All-Area boys team | Cook

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Alan Aboona St. ViatorA solid run to last year's regional title game was a preview of even better things from Aboona. The junior point guard averaged 13.5 points, 3.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds and could score off the drive or deep with 43 3-pointers. "He's really matured from his sophomore year as a leader," said coach Joe Majkowski, "and when you look at him you forget sometimes he's got another year left."

Dan Bruno FremdFremd didn't have to worry about what it would get from Bruno as he repeated as an all-area pick. The senior point guard averaged 15.3 points and 2 assists and made 78 percent of his free throws and 44 percent of his 3-pointers. "He's been rock-solid for us for two years," said coach Bob Widlowski. "He brought a lot of energy and a very good attitude to everything he's done."

Mack Darrow BarringtonBarrington would love to have Mack back for another year. But the versatile 6-foot-8 senior and third-year varsity starter is off to Princeton after averaging 18 points, 8 rebounds and 2.4 assists a game. "Mack handled different roles really well and moved around inside and out," said coach Marty Dello. "He's one of the hardest-working kids I've ever coached."

Tim Gilhooly ConantShooting always has been one of Gilhooly's strengths as he averaged 13.5 points and hit 54 3-pointers. The senior also averaged 4 rebounds a game and his all-around play led to York tourney MVP honors. "He's really been the mainstay of our offense this year to put pressure on people from the perimeter," said coach Tom McCormack. "But he really became a complete player and had a solid season leadership-wise."

Chris Hall Hoffman EstatesThere weren't a lot of peaks and valleys on or off the court as Hall became the Hawks second-most productive player. The senior averaged 9 points a game, was their leader in offensive rebounds and could defend inside or on the perimeter. "Without question he was our most consistent guy in terms of production," said coach Bill Wandro. "And he worked behind the scenes to keep us going in the right direction."

Richie Kemph Rolling MeadowsOne day this fall principal Charles Johns found someone in the gym shooting baskets at 5 a.m. It was Kemph, who broke out as a junior to score 41 points against Wheeling, average 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists and hit nearly 60 3s at a 45 percent clip. "He's a basketball junkie," said coach Kevin Katovich. "He's constantly working on his game."

Chris Klimek FremdKlimek didn't rest on a solid sophomore year as he showed his versatility at 6-foot-4 by averaging 14.7 points and 6 rebounds and coming in second on Fremd in assists. "He was really dedicated to improving in all aspects and it paid off for him," said coach Bob Widlowski. "He made himself into one of the best offensive rebounders in the area."

James Kurtz WheelingThe athletic ability Kurtz displayed as a two-time all-area wide receiver was on display for the Wheeling varsity for 31/2 seasons. Kurtz averaged 12.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists and improved his free-throw shooting to 73 percent. "He's just a superior athlete," said coach Lou Wool. "He's going to fill up the box score. He's going to give you points, rebounds, assists and steals."

Joe LaTulip ProspectLaTulip went from a sophomore spark off the bench to a primary threat as the Knights won the Mid-Suburban League title. LaTulip averaged 12.6 points and 3.4 assists a game, hit 52 3-pointers and was money at the free-throw line at 90 percent. "For how much he's been through (health-wise), and he's been through a lot," said coach John Camardella, "says a lot about what type of kid he is."

Cameron Leavitt ConantLeavitt's all-around work wasn't flashy but it was extremely effective. The senior point guard averaged 10.5 points, 3.4 assists and 3 rebounds, shot 48 percent from the field and was a big part of the area's stingiest defense. "He's done a lot of everything for us this year," said coach Tom McCormack. "He's a tremendous on-the-ball defender and that gets a little overlooked. He's really a complete player."

Jason Leblebijian ProspectThe Bradley baseball signee and all-area shortstop showed he can succeed offensively, defensively and as a leader on the court as the Mid-Suburban East player of the year. Leblebijian averaged 13.8 points and 4 rebounds and hit 49 3-pointers at a 46 percent success rate. "He has one of the most competitive attitudes I've seen in a high school athlete," said coach John Camardella. "He's never backed down from an assignment."

Matt Martinski Elk GroveElk Grove missed more than Martinski's team-high 13.8 points a game as a knee injury sidelined the senior for all but 90 seconds of the final month. The 6-foot-2, third-year varsity player also averaged 5.2 rebounds and took on big challenges such as Glenbrook South's Jack Cooley and South Elgin's Dani Lopez. "He always has played bigger," said coach Anthony Furman. "He held some tough players below their averages."

Richard McLoughlin St. ViatorMcLoughlin also made a big jump in consistency from his sophomore year to average 12.5 points a game. He also operated as Viator's big man inside at 6-foot-4 and led the team in rebounds at 5.5 a game. "He's had some big games for us," said coach Joe Majkowski. "He has that inside-outside presence that makes it tough for others to deal with."

Luke Mead Hoffman EstatesMead was easily the Hawks' most productive player as the repeat all-area pick averaged 17 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds, hit 51 3-pointers, made 80 percent of his free throws and also led them in steals and blocks. "Our success as a team has come when he's been able to know when he has to score and when he has to set up other guys to score," said coach Bill Wandro. "That's a very difficult thing for any high school kid to do."

Kevin Mulligan Buffalo GroveThe junior guard has displayed the toughness to guard the toughest opponents around the last two years. Mulligan also saw his overall responsibility increase as he averaged 12.4 points, 4 rebounds and 2.7 assists. "His greatest asset is his heart and desire to win," said coach Ryan O'Connor. "That's what separates him from a lot of other players."

Cully Payne SchaumburgPayne was in the Mr. Basketball conversation as he was averaging 22 points and 5.5 assists and hit 42 3s before suffering what turned out to be a season-ending back injury after 16 games. He led the Saxons to the sectional final in a junior all-area season. "Just an amazing kid," said coach Bob Williams. "His senior year was so much better than his junior year."

Kevin Reed ProspectFor the second straight all-area season, the 6-foot-7 Reed was able to change the game at both ends of the floor. The senior averaged 13.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists and disrupted opposing offenses with 80 blocked shots. "He's been willing to play the role his team needs him to play," said coach John Camardella. "He's the leader our offense is based around and one of the best passers there is."

Alex Regalado LeydenRegalado's rise to one of the area's leading scorers at 18 points a game mirrored that of the Eagles as they tripled their wins to 12. The senior also averaged 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals and was a 78-percent shooter on the 229 times he marched to the free-throw line. "He can graduate knowing he left everything in that jersey," said coach Bill Heisler. "He played hard every time he put it on."

Tony Rizzo ConantThe 6-foot-5 senior and repeat all-area pick had a knack for giving Conant what it needed at the right time. Rizzo averaged 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists a game and could play anywhere on the floor. "I've said many times he's our Toni Kukoc-type player," said coach Tom McCormack. "He does everything for us. He's a great leader and a very unselfish, into the team type of kid."

Justin Swiercz SchaumburgPerseverance paid off for Swiercz as he went from a freshman "B" player and junior reserve to an all-around threat who averaged 10.4 points and 4.5 rebounds and hit 35 3-pointers. "Justin's one of those dream come true kind of kids," said coach Bob Williams. "It's a testament to how hard he worked in the offseason to become a good player."