C4 | SPORTS THE FREDERICK NEWS-POST | SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 2018

Player of the Year COLLIN SCHLEE OAKDALE Junior Guard n Armed with a much-improved all-around game that has attracted interest from Division I schools, Schlee served as the centerpiece player for an Oakdale team that made its first state tournament appearance in three seasons, claimed its second straight Central Maryland Conference title and won 21 straight games before a season-ending loss to Lake Clifton in the Class 2A state semifinals.

n Shot the ball well from beyond the 3-point arc but also made his presence felt above the rim,often finishing drives to basket with dunks in addition to asserting him- self on the boards. Led the county in scoring (21.3 points per game) in addition to averaging 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest. Shot 50 percent from the field, and his stellar season included a 40-point performance in a 69-66 win over Randallstown that gave the Bears a bracket championship at the Governor’s Challenge.

FIRST TEAM

BRAXTON FOREMAN JAHMIK HILL DREW JEZIORO NICHOLAS LANG JR POWE SENIOR GUARD/FORWARD JUNIOR GUARD SENIOR GUARD SENIOR GUARD JUNIOR FORWARD THOMAS JOHNSON FREDERICK OAKDALE LINGANORE THOMAS JOHNSON n His 6-foot-5 frame combined with a smooth n Thanks to a strong inside-outside game and n Strong decision-making and grit while running n Did just about everything for the Lancers, often n Tenacious rebounding, particularly on the jump shot and an array of offensive moves made superior athleticism, Hill showed the ability to take the Bears’ offense stood out in the minds of several alternating between roles of scorer and facilitator offensive end, helped fuel the Patriots’ run to their him a matchup nightmare for opponents. Averaged over games for the Cadets. Averaged 18.0 points, 6.3 area coaches. Averaged a county-high 7.0 assists throughout games. Averaged 19.7 points, 6.6 first region crown in 16 years. Led TJ in scoring (13.3 13.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists. rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals per contest. for the Class 2A West Region champion Oakdale. rebounds and 4.0 assists. points per game) and rebounding (9.4 rpg).

