Boys basketball: Fox Valley all-area team

Courtese Cooper ElginThis 6-foot-8 post player with the soft shooting touch developed into one of the best rim protectors in the area. Elgin's big man finished a 17-win season with 154 blocked shots in 30 games (5.1 avg.), breaking Marcus Smallwood's program record of 148. A season highlight included a season-best 10 blocks to go with 13 rebound in a February game at league champion Batavia. The all-Upstate Eight River pick was the area's third-leading rebounder with 10.5 per game to go with a healthy 8.9-point scoring average. "He's come so far in one year," Elgin coach Mike Sitter said. "He might be our best jump shooter. If you leave him open, he can drain it anytime. It's kind of nice when you have a 6-8 guy who can do that. If he improves as much from this year to next year and keeps expanding his game, I'll be getting a lot of Division-I phone calls about him."

Kelvin Cortez-Harvey St. EdwardTeammates feed off him. Opponents scheme to limit him. His coach considers him an all-state caliber guard after he scored an area-high 588 points in 29 games (20.28 avg.). "He's dominated every game that we've played in," St. Edward coach P.J. White said of Cortez-Harvey recently. "Even when we played (Metro Suburban West champion) Riverside-Brookfield he had 29 points. He's a very good player." The 5-foot-9 junior became a more prolific scorer in his third varsity season with the addition of a dependable 3-point shot. The guard sank 32.3 percent from beyond the arc (42 of 130) and 47 percent from the field (215 of 457). He also contributed 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game. The adept ballhandler finished with 69 assists against 41 turnovers.

Brett Czerak Aurora Central CatholicThis prolific scorer passed 1,000 points midway through his junior season and kept pouring it on. The 6-foot-1 forward entered this week's Class 3A playoffs with 528 points in 26 games for the 14-win Chargers, an area-best scoring average of 20.31 points per game. He demonstrated a tremendous shooting touch by sinking 53 percent from the field (124 of 234), 45.7 percent from 3-point range (69 of 151) and 88 percent from the free-throw line (73 of 83). Czerak was also averaging 4.4 rebounds to go with 1.9 assists and 1.7 steals. "This is all done while being the main focus of every defensive scheme that we play against," Aurora Central Catholic coach Nate Drye said. "He has always been a great shooter but has really improved his ability to score off the bounce this year. His pullup jumper has been deadly."

Ryan David KanelandThrough the end of the regular season, this 6-foot-4 guard/forward led Kaneland in scoring (13.6 ppg), rebounding (5) and blocked shots (39). He had 34 steals and 39 assists compared to 27 turnovers. The senior was shooting 49.2 percent from the field (122 of 248) and 39.3 percent from 3-point range (33 of 84). On Tuesday he scored a team-best 18 points in Kaneland's 19th victory of the season, a 73-66 regional semifinal win over Hampshire, the team that ended the Knights' season in 2015 in a regional final. "He's an outstanding player who brings a lot to the table," Kaneland coach Joe Conroy said. "Ryan can really guard people. He gets out there and does good things for us offensively and defensively. When he's playing well, we're playing well."

Desmond Douglas ElginThis 5-foot-8 senior point guard was a driving force behind Elgin's titles at West Chicago's Thanksgiving tournament and Marengo's holiday tournament, thanks to his ability to score and find teammates open. Douglas finished his third varsity season averaging 15.9 points and he ranked third among all players in the area with 5.1 assists and 3.6 steals per game while shooting 79 percent from the free-throw line. His intangible contributions were just as important. "He really matured throughout the year," Elgin coach Mike Sitter said. "As we started winning games, he started gaining confidence in his teammates and didn't try to do everything himself. I really like that he became an unselfish player as the year went on, which tells me his IQ is growing and he's developing as a person, too."

Camron Donatlan West AuroraEntering regional play this week, West Aurora's 6-foot-3 sophomore guard led the Blackhawks in scoring with 362 points in 24 games (15.1 avg.) and was averaging 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2 assists per game. He also blocked 40 shots. Offered by Santa Clara before his sophomore season, Donatlan sank 48.2 percent of his shots from the field (137 of 284) and 31 percent from 3-point range (20 of 65) for an overall young, rebuilding team. "We asked him to handle the ball a ton for us and forced him to play point guard more than we'd like, but that helped his ballhandling skills," first-year West Aurora coach Brian Johnson said. "He's a real go-get it rebounder. He had 14 rebounds in a game against Glenbard East. He's only going to get better."

