The 2022-23 Boys Prep Hoops All-Area Dream Team
HILLSALE COUNTY — Another successful season of boys prep hoops has come and gone. This season was filled with exciting postseason matchups and individual efforts that shined a spotlight on the endless pool of talented student athletes in Hillsdale County. With the end of each season, the Hillsdale Daily News announces the All-Area Dream Teams.
Nominees were sent in by coaches from 10 schools in our coverage area. All-Area Dream Team members were selected from that list of nominees based on their individual efforts, leadership and teamwork throughout the 2022-23 winter sports season. Photos were submitted by athletic departments or pulled from archives.
Two senior captains were chosen, along with 10 other boys prep hoops stars. Along with the All-Area Dream Team, we choose one head coach to earn Coach of the Year honors for their efforts during the season. In addition, one coach earns honorable mention honors.
2022-23 All-Area Dream Team
Colton Wiler - Senior - Reading: Co-Captain
Brady Wright - Senior - Jonesville: Co-Captain
Junior Alvarez - Junior - Litchfield
Laiken Barnes - Senior - Waldron
Jack Bowles - Junior - Hillsdale
Beau Groves - Senior - Camden-Frontier
Casey Loper - Senior - North Adams-Jerome
Thomas Maier - Sophomore - Will Carleton Academy
Jaxson Phifer - Senior - Jonesville
Dominic Scharer - Junior - Hillsdale Academy
Kade Spahr - Senior - Pittsford
Conner Welden - Senior - Hillsdale Academy
Colton Wiler and Brady Wright were both junior members of the 2021-22 All-Area Dream Team. This year, they both receive captain spots on the Dream Team after having another impressive season in their senior years. Wiler averaged a double-double per-game this season, finishing with 13 double-doubles, and he helped his team win a third consecutive Pat Paterson Pool A championship (earning Pool A MVP honors). He had 313 points, 249 rebounds and 25 blocks this season.
Wright broke the career steals record for the Comets this season, leading the team in many statistical scoring categories. He led his team on the court and off the court, helping take them to a district championship and an outright Big 8 title. He had 241 points, and had more than 100 assists, rebounds and steals this season. Both athletes were First Team All-Conference honorees and were AP all-state honorable mentions last season. Both Wright and Wiler were named to the Detroit News 2022-23 D3 All-State honorable mention team. Wright was a part of a Comet team that finished Academic All-State.
This is the second season in a row Junior Alvarez has earned a spot on the All-Area Dream Team. While the junior was unable to break the 3-pointer school record he tied last year, the Terrier had 46 threes this season and averaged 13.6 points-per-game. He was an athlete of the week winner this season, a second team all-conference honoree this season, and an all-state honorable mention last season.
Senior Laiken Barnes ended his impressive senior career as one of the best rebounders in the county. The 6'6 senior led the Spartans in rebounds and blocked shots this year and was second in team scoring. The captain and leader for the Spartans signed a letter of intent to continue his hoops career at Olivet College. Barnes was an athlete of the week winner and an honorable mention all-conference honoree this season.
Junior Jack Bowles was second in the LCAA in scoring (275) and free throw percentage this season (81.8). Bowles also led the entire LCAA in three-pointers. He led the Hornets in points, averaging 19.35 a game. He was also First Team All-Conference and Team MVP. He made a total of 56 3-pointers this season. Bowles was also named to the Detroit News D3 All-State honorable mention list.
Senior Beau Groves was one of the statistical leaders for the Camden-Frontier boys basketball team each of the past three seasons. The senior moves up from honorable mention dream team last year to earning a spot on this year's list. The senior was a second-team all-conference honoree this season. He was a senior captain on the Camden-Frontier prep hoops team.
Senior Casey Loper was a honorable mention dream team member last season. The senior Ram was one of the captains that led the team to their first district title appearance since 2017, scoring 30 points in their semifinal win over Litchfield. Loper led the Rams in many statistical categories this season. He was an athlete of the week honoree and a second-team all-conference honoree.
Sophomore Thomas Maier was an all-conference honoree this season. The sophomore led the Cougars in scoring this season, averaging 15.6 points-per-game. Maier also averaged four rebounds, 3.6 steals and 3.6 assists per-game. Maier was also an athlete of the week honorable mention throughout the winter sports season. He was one of the top scorers in WCA's conference this season.