SECOND TEAM HONORABLE MENTION

Pos. Name School Grade Brunswick—Mason Bauer, Tommy Williams G GEORGE AUEL BRUNSWICK SENIOR Catoctin—Ryan Fisher, Gavin Palmer G J.P. DELORENZO OAKDALE SENIOR Frederick—Nathan Osei, Brody Rinehart F DYLAN REID CATOCTIN SENIOR FCA—Selam Nuru, Isaac Santamaria G RICHARD RIVAS THOMAS JOHNSON JUNIOR Frederick Force—Isaac Blickenstaff, Clay Sumpter G TRUMAINE STRICKLAND TUSCARORA JUNIOR Frederick Warriors—Noah Passarelli,Ben Thurman Linganore—Christian Nolan Middletown—Dan Boush, Logan Call, Reese Poffenbarger THIRD TEAM MSD—Stefan Anderson, Rory Lewis Oakdale—Chase French, Noah Polke Pos. Name School Grade St. John’s Catholic Prep—Brycen Hill, Aaron White G TARIQ MCKENZIE FREDERICK SENIOR Thomas Johnson—Zay Brooks, Bennett Commander F JERIMIAH SWEET WALKERSVILLE SENIOR Tuscarora—Anthony Davis, Kyle Lepkowski G DREW TWILLMAN LINGANORE SENIOR Urbana—Anthony Neff, Axel Seka, Ben Sicat F BRIAN WALKER MIDDLETOWN JUNIOR Walkersville—Hunter Cleaver, Zack Mathis, Josh Polce G JOHN WERNER JR. MSD SENIOR Former Terps coach Driesell headed to the Hall ‘Whatever you do next, I’m going in the newspaper, and that was Nash, Kidd, Allen and to go with you there, too.’” when Coach (Dean) Smith saw Allen, a 10-time All-Star, is it, and that’s when Coach Smith Hill will also be inducted the most prolific 3-point shoot- started recruiting me.” er in NBA history and a two-time Driesell laughed that he would By GREG BEACHAM league champion whose career have been in the Hall of Fame AP Sports Writer also encompassed roughly the much earlier if Scott had come to same two-decade stretch as his Davidson. SAN ANTONIO — Steve Nash three fellow inductees. Cheeks is a four-time NBA All- was an unsung Canadian kid who The class also includes two Star and one of the greatest de- got one significant U.S. basketball giants of the modern women’s fensive point guards in hoops his- scholarship offer. Jason Kidd was game. Thompson was the first tory. The Philadelphia 76ers great an Oakland hoops prodigy ticket- draft choice in WNBA history played the same position as Kidd ed for superstardom from child- and a four-time league champi- and Nash, but at a different time hood. on, while Smith is the top scorer in the game’s evolution. After parallel careers that first in women’s professional basket- “When I was playing, (the job) crossed during college workouts ball history. was making sure I was taking a quarter-century ago, two of the Driesell, best known for his 17 care of my players,” Cheeks said. best point guards of their genera- seasons at Maryland, is the only “I would have been crazy not to tion are thrilled to be headed into Associated Press NCAA coach to win 100 games at get the ball to Julius (Erving) and the Basketball Hall of Fame to- Former Maryland coach Lefty Driesell speaks during a news conference four different schools. Scott is a Moses (Malone).” gether. five-time NBA All-Star who also Welts, the first openly gay NBA “It’s even more special when for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2018 excelled in the ABA. executive, has worked in sever- it’s with him, and with so many announcement on Saturday in San Antonio. Driesell drew laughs when al aspects of the game, includ- people you respect,” Nash said. the Hall of Famers got togeth- ing the launch of the WNBA. The Nash, Kidd, Grant Hill and Ray for more than their sublime play- two-time NBA Most Valuable er with his still-dry wit: “I think former president of the Phoenix Allen learned Saturday that they making skills, and they’ve both Player and an eight-time All-Star, it’s more for my players and my Suns, he became the Warriors’ are among the 13-member Hall of provided assists to each other while Kidd earned 10 All-Star se- coaching staffs and my trainers president and chief of operations Fame class that will be inducted along the way. lections and claimed a champi- and athletic directors that hired in 2011. in September. They played nearly two sea- onship ring in Dallas in 2011. me than it is for me, because I’m Thorn has a lengthy career as The class also includes Mau- sons together with the Phoenix They’re both also bonded with 86 years old. I want them to enjoy a player, coach and executive. rice Cheeks, Tina Thompson, Suns from late 1996 to 1998, but Hill, the seven-time NBA All- it. I probably won’t be around too He served as the NBA’s executive coach Lefty Driesell, Charlie Star who won two NCAA titles at long to enjoy it ... but it’s just a big vice president of basketball oper- Scott, longtime executive Rick their bond began in the Bay Area during their famed group work- Duke. The trio’s professional ca- honor and a thrill.” ations between stints in the front Welts, NBA executive Rod Thorn, reers all encompassed rough- Scott, the first black scholar- offices of the Bulls and Nets. outs while Nash was at Santa Katie Smith, the late Ora Mae ly the same two-decade stretch, ship athlete at North Carolina be- Radja was one of the great- Washington and Croatian star Clara and Kidd was at California. and they exchanged excited text fore his championship-winning est European players of his gen- Dino Radja. Most of the induct- “He kept pushing me, and messages earlier this week when NBA career with the Suns and eration. The Croatian scorer also ees appeared together before the hopefully I pushed him to be- they learned of their impending Boston Celtics, shared his enor- played four seasons for the Bos- Final Four semifinals in San An- come a better player,” Kidd said. Hall trip. mous mutual respect for Driesell. ton Celtics. tonio, beginning the five-month “Steve was always early, and he “I’m just following Steve and “If people don’t know it, if it Washington (1898-1971) was a stretch of togetherness before the was always the last to leave, and Grant around,” Kidd said with a wasn’t for Lefty, there would be spectacular athlete who excelled ceremony in Springfield, Massa- he never gets tired. So when you grin. “I was (NBA) co-rookie of no Charlie Scott,” Scott said. “He at tennis but also played on 11 chusetts. have a workout partner like that, the year with Grant, I’ve known was the guy who first recruited consecutive Women’s Colored But Nash and Kidd have been it will only make you better.” Steve forever, and now we’re go- me (to Davidson). And I guess Basketball World’s Champion- linked since their teenage years Nash went on to become a ing into this class together. I said, he hated it, but he put my name ship teams.