Presenting the Fox Valley all-area team

Tyler Beachler, Westminster Christian

Beachler helped lift the Westminster basketball program from 0-26 to Class 1A regional champion during his four years as a varsity starter. In 29 games this season, the senior point guard scored 385 points for an average of 13.8 per game. He shot 47.1 percent from the floor (136 of 289), including 36.3 percent from 3-point range (29 of 80). Voted to the all-Private School League first team, Beachler grabbed 131 rebounds and dished 136 assists. He finishes as the school's all-time leader in assists (338), it's fourth-leading scorer (1,192) and sixth-leading rebounder (371). He also finished second on the school's all-time list for free throws made (291) and fourth in steals (155). "He's one of the neatest players I've ever coached," said Westminster Christian coach Bruce Firchau. "I'm really going to miss his presence. He has such a great persona and was such a positive leader for us."

Jeff Beck, Dundee-Crown

The only player who saw regular minutes on Dundee-Crown's regional title team a year ago, the Chargers leaned on Beck for experience and leadership and he delivered. The junior scored 340 points in 26 games for a team-best average of 13.1 points per game. He sank 16 of 51 3-pointers (31.2 percent), 119 of 231 shots from 2-point range (51.5 percent) and 54 of 75 free throws (72 percent). Beck was second on his team in rebounds with 135 (5.2 avg.), he made 38 steals and dished 83 assists. "I thought Jeff really improved as the year went along," Dundee-Crown coach Lance Huber said. "He really began to shoulder the load for us in the second half of the year. He kind of leads by example and in the second half of the season he showed the others that you have to work hard in practice to get it done all the time."

Joel Benson, Westminster Christian

Voted Most Valuable Player of the Private School League and named to Class 1A/2A second team IBCA all-state, Westminster Christian's 6-foot-5 senior center was nearly unstoppable in the paint this season. He averaged a double-double of 18.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game on his way to season totals of 525 points and 307 rebounds in 29 games. Benson sank 200 of the 356 field goals he attempted this season (56.2 percent) and finished his four-year varsity career as the Warriors' all-time leader in field goals made (560) and rebounds (763). He also finished as the school's third all-time leading scorer with 1,409 points, he ranks third in free throws made (283), second in blocks (95) and sixth in steals (137). This season he posted 15 double-doubles and finished 6 other games with 9 rebounds. "He was just invaluable to our team," said Westminster Christian coach Bruce Firchau. "There were many times Joel simply wouldn't be denied. This program is going to miss him a great deal." Benson will continue his playing career at North Park University.

T.J. Burzak, Hampshire

Hampshire's senior center was slowed at midseason when he was accidentally poked in the eye at the Marengo Holiday Tournament, but it didn't stop him from posting impressive season averages of 17.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, both Hampshire team highs. Burzak was one of five players selected unanimously to the all-Big Northern Conference first team. His greatest impact, however, might have been as a leader. "He was fantastic. He did a great job," Hampshire coach Bob Barnett said. "He really helped the young kids. He remembered when he was a sophomore and kids like Jake Goebbert and Bobby McCarthy and Brad Speer helped him along, and that's what he wanted to do -- to keep the program going and help the younger kids."

Josh Dix, St. Edward

His second varsity season was a breakout campaign for the Green Wave sharpshooter. Dix started all 27 games for St. Edward and finished with 360 total points for an average of 13.3 points per game. Most of the junior guard's scoring took place beyond the 3-point arc, where he became one of the area's most accurate catch-and-shoot specialists. He sank 75 of 181 attempts from 3-point range (41.4 percent). "He did a nice job of running the offense," St. Edward coach Keith Chuipek said. "He understood what his role was and he scored this year. I think he's one of the area's purest shooters and I think he's going to be fantastic as a senior. He really improved his assist-to-turnover ratio." The point guard also contributed 62 rebounds and 114 assists compared to 66 turnovers.

Tem Esikiel, Streamwood

A two-time all-area selection, Streamwood's junior point guard finished the season as the area's second-leading scorer with 572 points in 27 games for an average of 21.2 per game. He shot 41.5 percent from the floor (189 of 455) and 36.6 percent from 3-point range (63 of 172). He also finished with team highs in assists (93), steals (73), free throws made (131) and free throws attempted (223). Esikiel also grabbed 109 rebounds and blocked 11 shots. "I think he proved he's one of the premier guards in the area and he got better and better as the year went on," Streamwood coach Tim Jones said. "He did more things in our offense this year as far as taking control of it. His rebounding and assists went up and his turnover ratio went down. He grasped what we were trying to do and (his statistics) came within the framework of what we tried to do in our offense." Esikiel finished with 30 or more points against six Upstate Eight Conference opponents this season.

