Earl's Postseason Awards

Now, that our postseason All-State Teams have been announced, it is time to put a bow on the 2022 season with my Special Postseason Awards.   Co-Mr. Basketball [caption id="attachment_1335540" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/D7326BDC-DC00-4EA3-AD03-4AD4BA055ECC.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1335540" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/D7326BDC-DC00-4EA3-AD03-4AD4BA055ECC-300x214.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="214" /></a> Photo: Nate Latsch CBC High School[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="984502" first="Rob" last="Martin"] (CBC): The 5'11" 2022 Indiana State recruit was the state's most dominant guard as he led the Cadets to the Class 6 state championship. He also showed the propensity to take over the fourth quarter of big games. He averaged 20.1 points and 4.9 assists while shooting 38 percent from 3-point range.     <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Luke-Northweather-II.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1209874" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Luke-Northweather-II-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="984504" first="Luke" last="Northweather"] (Blair Oaks): The 6'10" 2022 forward was a dominant force in leading the Falcons to a 27-2 record. He averaged 29 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals while also shooting more than 40 percent from 3-point range. He also became the school's all-time leading scorer.     Freshman of the Year <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/43AB6CED-F76B-492D-BCA4-A830B4520DCB.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1344540" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/43AB6CED-F76B-492D-BCA4-A830B4520DCB-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> PJ Farmer (Charleston): The 6'1" point guard averaged 15 points a game as was the leading scorer for the Bluejays' Class 3 state championship team. He went bonkers during the postseason when he averaged 26 points a game during the state championship run.   Defensive Player of the Year (Rim Protector) [caption id="attachment_1385369" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/DB1BE725-CD4B-42C7-BBAF-C0CF729F2243.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1385369" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/DB1BE725-CD4B-42C7-BBAF-C0CF729F2243-300x214.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="214" /></a> Photo: Nate Latsch[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="1125608" first="John" last="Bol"] (CBC): The 7'2" 2024 center was an imposing force inside for the Cadets' Class 6 state championship team. He blocked a school-record 128 shots while altering countless others with his athleticism, length and timing around the rim   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/1EFE9E06-5178-475F-A43B-A6FE4FAEAB41.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1219916" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/1EFE9E06-5178-475F-A43B-A6FE4FAEAB41-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="992317" first="Connor" last="Turnbull"] (Fort Zumwalt North): The 6'10” 2022 forward was a dominant force inside as one of the shot blockers in the state. He swatted 112 shots, good for 4.6 per game to go along with his 23 points and 12 rebounds a game.   Defensive Player of the Year (Perimeter) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/0B7FA42A-A1AC-48E4-A6CC-1E1637B5AF81.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1220023" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/0B7FA42A-A1AC-48E4-A6CC-1E1637B5AF81-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1070114" first="Ahlante" last="Askew"] (Republic): The 6'1" 2023 guard is one of most disruptive and versatile perimeter defenders that you will see. He has great instincts to always be in the right position on defense. He is a strong on-ball defender with the ability to pick pockets while also leading the team in charges taken.   Top Bucket-Getter Award <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/3F563FD7-BEC9-48B6-9AD9-4707520F620D.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1224855" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/3F563FD7-BEC9-48B6-9AD9-4707520F620D-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="984951" first="Tony" last="Osburn"] (Mound City): The 6'2" 2022 Omaha recruit was a spectacular bucket throughout the season as he averaged 36 points a game. He had a memorable performance in the Class 1 district championship game with a career-high 62 points in the Panthers' victory. He made 136 3-pointers during the season.     Glue Guy Award <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/294FB161-AB9B-43F9-9230-5D149B1C4E86.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1332020" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/294FB161-AB9B-43F9-9230-5D149B1C4E86-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1053673" first="EJ" last="Williams"] (Westminster Christian): The 6'1" 2022 guard was a tremendous all-purpose player for the Wildcats with his ability to play point guard and be an elite defender who makes all of the hustle plays to help his team win games.   Mr. Versatility Award <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/E111A70B-6769-4408-83CE-0DE719731670.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1363166" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/E111A70B-6769-4408-83CE-0DE719731670-300x242.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="242" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="984500" first="Jevon" last="Porter"] (Father Tolton): The 6'11” 2022 Pepperdine recruit played everywhere on the court in leading the Trailblazers to the Class 4 state finals. I always loved to refer to him as the Point center power forward shooting guard.   Top Transfer [caption id="attachment_1425903" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/50F2C97C-286F-4DE5-8562-395EA725523B.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1425903" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/50F2C97C-286F-4DE5-8562-395EA725523B-300x204.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="204" /></a> Photo: Craig Baslee, Neosho Basketball[/caption] K'dyn Waters (Neosho): The 6'4" 2022 guard came to Neosho from Florida and enjoyed a stellar season. He averaged 23 points, six rebounds and three assists a game in leading Neosho to a 17-11 record.   Comeback Player of the Year: <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/E3BE8E45-0030-41FA-804D-3535E5198C42.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1369662" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/E3BE8E45-0030-41FA-804D-3535E5198C42-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Cooper Francis (Salisbury): The 6'3" 2024 guard missed Salisbury's run to the Class 2 Final Four last season with a knee injury. He came back strong as a sophomore to lead the Panthers to a 23-3 record and a district championship.     Game of the Year: <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/C401DAB1-662E-4F7C-A5BC-BA96934D5B9A.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1297975" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/C401DAB1-662E-4F7C-A5BC-BA96934D5B9A-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Mid Buchanan vs. KC St. Pius X: The Class 3, District 15 championship game was a classic as Mid Buch defeated St. Pius 80-75 in a four-overtime thriller. Guard [player_tooltip player_id="1161303" first="Joseph" last="Clark"] of Mid-Buch sent the game into overtime with a half-court shot at the buzzer to end regulation and begin all of the overtime drama.     Comeback of the Year: <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/39D72DD3-DAA4-446F-AE78-1CBA6777E5BE.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1343955" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/39D72DD3-DAA4-446F-AE78-1CBA6777E5BE-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Fort Zumwalt South: In the Class 6, District x championship game, Fort Zumwalt South trailed Troy by 12 points with less than four minutes left in regulation. The Bulldogs staged an incredible comeback with their full-court press to pull off an improbable 61-60 victory. Guard [player_tooltip player_id="1315426" first="Peyton" last="Blair"] completed the rally with a coast-to-coast drive for a layup in the closing seconds for the game-winning bucket.   Upset of the Year <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/EC81AF56-0656-4155-B45B-1E43537B33FD.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1425900" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/EC81AF56-0656-4155-B45B-1E43537B33FD-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Duchesne: The Pioneers entered the Class 3 playoffs with a losing record, but made a dramatic run to the Final Four. Along the way, the Pioneers upset Monroe City in the sectionals. Monroe City was a veteran team that had finished as the state runners-up in 2021.