All Conference Team: GWOC American South
With the postseason upon us and the regular season winding down, it is time to start awarding all-conference honors. I will be honoring several all-conference teams in the Dayton area. Today I am honoring my 1st team all-conference for the GWOC American South divison. (Note: The GWOC is split into four separate divisions: American North, American South, National East and National West. This specific article will focus on one division and future articles will cover the other three).
Samari Curtis (Xenia)- 24.9 PPG, 5.8 REB, 4.5 AST, 1.8 STL
Samari is only a sophomore, yet he was the top scorer in the GWOC this season. Even though Samari and the Xenia Buccaneers battled injuries this season, he only had three games where he scored less than 20 points in a game. Samari has the three point shooting of a guard but his athleticism and rebounding abilities made him look more like a forward. I expect Samari to be a future star in the GWOC and continue to show improvement by time he gets to his senior year.
Torrey Patton (Trotwood-Madison)- 20.7 PPG, 9.1 REB, 6.1 AST, 4.3 STL, 55.8% FG
Torrey was one of the senior leaders for a Trotwood team that may be the best team in the state in Division 2. He was in the top 3 in scoring and also led the conference in assists and steals. Torrey also sits near the top of the league in rebounding. In fact, during every regular season game in February, Torrey has had either a double-double or a triple-double. This young man has shown he can score from beyond the arc or in the paint. He can beat his man off the dribble or post up and score. Although he is currently not commited to play college basketball, I expect someone to offer Torrey soon.
Amari Davis (Trotwood-Madison)- 15.9 PPG, 4.5 REB, 2.6 STL, 2.0 AST, 68.7% FG
Amari was one of the younger stars for the Rams and is one of the top players in Ohio in the Class of 2019. Amari lead the GWOC in FG percentage this season and showed his defensive skills by finishing in the top 5 in steals as well. Amari is not known for his shooting but when he gets the ball in the paint, he is going to finish it. I expect a lot of future rivalries between Amari and Samari Curtis as they continue to play each other over the next two seasons.
Myles Belyeu (Trotwood-Madison)- 18.3 PPG, 7.4 REB, 1.7 AST, 2.1 STL, 52.0% FG
Myles was the other young star for Trotwood this year. He was another young player that although wasn’t a great three point shooter, dominated the paint for the Rams. The one thing I really like about Myles is how disciplined he is on the court. Rarely was Myles ever in foul trouble and he played solid defense for the Rams. Being only a junior, I expect Myles to be a senior leader for Trotwood next season and to improve specifically on his outside shooting.
Branden Lilley (Fairborn)- 16.3 PPG, 2.5 STL, 2.9 AST, 4.2 REB, 40.5% 3PT
Branden was one of the best seniors in the GWOC this season. He is arguably one of the best three point shooters in the conference and was one of the top players in steals. Branden is able to do anything for the Skyhawks whether it be a score or defend their opponent’s best offensive players. He will be looked to for leadership this postseason and will definitely be missed next season.
Jonathan Mpanzu (Stebbins)- 12.3 PPG, 9.2 REB, 2.1 AST, 1.5 STL, 52.5% FG
Jonathan is capable of having a double-double any given night. He was one of the top 5 players in rebounds all season and he uses his athletic ability to win battles on the glass against his opponents. Whenever he gets the ball in the post, Jonathan finds a way to score. He was a huge help for Stebbins as they transitioned from playing in the CBC to the GWOC. Being a junior, I expect Jonathan to work more on his shooting and become a leader next season as a senior for Stebbins.