Jeremy Granger, Elgin

A third-year varsity starter, Granger's on-court leadership was invaluable throughout Elgin's postseason run to the Class 4A Jacobs sectional championship, the school's first sectional title since 1998. Among the top three in area scoring through mid-December, Granger suffered a hyperextended elbow prior to Christmas and his scoring average plummeted as he played through the pain. Still, he finished the season as Elgin's second-leading scorer with 526 points for an average of 17.0 points per game and he eclipsed the 1,000-point mark on Senior Night against Streamwood. Granger's 1,119 career points place him eighth on Elgin's all-time scoring list. He also led the team in assists (107), steals (62) field goals (190) and finished second in rebounds (161). "He really stepped it up and showed he can do other things besides score," Elgin coach Mike Sitter said. "He's shown he can be a dominant rebounder when he wants to be. He can jump twice before anyone else can jump once and his athleticism really started to show. He found ways to demonstrate what a great athlete he was during games."

Adam Hodge, South Elgin

Opposing teams were in for a long night once South Elgin's senior leader warmed up. Hodge showed just how hot his shooting touch could get in a dominant playoff performance against Streamwood. In that game Hodge scored a career-high 30 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the floor, which included a 6-for-6 showing from 3-point range in the second half. For the season the Storm co-captain finished with 370 points for an average of 13.2, a total that included 40 3-pointers. "Adam had a great year," South Elgin coach Chaz Taft said. "Offensively and defensively, he was our best player. I think it's his work ethic. He spent a lot of time in the gym over the summer getting better. I think he really wanted it."

Cory Hrynyk, Bartlett

A two-time all-area selection, Hrynyk was a two-way threat for Bartlett's first regional championship team in seven seasons. Offensively, he scored 394 points in 29 games (13.6 avg.) on 145-of-281 shooting (51.6 percent). That total included 37 3-point field goals made in 96 attempts (38.5 percent). The 6-foot-5 team co-captain also contributed 173 rebounds (6.0 avg.), 39 steals and 54 assists. Defensively, he shut down several of the area's top players, none more famously than when Hrynyk limited Northwestern-bound Nick Fruendt of Batavia to 4-of-23 shooting in the Class 4A Bartlett regional title game. "Cory really tapped into his athletic ability, harnessed it and contributed with that athleticism," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said. "He stopped being an athlete who played basketball and became a basketball player who was an athlete."

Kamil Janton, Bartlett

A two-time all-area selection, Janton was the intimidating presence in the paint opponents were forced to contend with when they faced Bartlett. A fourth-year varsity player, the 6-foot-9 Eastern Michigan recruit enjoyed his best season in blue and green. He scored 304 points in 27 games (11.3 avg.) and led the Hawks in rebounding with 7.7 per outing, a total that included 130 offensive boards. Defensively, he blocked a team-best 51 shots. "Kamil has grown as a player," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said. "He's always been athletically gifted, big and strong. We saw that when he played within himself he was a dominant force this year. He didn't force his game. He played smart."

Conrad Krutwig, Jacobs

A two-time all-area selection, Krutwig was the key player in the post for the team with the area's best record. In his two varsity seasons Krutwig helped Jacobs to a 52-5 record. This season the 6-foot-5 center sank 189 of his 320 shots (59 percent), 68 of 110 free throws (68 percent), was second on his team with 446 points (15.4 avg.) and he led the Golden Eagles with 228 rebounds (7.9 avg.). He also made 47 steals and dished 44 assists. "We still think he's just scratched the surface of what he can do," Jacobs coach Jim Hinkle said. "We do like his ability to pass out of the post. He does a great job of that and his ability to run the floor as a big man is unusual. You don't usually see big men who will rebound, throw the outlet, then score at the other end. He does that as well as any player in this area. I think you'll see another step from him next year."

Luke Labedzki, Bartlett

This Bartlett sophomore led the area's top offense in scoring this season with 411 points in 29 games for an average of 14.2 points per game. The shooting guard had a shooting percentage of 46.5 from the field (141 of 303), 38.3 percent from 3-point range (51 of 133) and 82.1 percent from the free throw line (78 of 95). Labedzki also contributed 110 rebounds, 42 steals and 44 assists. His personal 7-0 run at the end of the first half of a sectional semifinal against Glenbard West was a big reason Bartlett was able to match its deepest postseason run in school history. "He has worked very hard on his entire game: offense, defense, handling the ball," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said. "He has come a long way. He'll get better as he gets stronger and faster and he'll get more consistent in his effort game in, game out."