Ryan Fitzgerald Burlington CentralThis 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward has been the driving force behind the best season in Burlington Central history. Entering Friday's regional final, the Wisconsin-Whitewater signee was leading the Rockets with 503 points, and his 18 points-per-game average ranked as the fourth-highest among 26 area teams. The senior shoots 59-percent from the field (197 of 333) and 78-percent from the free-throw line (109 of 139). Fitzgerald has helped the Rockets win 26 games, a school record, and an outright Big Northern East title by averaging 7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game to go with 30 blocked shots, for which he has been named an honorary co-captain of the 2015-16 Daily Herald Fox Valley All-Area Team. "What's so impressive is how he not only improved from year-to-year but improved noticeably as the season went on," Burlington Central coach Brett Porto said. "He's a great kid from a great family. He's done everything we've asked of him and more."

Matthew Fletcher MarmionThis 6-foot-5 forward stands out on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he is one of the best around at drawing charges. In fact, Fletcher has taken 20 this season, 16 more than his closest teammate, improving his three-year total to 65. He also averages 11.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a steal per game and has made 20 3-pointers on 29-percent shooting from long range. "He has been the guy who has always guarded the best player on the other team and we really depend on his rebounding," Marmion coach Joe Currie said. "We had a stretch where we didn't have (6-8 center Michael) Sullivan or (6-3 forward Michael) Seraphin, so he had to play the post due to injury and did a great job for us. And if we have trouble bringing the ball up, he handles it well enough to help. He does so much."

Bennett Fuzak GenevaGeneva needed someone to step into the role of "go-to guy" after 6-foot-9 standout Loudon Volbrecht was lost for the season due to a football injury. Enter the 6-foot-8 Fuzak. Despite missing 6 games with a concussion, the forward entered the playoffs as 22-win Geneva's leading scorer with 368 points in 22 outings (16.7 avg) and 5.2 rebounds per game to go with 28 assists and 22 blocked shots. He shoots 61.3 percent from 2-point range (65 of 106), 40 percent from 3-point range (52 of 130) and 75.2 percent from the free-throw line. "He really became much more significant in the sense that we had to have someone step up," Geneva coach Phil Ralston said. "The beauty of this team is we have multiple guys capable of scoring so we have lots of actions that we put in for Bennett this year designed to have him as a focal point with actions for others to score."

Zach Geske CL SouthA two-time all-area pick, this 6-foot-2 senior guard entered regional play with 925 career points, including 520 points in 27 games this season for the 16-win Gators. A 45-percent shooter from the field, opponents paid for leaving Geske open beyond the arc, where he sank 38 percent of his 3-point attempts (68 of 179). He shoots 75 percent from the free throw line (75 of 100) and hustles for rebounds, evidenced by his 4.5 per-game average. "He was an incredible shot maker, always keeping us in games with his ability to make tough shots with defenses designed to stop him," CL South coach Matt LePage said. "Zach will finish his career as the eighth-leading scorer in school history."

Justin Hardy St. Charles EastFew sophomores are named co-captain of their varsity team, but this 6-foot-5 forward has quickly developed into one of the Saints' leaders on and off the court. Hardy entered the postseason averaging 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists per game while shooting 57.5 percent from the floor (111 of 193) and 36.1 percent from 3-point range (17 of 47). "He's having a great year and he gets better every game," St. Charles East coach Patrick Woods said. "He's a great leader, vocal, a good student of the game. He has a good understanding of what we're looking for and he has the ability to see things on the floor."

Jaleel Jenkins StreamwoodThis 6-foot-2 guard helped the Sabres become more competitive in 2016. Entering the postseason the senior was averaging 13.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals an assist per outing. The all-Upstate Eight River selection shot 38 percent from 3-point range (25 of 66). "A lot of our games came down to the wire against some very good teams and Jaleel was a major factor as to why we were in the game most of the time," Streamwood second-year coach Paul Kowalyszyn said. "For a small forward or wing, he was just so active on the boards. It was all tenacity."

Robby Jimenez BartlettBecause this 6-foot-4 forward could score off the dribble he was always able to find the scoring column even if his shots weren't falling, though they usually were. The senior averaged 17.4 points per game, the seventh-highest scoring average among 26 teams in the Fox Valley area. Jimenez shot 88.9 percent from the free-throw line (120 of 135) and 42.5 percent from 3-point range (79 of 186). He also averaged 5.6 rebounds for a team that finished 18-11. "As a junior Robby was a secondary player who made us dangerous, but as a senior he had to step into a new role and do the heavy lifting," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said. "He physically worked so he could do those things. He really improved and became an all-around, good basketball player without a doubt."

