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Boys basketball all-area team: DuPage County

Dante Bailey

Glenbard East

After serving as the fourth scoring option on last year's Class 4A third-place team, Bailey stepped up as a leader this season. The 6-foot-6 senior forward earned an unanimous all-DuPage Valley Conference honor by averaging 17.2 points and 6 rebounds. “It's not easy to become the focal point, but he handled it well,” coach Scott Miller said.

Brock Benson

Hinsdale South

Four years on varsity, three seasons as a starter and multiple all-West Suburban Gold nods only begin to describe Benson's impact. The 6-foot-8 senior center finished his high school career over the 1,000-point mark, averaging 16.9 points and 10.6 rebounds. “What a tremendous player but even a better person,” coach Vince Doran said.

Jared Brownridge

Waubonsie Valley

The sweet-shooting 6-1 junior guard has eight Division I offers already. Brownridge's season ended with 31- and 30-point games. He averaged 20.9 points and 4.3 assists, hitting 58 3-pointers, and was all-tourney at Palatine and York and twice all-Upstate Eight. “He's coachable and checks his attitude at the door,” coach Steve Weemer said.

John Cheng

Immaculate Conception

The vastly improved senior point guard directed IC's first unbeaten conference record in 57 years, its first title in 45 and helped tie IC's wins mark of 24. The Suburban Christian Gold MVP and IC/Westmont tourney MVP, Cheng averaged 15.5 points, 4.7 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 steals. “How John went, we went,” said Knights coach Darren Howard.

David Cohn

York

Cohn exploded offensively in his second varsity season, ending his junior year with a half dozen Division I offers. The 6-foot-2 guard lit up Hinsdale Central for 47 points on his way to all-West Suburban Silver honors. Cohn averaged 22 points and 5 assists. “He just blossomed this year, and he'll only get better,” coach Tom Kleinschmidt said.

Ryan Coyle

St. Francis

The 6-6 senior forward, a 1,000-point varsity scorer, is the first two-time MVP at Batavia's Windmill Classic. From perimeter to paint, he averaged 15.1 points, 5.7 rebounds. Coyle is a three-time all-Suburban Christian Conference pick and this year's SCC Blue player of the year. “As good a player as I've ever coached but a better teammate,” Bob Ward said.

Nick Czarnowski

Naperville Central

Hobbled by injuries most of the season, Czarnowski still managed to put together a unanimous all-DuPage Valley Conference campaign. The 6-foot-8 sophomore center proved unstoppable in the post at times while averaging 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. “Considering he was hurt, it just shows what he's capable of,” coach Pete Kramer said.

Josh Fleming

Glenbard North

The co-MVP in the DuPage Valley Conference greatly improved in his third varsity season. The 6-foot-6 senior forward thrived in the post and on the perimeter while expanding his offensive and defensive role. Fleming averaged 18.5 points and 4.4 boards. “I think he'll make a name for himself at the next level,” coach Joe Larson said.

Tom Garvin

Hinsdale Central

With the ability to play on the perimeter or with his back to the basket, Garvin proved valuable through three varsity seasons including two as an all-West Suburban Silver honoree. The 6-foot-4 senior forward averaged 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds. “He's helped build a solid foundation for the program,” coach Nick Latorre said.

Cameron Harvey

Wheaton Academy

Twice the 6-foot-3 pull-up jumper expert scored 33 points. The Eastern Illinois-bound guard made two all-tournament teams and earned all-Suburban Christian Blue with dynamic offense and tight defense. He averaged 16.5 points and 3.6 rebounds. “When he was hot,” coach Paul Ferguson said, “he was basically unguardable.”

Kevin Honn

Downers Grove South

An unsung hero for the Mustangs during three years on varsity, Honn earned his first all-West Suburban Gold award this senior season. The 6-foot-5 forward was an all-around talent with his defense, rebounding, ball-handling and scoring. Honn averaged 11.6 points and 6.3 boards. “He's incredibly valuable to our team,” coach Jay Baum said.

Mike Keane

Naperville North

Keane grew from the Freshman B level to the all-DuPage Valley Conference team this senior season. Offering a post presence and a guard's skill set, the 6-foot-6 forward made the most of his only starting season. Keane averaged 9.2 points and 5.2 rebounds. “There isn't a big man in the DVC who can do what he does,” coach Jeff Powers said.