Marc Little, Bartlett

This transfer from Driscoll made an immediate impact on the area hoops landscape once he was ruled eligible by the IHSA 7 games into the season. One of the area's best playmaking-scoring guards, his presence added speed and ballhandling on the perimeter, additions that elevated Bartlett from a good team to one of the area's elite. Little finished the season with 298 points in 22 games (13.5 avg.), 103 assists (4.7) and 55 steals (2.5). "We had really good guards before Marc joined our team, but Marc had a gift as a point guard," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said. "He sees the floor super well, he passes the ball well and really kind of was the glue once he got on the team. He really pulled us together and got us working on our sets."

Brett Manning, St. Edward

A three-year varsity starter, Manning's smooth jumpshot and nose for the basket allowed him to top 1,000 career points in the second-to-last game of his senior season. He finished his senior year as the Wave's leading scorer with 426 points (15.5 avg.) on 137-of-360 shooting (38.1 percent), a total that included 56 3-point field goals in 173 attempts (32.4 percent). "Brett turned out to be a good senior leader," St. Edward coach Keith Chuipek said. "We asked him to guard the best player on the other team. His leadership was an intangible. He has a lot of talent, and he's going to make a good college player somewhere. He was our leader and our go-to guy. He had a great work ethic: first guy in the gym, last guy out."

John Moran, Jacobs

Moran moved back to point guard in his senior season and devastated defenses game after game with his all-encompassing court vision and ability to thread the needle with impossible passes from every angle. After committing to the University of Northern Iowa last summer, Moran led the Golden Eagles to a 26-3 record, the title of Jacobs Holiday tournament for the second year in a row and the school's first regional title since 1998. He finished his four-year varsity career as Jacobs' all-time leading scorer with 1,918 points. "You always read about the kids who make everyone else better," Jacobs coach Jim Hinkle said. "That's the mark of a great player and that's what John does. He's special."

Mike McCurdy, Burlington Central

Unexpectedly thrust into the role of his team's primary scorer in his senior season, McCurdy delivered a performance for the ages by averaging an area-best 24.7 points per game to lead Burlington Central to its second straight Big Northern East title and its first regional title in Class 3A. He Named to the AP Class 3A honorable mention all-state team and named unanimously to the Big Northern Conference East Division first team. "He was a great team player," Central coach Chris Payne said. "He got a lot of shots this year, but it all came within the context of our offense." McCurdy may have saved his best game of the season for the regional championship game, when he scored a career best 41 points in Central's 70-65 victory over Oswego. He finished that game 12 of 22 from the field and 15 of 16 from the free throw line.

Jake McNutt, Burlington Central

McNutt played a key role in Burlington Central's team success this season. The senior guard's 3-point prowess kept teams from focusing solely on leading scorer Mike McCurdy by making them respect the kickout pass. McNutt, who didn't log many minutes as a junior, became the area's third-leading 3-point scorer, sinking 78 of his 213 attempts from beyond the arc (36.6 percent). He shot 98 of 241 from the field overall (40.7 percent) and sank 37 of his 47 free throws (78.7 percent). "I think Jake is somebody who absolutely got the most out of his ability," Central coach Chris Payne said. "We never had to worry about how hard he was going to play. He knew what his role was and stayed within it."

Jordan Neukirch, Huntley

Huntley's best all-around athlete was the school's best all-around basketball player this season. "Defense is one of Jordan's strong suits," Huntley coach Marty Manning said of the second-year varsity starter. "He's always guarding the other team's best player, but he also had some great offensive games for us." Neukirch (pronounced Newkirk) made 101 of 244 field-goal attempts (41.4 percent), including 23 of 71 attempts from 3-point range (32.4 percent). His 285 points (9.5 avg.) were tops for Huntley's sectional final qualifying team, as were his 68 assists. He finished third in rebounding with 102.

