With the reader contest to match my top 10 Elkhart County boys basketball players of the last 25 years under way (details were spelled out in Tuesday’s Twine Line), I’ve had a couple people ask if specific players fit into the eligible time frame.
Fair enough question. Some people don’t remember years as easily as others.
So, as a service to all you potential entrants, I’m listing below the eligible players that have been Elkhart Truth All-Area first-teamers since the 1984-85 season (given that you had to be a senior between 1987-88 and 2011-12). I’m guessing some of you will find a player or two for which you say, “Oh, yeah, I forgot about that guy.”
Please note that the list below does exclude any Marian, Penn, Wawasee and Westview players. They’re part of our annual All-Area teams, but not part of this project. Also excluded below are the active high school players who were first-teamers last season or the year before. They are not eligible, either.
I’ve also put the players who were already named to spots 14-25 on my Top 25 in italics. You obviously don’t want to select them if you’re entering the contest.
One more thing. For 2004-2012, the players are listed in the order of All-Area voting point totals among coaches and Truth staffers. Before 2004, players are listed alphabetically as complete voting totals are not available.
Hope the below list helps …
2012: Todd Johnson, Urston Smith, Jason Spriggs.
2011: Todd Johnson, Chris Holt.
2010: Michael Kibiloski, Taylor Kolbus, Josh Riikonen, Doug Acker.
2009: Karvel Anderson (No. 22), Skyler Titus (No. 18), Ethan Hussey, Elliot Smith.
2008: Brent Eaton, Skyler Titus (No. 18), Karvel Anderson (No. 22), Derrick Troyer.
2007: Dairese Gary, Brent Eaton, Zach Troyer, Ben Werner, Brian DeShone.
2006: Ryne Lightfoot, Kevin Sindle, Dairese Gary, Brent Eaton.
2005: Shawntes Gary, Ryne Lightfoot, Derek Drews, Ronnie Thomas, Derrick DeShone (No. 17).
2004: Shawntes Gary, Kyle Johnson, Eric Eaton, Ryne Lightfoot.
2003: Ryan Bradley, Adrian Conrad, Derek Drews, Eric Eaton, Andrew Hershberger, Jerimy Robinson.
2002: Clint Adell, Jordi Buller (No. 24), Rory Clouse, Jeremy Herring, Andrew Hershberger, Quennel Young.
2001: Brandon Hughes, Willy Will.
2000: Antwan Cassell, Charlie Roeder, Aaron Thomas, Ryan Thwaits (No. 16).
1999: Anthony Kyle (co-No. 25), James Scott (co-No. 25), Aaron Thomas, Ryan Thwaits (No. 16).
1998: Bobby Brown, Vernard Malone, Jon Swartz, Kevin Weirich.
1997: Jarvis Bloch, Andy Ganger, Todd Janes, Jayme Matthews.
1996: J.D. Hershberger, Brian Ross, Ryan Thomas.
1995: Ben Franger, Brodie Garber (No. 21), Antiony Hardin, Andy Hirschy, Ben Larson (No. 14).
1994: Andy Hirschy, Roger Prough (No. 19), Demarco Taylor (No. 23).
1993: John Jackson, Johnny Moore, Roger Prough (No. 19), Demarco Taylor (No. 23).
1992: Matt Grieser, Donny Hackworth, John Jackson.
1991: Daimon Beathea (No. 15), Matt Grieser, Jeff Massey (No. 20), Mike Swanson.
1990: Daimon Beathea (No. 15), Mike Biddlecom, Jamar Johnson, Bill Mutch.
1989: Ross Hales, Jamar Johnson, Vaugh Troyer.
1988: Shawn Kemp, Mike Essig, Ross Hales, Gary Zimmerman.
1987: Ross Hales, Shawn Kemp.
1986: Shawn Kemp.
1985: Shawn Kemp.