Michael Mache

Glenbard West

Mache capped a three-year career by becoming the program's all-time leading scorer. Twice named all-West Suburban Silver, the 6-foot-6 forward was a great finisher who knocked down 85 percent of his free throws and flashed a nice midrange jumper. Mache averaged 17 points. “We could always count on him to score,” coach Tim Hoder said.

Jamall Millison

Downers Grove South

A two-time All-Area and three-year all-West Suburban Gold pick, Millison became a rock in the Mustangs' backcourt. The 6-foot-2 senior guard was equally adept passing, scoring and defending. Millison averaged 12.9 points while hitting 52 percent of his 3-pointers. “He's a great role model for the program,” coach Jay Baum said.

Kenny Obendorf

Metea Valley

The Mustangs' team leader and top scorer is the captain of the DuPage County All-Area Team. The player of the year in the Upstate Eight Valley, the 6-foot-2 senior guard averaged 17.2 points and made 54.5 percent of his 3-point shots and 80.8 percent of his free throws. Obendorf was named the MVP of two holiday tournaments.

Sean O'Mara

Benet

Considered among the top sophomores in the state, O'Mara came into his own in his first year as a starter for Benet. The 6-foot-8 sophomore was all-East Suburban Catholic and all-tournament at three events. O'Mara averaged 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. “He made a huge jump from last year to this year,” coach Gene Heidkamp said.

Dominique Spencer

Lake Park

A three-year starter, 1,000-point scorer and a lockdown defender, the 6-4 senior forward could play and defend all five positions. All-tourney at Fenton and all-Upstate Eight Valley, “Domo” led the Lancers in steals, assists, blocks, scoring at 13.9 points a game and rebounding at 5.5. “He can do everything,” said Lancers coach Josh Virostko.

Ryan Solomon

Metea Valley

Playing multiple positions and assigned to guard the opposition's top player, the 6-foot senior guard turned defense to offense. All-Upstate Eight Valley and all-tourney at Joliet West and Hinsdale South, he improved his range to average 12.5 points and led Metea in steals. “With how quick he is, he makes things look easy,” said coach Bob Vozza.

Tyler Sutton

Neuqua Valley

The 6-2 senior guard owns a shooter's eye and a supreme court IQ. His 101 3-pointers on 41.6 percent shooting from the arc set Neuqua's season record; 144 in a career are second. He averaged 16.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and a 3-to-1 assist-to turnover ratio. All-Upstate Eight; three all-tournament teams. “A coach's dream,” said his dad, Todd Sutton.

Jerron Wilbut

Downers Grove South

The most electric player in the area was nearly impossible for defenses to stop. The 6-foot-3 senior guard was a three-year starter who could score in every way, including with thunderous dunks and pinpoint perimeter shooting. Wilbut averaged 18.7 points.

“He's an unbelievably skilled player on both ends of the court,” coach Jay Baum said.

Honorable mention

Brad Anlauf, Hinsdale Central, sr., G; Rich Bodee, Montini, sr., F; Dusko Despot, Glenbard South, sr., F; Nick Donati, St. Francis, sr., G; Phil George, Hinsdale South, sr., G; Brian Harvey, Immaculate Conception, sr., F; Bryan Jefferson, Waubonsie Valley, jr., F; Josh Joiner, Willowbrook, jr., G; Kazim Khan, Lisle, sr., F; Ryan Krueger, Glenbard North, sr., F; Danny Leach, Timothy Christian, jr., G; Kyle Lindberg, Naperville North, sr., G; Rob Mahlke, Downers Grove North, sr., F; Pat Mazza, Glenbard West, sr., C; Justin Mundt, West Chicago, sr., G-F; Sam Otto, Wheaton North, sr., G; Jabari Sandifer, Neuqua Valley, jr., G; Matt Stacho, Naperville North, sr., G; Zach Wagner, Lake Park, sr., F; Colin Wallace, Fenton, sr., G.

Metea's undercover superstar

Images: All-Area basketball

Brock Benson
Jared Brownridge
John Cheng
David Cohn
Ryan Coyle
Nick Czarnowski
Josh Fleming
Tom Garvin
Cameron Harvey
Kevin Honn
Mike Keane
Michael Mache
Jamall Millison
Kenny Obendorf
Sean O'Mara
Dominique Spencer
Ryan Solomon
Tyler Sutton
Jerron Wilbut
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