Cam Krutwig JacobsThis 6-foot-8 forward took his game to a higher level in his third varsity season. An undecided, sought-after recruit with 10 Division-I offers, Krutwig accepted the mantle of leadership as a junior both on and off the court and led the Golden Eagles to their second consecutive undefeated title in the Fox Valley Conference's Valley Division. He entered the playoffs averaging 17.5 points, an area-best 12.6 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals while mostly staying out of foul trouble with 1.9 personal fouls per game. "He has a huge importance to our team on and off the court, and his stat lines are ridiculous sometimes," Jacobs coach Jim Roberts said. "What gets overlooked is his impact on the defensive end. His communication is unbelievable. He calls out opposite sets and he's such a force not only rebounding the ball but blocking shots."

R.D. Lutze Aurora ChristianThis 6-foot-3 senior visited a chiropractor two to three times a week to manage back pain while enjoying a successful season, according to Aurora Christian coach Pat McNamara. One of the area's top 3-point shooters at 47.9 percent (67 of 140), he scored his 1,000th point in January and entered the playoffs as the area's 10th-leading scorer (16.6 ppg) and eighth-leading rebounder (6.8). "He's played through it the best he can and has had a great senior year," McNamara said. "He's a terrific shooter and a really smart kid who rarely makes a mistake. He's a great guy, unselfish, reliable and he wants to win. If you have a shooter like him, you always have a chance to win." A right-handed pitcher, Lutze is committed to play baseball at Illinois-Springfield.

Dom Navigato GenevaThis 6-foot-5 guard is part of the reason Geneva is playing for a regional title Friday night. The junior has started 24 of 28 games for the 22-6 Vikings and is his team's third-leading scorer at 7.6 points per game. He also averages 4.5 rebounds to go with 17 assists and 12 steals. What sets Navigato apart is his accuracy from long range. He enters the regional title game shooting 32 of 67 from beyond the arc, a remarkable success rate of 47.8 percent. "He's an amazingly efficient player, much like his older brother (Nate), and he does it within the scope of our team," Geneva coach Phil Ralston said. "He looks for certain shots. We run a swing offense that lends itself to big men that can shoot, and he is the perfect type of player for it."

Christian Negron LarkinThis highly athletic 6-foot-6 junior forward was named player of the year by Upstate Eight River Division coaches for his performance on both ends of the floor. Already offered by Illinois, Iowa, DePaul, Virginia Tech and Butler, the third-year varsity performer scored his 1,000th career point in February. He entered the postseason averaging 16.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.2 steals. A ferocious rim defender, Negron has blocked 110 shots, an average of 4.2 per game. "In all facets of the game, I think he's as good as anybody around," Larkin coach Deryn Carter said. "He scores, rebounds, defends, blocks shots and makes plays for other people. I think he's one of the best in the state."

Tyler Pauletti BartlettThis 6-foot-1 guard had the rare ability to see the entire court and deliver the ball in position for his teammates to score. Throughout the season he either led the area in assists or ranked in the top three. The senior finished the season averaging 6.1 assists per game, 11.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals. Pauletti shot 47.6 percent on 2-pointers (99 of 208), 38.9 percent from 3-point range (14 of 36) and 55 percent from the free-throw line (99 of 180). "He really did so many things for us," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said of the all-Upstate Eight Valley honoree. "He gets us into our offense, he scores the ball, he posts up and he defends the other team's best perimeter player all game long. One game he'll score 30, another game he'll score 8 with 12 assists. I'd say he had a hand in 40-45 percent our baskets."

Dillon Rejman Westminster ChristianThis veteran varsity guard leaves an indelible mark on the Elgin school's basketball program. A first-team all-Northeastern Athletic Conference selection, Rejman not only surpassed 1,000 career points in February, the 6-foot-3 senior finished as his school's sixth-leading scorer and its all-time leader in 3-pointers and assists. He averaged 14.8 points while shooting 36.1 percent from 3-point range (57 of 158), 51 percent on 2-point attempts (78 of 153) and 76.5 percent from the free-throw line (88 of 115). He dished 5.1 assists per game, the fourth-highest average in the area, and had 2.2 steals per outing. "He's as good as any guard we saw all year," Westminster Christian coach Andy Zielinski said after Rejman scored 12 of his team-high 17 points in the fourth quarter against Schaumburg Christian to secure the school's third consecutive regional title. "He leads our team in just about every statistical category, which is something you don't often see. He did a great job leading this team."

Dietrich "Dee" Robinson Elgin AcademyThis 5-foot-10 guard averaged 17.9 points while shooting 47-percent from the field in his third varsity season. The senior also contributed 4.4 steals, 3 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game while carving a place for himself in the program record book. Robinson surpassed 1,000 career points and finished as the sixth-leading scorer in his school's history. "He's come so far in just a matter of years," Elgin Academy coach Dewayne Robinson said of his younger brother. "He's become a leader because of his athletic ability but he's also become a leader in the mental aspect." Robinson is considering offers from Greenville College and Judson University.

