By Stephen Barston
With Duke winning the championship this
past Wednesday, it was bittersweet ending to the House basketball season: sweet
for the Blue Devils, who used their depth to coast through the playoffs, but
sour for the rest of the league, who now must wait until next year to bring home
the title for their team. Throughout the year, there were big surprises and
players that need recognition for their great performances week in and week
out. On that note, here are my awards for the 2012-2013 house basketball
season…
MVP:George Reed, Texas— Texas
fought its way up from #10 in the preseason power rankings and ended up as the
last undefeated team in the league. Reed did it all for the Longhorns
throughout the season, scoring, setting up buckets for his teammates, and
playing ferocious defense, too. The only thing he couldn’t do was find his way
to the championship game, but that’s easily overshadowed by his consistency in
the regular season.
Defensive
Player of the Year: Daniel Traver— It was no coincidence that Syracuse
allowed the fewest points in the league this season; each game, they were led
on the defensive end by Daniel Traver. Traver’s quickness and strength allowed
him to defend guards and big men, seeming to hold everyone he covered to
below-average performances, even if he was going up against someone taller than
him.
Newcomer
of the Year (Best Freshman): Jamie Schofield—
Schofield’s versatility constantly makes him a threat on the offensive end. On
fast break opportunities, he can break through the defense with a few quick
steps and get to the hoop to draw a foul. In half-court possessions, he can
work the ball around to his teammates or size up his defender to get into open
space and knock down a shot. Congrats to him for a solid season, and look for
him to wreak even more havoc as a sophomore next season.
Surprise Team of the Year: Stanford— Stanford was ranked 7th at the beginning of the
season, and, in my opinion, lacked a true star to guide their team. That ended
up being irrelevant. Sophomores Davis Nixon, John Mackie, and Anthony DiMeglio
spearheaded a squad that centered around impeccable chemistry and that worked
efficiently together. They ended up near the top of the standings, much to the
surprise of many House fans, but there was good reason for their success.
Player(s) to Look For In the Future:
The Drake Brothers— As the
sophomores move on to 11th/12th grade house basketball
next year, the Drakes will still be in the 9th/10th league
and will have a certain advantage. This year, they found a way to lead their
team of all freshmen to a few victories despite all the odds being against
them. They are the perfect guards: shooting and passing specialists that can
orchestrate a dangerous offense. Look for them to find success next year with
valuable experience and a full season under their belts.
Once
again, congratulations to Duke on a successful season (to say the least) and
see you all next season…
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