis senior 5-foot-8 guard has been a fixture in the backcourt at West Aurora the pat three years. He improved each season, and capped his senior year by hitting the game-winning 3-pointer in his final home game, a double overtime victory against Glenbard East. Averaged an area-best 6.2 assists and 2.5 steals a game plus a team-high 11.3 points. "He doesn't quit," West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman said. "He's a warrior. He might be a small warrior, but David was smaller than Goliath too. He's got to go against that every ballgame. He's been a standout for us."

Jonathan DeMoss St. Charles NorthNobody went through more this year than DeMoss, a 6-foot-3 senior who severely injured his right elbow during the football season but played through the injury throughout the North Stars' record-breaking 20-win season. Finished at 10 points a game while showing his all-around skills averaging 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals. "We'd be nowhere without Nick (Neari) and Jonathan," St. Charles North coach Tom Poulin said. "Jon has become unselfish sharing the ball. He's been distributing the ball well."

Dave Dudzinski KanelandThe 6-foot-9 junior enjoyed another dominating season in earning All-Area for the second time. He led the Knights in scoring (17.1 points a game), rebounding (9.9) and blocks (1.9) while shooting 60 percent from the field and 78.5 percent from the free-throw line. "He has earned it," Kaneland coach Dennis Hansen said. "Eighteen points and 11 rebounds, he's been consistent the whole season. He hasn't had a down game all year. He has done a nice job all year (defending the paint). It's been a great job all year."

Bryce Emory MarmionEmory, a 6-foot-5 senior, played well all year and saved some of his best games for the end of the year. He scored 17 points in the Cadets' win over Aurora Central, denying the Chargers a perfect SCC season. Finished as the team's leading scorer at 12.6 points a game while also leading them in rebounding at 5.2 a game. Shot 77 percent at the free-throw line and was among the area leaders in 3-pointers. "Bryce was forced to do a multitude of things for us," Marmion coach Rashon Burno said. "The early part of the year he really carried us. He has played very well all season."

Sean Fichtel MarmionThis 6-foot-3 senior guard engineered Marmion's attack. He and Markus Cocroft were the only players in the area to score in double figures and average over 4 rebounds and 4 assists a game. Fichtel hit the game-winning shot in the final seconds to hand rival Aurora Central its only conference loss while finishing second on the Cadets in scoring at 12.4 points a game. Also made last year's All-Area team when he averaged 14.2 points. "Everyone's job is a lot easier because of Fichtel," Marmion coach Rashon Burno said. "When Sean penetrates it makes our offense go."

Anthony Kelley Aurora CentralKelley, a 6-foot-5 senior swingman, took his game to another level. Easily the best dunker in the area, the athletic, long-armed Kelley was the go-to player in the Chargers' run to another Suburban Catholic Conference title. He led the team in scoring at 19.5 points a game while shooting 59 percent from the field and 83 percent at the line. Aurora Central is 24-3, including a 1-point win over South Elgin when Kelley scored 5 points in the final 4 seconds to overcome a 4-point deficit. "He's always been good but this year it seems like everything is clicking," Aurora Central coach Nate Drye said.

Nate Hill Aurora ChristianHill, a 6-foot-3 senior forward, led the Eagles in just about every statistical category: scoring (11.2), rebounding (6.5), field goal percentage (50) and blocked shots (1.1). "Beyond the numbers, it is Nate's quiet leadership that has been invaluable for our team," Aurora Christian first-year coach Marc Davidson said. "He leads by example; he just shows up every day and does what he is supposed to do. You never have to wonder if Nate is going to show up to play, whether it's practice or a game. When they see Nate coming in early for practice to get shots up and staying after practice to work on his game, they see what it takes to be successful."

Nick Neari St. Charles NorthNeari just got better and better throughout the year - which was easy to see from the number of college coaches coming to see him play. The 6-foot-3 senior led the North Stars in scoring at 14.5 points a game and steals at 2.2. Also averaged 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Two-time All-Area selection. "Nick has grown so much as a player mentally and physically," St. Charles North coach Tom Poulin said. "He controls the basketball game on both ends of the floor."

Ben Potter BataviaAlong with D'Amico, Kelley, Senechalle, Neari - Potter joins a number of area players who improved greatly from last year. A 6-foot-3 senior, Potter got his chance in the lineup this year and quickly proved himself a deadly 3-point shooter who could also rebound and defend. Finished third in the area in 3-pointers while putting up 14.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals a game. "He's shown great leadership, he's really improved in a lot of areas, especially defensively," Batavia coach Jim Roberts said. "Defensively he's been key."

Kevin Senechalle St. Charles EastNobody could dominate games like the Saints' 6-foot-7 big man, a two-time All-Area selection. Senechalle was simply unstoppable much of the season, like when he led both the Saints' Thanksgiving and Christmas tournaments in scoring and rebounding. At York over Christmas, Senechalle averaged 30 points a game for 4 games, and he finished they year with a 20-point scoring average and 10 rebounds a game. "The sky is the limit for him," St. Charles East coach Brian Clodi said. "He's just a very gifted athlete, and it shows every time he's out there. He knows what to do with the ball, and when he's double- and triple-teamed he doesn't turn it over. He's just a nice, nice player."

Juwan Starks West AuroraNobody could dominate games like the Saints' 6-foot-7 big man, a two-time All-Area selection. Senechalle was simply unstoppable much of the season, like when he led both the Saints' Thanksgiving and Christmas tournaments in scoring and rebounding. At York over Christmas, Senechalle averaged 30 points a game for 4 games, and he finished they year with a 20-point scoring average and 10 rebounds a game. "The sky is the limit for him," St. Charles East coach Brian Clodi said. "He's just a very gifted athlete, and it shows every time he's out there. He knows what to do with the ball, and when he's double- and triple-teamed he doesn't turn it over. He's just a nice, nice player."