Zack Peterson, Jacobs

Perhaps the area's most improved player, Peterson switched from small forward to big guard in his senior season and flourished on the perimeter for the FVC Valley Division and regional champion Golden Eagles. Last summer he attended skill and agility camps and worked on fundamentals every day to improve his game. Hampered by sore shins early in the season, Peterson got better as the season progressed and became the third Jacobs player to finish the season with a double-digit scoring average (10.9 ppg.). Peterson was one of the area's most accurate shooters. He sank 79 of 130 shots from 2-point range (61 percent) and 31 of his 66 attempts from 3-point range (47 percent). A team co-captain, he also contributed 85 rebounds, 39 steals and 42 assists. "He's a self-made player," Jacobs coach Jim Hinkle said. "He went out and worked on his skills instead of playing 100 AAU games and he became a better player."

Mark Tometich, Cary-Grove

Cary-Grove's senior sharpshooter got hotter as the season progressed, culminating in his scintillating performance in a near upset of top-seeded Jacobs at the Class 4A Crystal Lake South regional. Tometich sank six 3-pointers in that game, inlcuding four straight in the fourth quarter that rallied Cary-Grove within a point of the lead, but his 26-point effort proved not to be enough to extend the Trojans' season. The senior guard sank 69 of 158 attempts from 3-point range (43.7 percent) to lead his team. He also finished with 22 steals, 53 rebounds and 21 assists. "Mark came on really strong and really showed a bunch of maturity in the last third of the year," Cary-Grove coach Ralph Schuetzle said. "He came on strong, played the way we wanted him to play and probably became the most dominant 3-point shooter in the area."

Paul Tometich, Cary-Grove

Cary-Grove's leading scorer with 417 points in 29 games (14.4 avg.), Tometich did it all for the Trojans this season. "He might be one of the most complete players to have played at Cary-Grove," Cary-Grove coach Ralph Schuetzle said. "He was just such a good rebounder, he could score inside or outside, he passes the ball, he shot 75 percent from the free throw line -- he's just one of the most complete players that I've seen." He sank 105 of the 196 shots he attempted from 2-point range (52.8 percent), 45 of 127 shots from 3-point range (35.4) and 91 of 123 free throws (74.0 percent).

Jason Wagner, Burlington Central

Burlington Central's 2007-08 Big Northern East and regional championship team didn't have to look far for leadership with this powerful forward on the roster. "Jason Wagner is the single toughest kid I've ever coached, and I had some pretty tough ones at Mt. Carroll," Central coach Chris Payne said. "He got the most out of his ability. He played a lot bigger than he is height-wise and created a matchup problem for teams because if you put somebody big on him, he had the ability to go to the perimeter and if you put someone his size or smaller on him, he had the ability to go inside." Wagner finished second on his team in scoring with 392 points in 27 games (14.5 avg.). He shot 44.6 percent from the field overall (144 of 323) and connected on 65 of the 160 3-pointers he attempted (40.6 percent).

Eric Wilde, Crystal Lake South

This versatile 6-foot-5 junior was comfortable on the perimeter taking 3-pointers and showed the potential of becoming an all-around force by taking the ball to the hole when the opportunity arose. Wilde led the Gators in scoring with 290 points in 27 games, good for an average of 10.7 points per game. He sank a team-best 51 3-pointers. "He's got a way to go with his strength and his footwork, but when Eric sets his feet and got an open shot he scored pretty well," Gators coach Dan DeBruycker said. "We expected him to make a lot of shots for us and he did. We'll put some meat on his bones in the off-season so he can play chest-to-chest against the more physical teams in our conference next year."

Armani Williams, Elgin

The most prolific 3-point shooter in area history, Williams finished his career as Elgin's second all-time leading scorer with 1,726 points, 363 behind leader Sean Harrington. The senior shattered his own school and area record of 101 3-pointers in a season set as a sophomore by canning 114 3-pointers in his fourth year as a varsity starter. He finished his Elgin High career with 337 3-pointers, tying him for sixth place on the state's all-time list with Bloom's Brandon Cole. One of Elgin's four senior captains, Williams led the Maroons to the Class 4A Elite Eight as their leading scorer with 574 points (19.8 ppg.). He sank 172 of the 467 shots he took from the field (36.8 percent) and 114 of his 309 3-point attempts (36.9). He matched his own single-game school record by sinking nine 3-pointers in a victory over Barrington on Jan. 25, when he scored a season-high 31 points. All this took place after an amazingly quick recovery from ACL surgery last May. "I've never seen a 3-point shooter like him in my life," Elgin coach Mike Sitter said. "If you have an empty gym, there are a lot of kids who can go out and hit a 3 from 19 feet, 9 inches, but Armani can hit from anywhere on the court within 24 to 25 feet. I think when he catches in rhythm and his feet are set, he's the best shooter I've ever seen."