Dan Schmidt Cary-GroveFew players areawide made shots as consistently as this 6-foot-3, 180-pound senior forward. Though he regularly matched up against bigger players in the post, Schmidt sank 55 percent of his shots from the field and 75 percent from the free-throw line to average 15 points per game. His 7.1 rebounds per contest ranked as the sixth-highest total among 26 area teams. "Not many high school kids shoot that well and not many kids can defend him," Cary-Grove coach Ralph Schuetzle said. "I saw him eat up a 6-9 kid and he's done that all year. Even though he's undersized, he gets it done. I have no idea how. He just has a knack to turn and get that little lefty hook up there when he's not even looking at the basket."

Mike Schroeder St. Charles North A unanimous all-Upstate Eight River selection, this 5-foot-11 guard is a throwback, according to his coach. "He reminds me of those tough high school guards I remember playing against, the old St. Charles guards," said North Stars coach Tom Poulin, a St. Charles High graduate. "He competes as hard as anybody we've had and not just when the lights are on at games. He leads by example and has been a valuable captain for us." Schroeder finished the season averaging 15.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He will continue his basketball career next year at Division-III St. John's (Minn.).

Matt Smith South ElginIn case anyone forgot why he Central Michigan locked up this recruit a year ago, this four-year varsity performer and three-time all-area pick reminded fans of his skill set in South Elgin's playoff opener when he erupted for 26 first-half points in a Storm blowout victory. South Elgin's all-time leading scorer finished his senior year averaging 15 points and 2 assists per game. "Matt had a really good season," South Elgin coach Jim Cook said. "It was an honor to coach him his senior year. We relied on him to run the team and show leadership. Matt stepped up right away. He will do a great job at Central Michigan."

Kamontez Thomas BataviaThis 5-foot-8 senior point guard's ballhandling expertise makes life easier for his teammates and coach. "Everything is smooth for us because of him.,"Batavia coach Jim Nazos said. "It's a luxury when you don't have to worry about teams trapping in the backcourt. " Entering regional play, Thomas averages only 2.1 turnovers per game though he is mostly responsible for bringing the ball past midcourt. His ballhandling skills force defenders to give him space, which lets the accurate shooter sink 39 percent of his attempts from 3-point range (20 of 51). He averages 7.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game for the outright Upstate Eight River champions.

Luke Tuttle HampshireThis 6-foot-6 guard had an impact on both ends of the floor for the Whip-Purs. Offensively, the senior led Hampshire in scoring with 324 points (12 avg) and was second on the team with 110 rebounds (4.1). Entering the postseason Tuttle was shooting 48.7 percent from 2-point range (73 of 150) and 36.8 percent from 3-point range (46 of 125) and 71.7 percent from the free-throw line (33 of 46). He also contributed 39 assists and 14 steals. "We usually put him on the other team's best shooter and he could use his length to run them off the 3-point line," Hampshire coach Ben Whitehouse said. "He was our most consistent player attacking the rim."

Jake Wolfe Aurora ChristianThe son of former Michigan State captain Todd Wolfe sprouted from a 6-foot freshman to a 6-3 sophomore and became a key figure in Aurora Christian's Northeastern Athletic Conference and Class 2A regional titles. Entering sectional play the guard was averaging 16.4 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the field and 42.7 percent from 3-point range for the 23-win Eagles. He was also averaging 6.1 rebounds 3.3 assists and 2.1 steals. "Jake's unbelievable," Aurora Christian coach Pat McNamara said. "He just plays at a high level and he's a two-way player, adaptable. Not a lot of guys can score like he can score, but he's also a defender who can rebound, pass the ball and handle the ball. He's already one of the best players I've ever had."

Honorable mention

Aurora Central Catholic - Evan Schuetz, sr., F

Aurora Christian - Pat McNamara, sr., G

Bartlett - Jason Hasenberg, sr., F

Batavia - John Fitch, sr., F

Burlington Central - Zach Schutta, so., G

Cary-Grove - Zach Beaugureau, jr., G

Dundee-Crown - Jack Orndahl, so., G

Elgin - Reggie Cole, jr., G

Geneva - Matt Johnston, jr., G; Jordan Vedder, sr., F

Hampshire - Brennen Woods, jr., G

Huntley - J.J. Flores, so., G

Jacobs - Ryan Phillips, so., G

Kaneland - Dylan Vaca, sr., G/F; Ethan Conroy, sr., G

Larkin - Keyvon Kyles, sr., G

Marmion - John Young, sr., G

St. Charles East - Evan DiLeonardi, sr. G

St. Edward - Adam Radcliffe, sr., G

South Elgin - Quinton McClundon, sr., F

Streamwood - Brendon Marton, so, F

West Aurora - Caleb Siler, jr., F

Westminster Christian - Ben Versylus, so, F