Jaxson Phifer stepped into his largest role yet for the Comet basketball program during his senior year. After showing strong progression his junior season, Phifer ended his hoops career leading the team in total scoring this season with 276 points. The Comet also had the most 3-pointers this season on the team. He ended his career with a First-Team All-Conference honor and was nominated multiple times for athlete of the week.
Junior Dominic Scharer followed up his 2021-22 Dream Team season with another season worthy of an All-Area Dream Team honor. The junior Colt earned First-Team All-Conference honors this season, helping take the Hillsdale Academy Colts to another district championship, an SCAA East Title and a 18-5 record. The junior averaged 17.3 points-per-game and 9.7 rebounds-per-game. He also shot a 52.2 FG percentage and led the team in many statistical categories.
Senior Kade Spahr ended his hoops career with the Pittsford Wildcats with his second consecutive All-Area Dream Team honor. Spahr was one of the senior captains of a Pittsford basketball team that finished the year second in the SCAA East and had a 17-5 overall record. He received First-Team All-Conference honors this year. Spahr was in control of the offense this season, dishing out 58 assists. He also led the team in steals with 64. He was second in team scoring this season and in three-pointers made. He was also the Pat Paterson boys Pool B MVP this season, helping lead the Wildcats to a Pool B championship.
Hillsdale Academy senior Conner Welden was the team's captain and a First-Team All-Conference honoree this season. Welden was one of the top scorers for the Colts this year, helping lead the team to an SCAA East Title, a District Championship and an 18-5 overall record. Welden helped run the Colts' offense and was one of the most dynamic defensive players in the SCAA this season.
Honorable Mentions
Wade Brown - Senior - Camden-Frontier
Dawson Shaw - Junior - Camden-Frontier
Peter Moore - Senior - Hillsdale
Gavin Wickham - Senior - Hillsdale
Ridley Fast - Junior - Hillsdale Academy
Mikey Plemmons - Sophomore - Hillsdale Academy
Warrick Elder - Junior - Jonesville
Gavin Van Kampen - Junior - Jonesville
Tyler Bills - Junior - Litchfield
Simon Collins - Junior - Litchfield
Carsen Delaney - Junior - North Adams-Jerome
Thayden Welch - Freshman - North Adams-Jerome
Gavyn Carden - Junior - Pittsford
Pat VanDusen - Senior - Pittsford
Jesse Cabrera - Senior - Reading
Maverick Messenger - Senior - Reading
Jacobi Gonzalez - Junior - Waldron
Landon Monahan - Sophomore - Waldron
Tyler Barnes - Junior - Will Carleton Academy
Tyler Slade - Sophomore - Will Carleton Academy
Coach of the Year: Jeff Turner - Jonesville
Since his return to Jonesville, head coach Jeff Turner has coached the Comets to three winning seasons, two shares of the Big 8 Championship and one outright Big 8 Title.
The 2022-23 season brought the Comets a 19-6 record and an outright Big 8 championship in their final season as members of the Conference. Coach Turner led the team to their first district championship appearance since 2012 after defeating Jackson Lumen Christi 51-36 in the semifinals. They then went on to defeat Hanover-Horton in a 54-36 championship victory. It was the Comets' first district title win in over 20 years. The team took on Laingsburg in the regional semifinals, dropping a close game 54-61 after a second-half comeback attempt fell short.
In addition to their postseason success, coach Turner led the Comets to rivalry sweeps of Homer, Quincy, Springport, Union City and Reading in league play. They defeated LCAA champion Onsted 66-60 in a non-league matchup and played for a Big 8 crossover championship with future league opponent Napoleon. Coach Turner looks to lead the program into the next transition for Comet Athletics as the school moves to the Cascades Conference next year.
Jeff Turner was the 2021-22 All-Area Dream Team Coach of the Year Runner-Up, swapping places this year with the 2022-23 Dream Team Coach of the Year Runner-Up Zach Miller, who was the 2021-22 Coach of the Year. Zach Miller led the Colts to an 18-5 overall record, and SCAA East Title and their second consecutive district title.
Congratulations to all of the members of the 2022-23 Dream Team, honorable mentions and the Coach of the Year honorees. The Dream Team is made possible by the season-long contributions of coaches and fans who provide stats and accolade lists.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Introducing the 2022-23 Boys Prep Hoops Dream Team and Coach of the Year winner Jeff Turner
