Markus Burton, Aaron Wolfe lauded for hardwood excellence

It was a season to remember on the high school hardwood on the area boys basketball scene during the 2022-23 campaign.

Penn star Markus Burton turned in a record setting senior season to lead the way for individual performers.

The NorthWood squad stole the headlines as the Panthers earned the program's first state championship and just the second boys state crown in Elkhart County history. Jimtown won a Class 2A state title in 2004.

Penn guard Markus Burton is the best in Indiana, and it shouldn't even be close

Burton, a Notre Dame recruit, is the Tribune's Area Player of the Year. The electric, do-it-all 6-1 guard was also named Northern Indiana Conference MVP and to the Supreme 15 Team. Burton is the frontrunner for 2023 IndyStar Mr. Basketball honors, which are set to be announced on April 19 at the Indiana High School Sports Awards Banquet at Butler University in Indianapolis. He was named to the Indiana All-Star team and is the first Penn boys player to receive the honor. Burton was also named Friday as one of the six finalists for the Mr. Basketball honor, which is given to the senior who receives the most votes from the state's high school coaches and media.

Burton averaged a state best 30.2 points a game in pacing Penn to a 28-2 mark. He also averaged 5.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.3 steals per game, while shooting 56 percent from the field (including 42 percent on 64-of-151 three-point attempts). Burton led the Kingsmen to the NIC title, along with Class 4A sectional and regional crowns. No. 2 Penn saw its season end with a 58-57 loss to No. 5 Kokomo in the North Semistate game at Michigan City. Kokomo then lost to No. 1 and undefeated Ben Davis 53-41 in the 4A state title contest.

Burton scored a program record 909 points this season. He finished with a program and St. Joe county record 2,273 career points, good for 20th in state history.

Aaron Wolfe, who guided NorthWood to the Class 3A state title, is the Tribune's Coach of the Year. Wolfe directed the Panthers to a 28-2 record, including a 7-0 mark to win the Northern Lakes Conference championship. NorthWood beat Guerin Catholic 66-63 in overtime in the Class 3A state championship contest to win the program's first state title.

Wolfe is 281-110 in 16 seasons at NorthWood. The former Warsaw assistant coach has guided the Panthers to nine sectional titles and one regional and one semistate crown. He was also chosen to coach the Indiana Junior All-Star team.

Wolfe was also honored as the NLC Coach of the Year and the IBCA District 1 Coach of the Year.

FIRST TEAM

Markus Burton, Penn senior: See above.

Cade Brenner, NorthWood senior: The 6-3 guard paced the Panthers in scoring at 18.5 ppg. He scored a program best 550 points this season to finish second in program history with 1,559 points. Brenner also averaged 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game. The Huntington University recruit also finished second in program history in assists (224) and sixth in rebounds (284). Brenner scored a game-high 28 points in the state title game win.

Deaglan Sullivan, Marian senior: The stellar guard led the No. 2 Knights to a 23-3 mark, one year after finishing as Class 3A state runner-up. Sullivan averaged a team-high 18.9 ppg. to earn first team All-NIC honors. He also averaged 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.6 steals per outing and shot 51 percent from the field.

Ian Raasch, NorthWood senior: Raasch was a key man on both ends of the floor for his state championship squad. The 6-6 forward averaged 15 points to go with 5.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Raasch was named the first Indiana All Star in program history and was also honored with the Mental Attitude Award following the Class 3A state title game, in which he had 13 points. He finished first in program history in rebounds (539) and sixth in points (1,130) and will play at Grace College.

Brycen Hannah, John Glenn senior: The sturdy forward paced the Falcons to Class 3A sectional and regional championships. Hannah, son of Glenn coach Travis Hannah, averaged a team-high 18.9 ppg. He also averaged seven rebounds and two assists per game, while shooting 58 percent from the field. Hannah was a first-team All-NIC pick and helped Glenn win its first sectional title since 2005.

SECOND TEAM

Joe Smith, Penn senior: The guard averaged 10.5 points, 3.2 assists and two steals per contest. Smith shot 41 percent from 3-point land and earned second team All-NIC honors.

Jamie Hodges, Jr., Michigan City senior: Hodges was a bucket maker at 23.3 ppg. for the Wolves. He also averaged 4.9 assists and 2.4 steals per game and shot 38 percent from distance.

Ameer Harris, Clay senior: Harris was the top scorer at 18.8 ppg. for the Colonials. He also averaged 4.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game to earn first team All-NIC honors.

Marcus Northern, Washington senior: The star guard helped lead Washington to its first sectional title since 2010. Northern, who was a first team All-NIC choice, averaged 16.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Chase Konieczny, Saint Joseph sophomore: The talented guard averaged a team-high 19 ppg. for coach Eric Gaff;s squad. He also averaged 6.4 rebounds per outing and was a first team All-NIC selection.

HONORABLE MENTION

Dareon Thornton, Marian senior: Thornton averaged 12.3 ppg. in helping the Knights go 23-3. He also averaged 4.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

Tyler Raasch, NorthWood sophomore: Raasch averaged 9.8 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds per contest. The 6-8 forward also led his team in blocked shots at 3.2 per game.

Tyson Chupp, Bethany Christian junior: Chupp poured in 18 ppg. for the Bruins. He also averaged 4.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest.

Steven Reynolds III, Washington freshman: Reynolds scored 13.3 ppg. in his first season. The 6-4 guard also averaged 3.8 rebounds.

Jackson Price, Marian senior: Price averaged 10.5 ppg. and led the Knights with 61 treys.

Joey Garwood, Penn senior: Garwood did it all well for the Kingsmen. The guard averaged 12.6 points and 3.5 rebounds and led Penn with 65 treys.

Jayce Lee, Saint Joseph junior: Lee put in 13.9 ppg. and also grabbed 4.1 rebounds per contest.

Brittain Vann, Adams senior: Vann averaged a team-high 18.7 ppg. He also averaged over six rebounds per outing.

Marvin Schindler, Riley sophomore: Schindler popped in 15.7 ppg, for the Wildcats and made 32 treys.

Alex Ellenson, Northridge senior: Ellenson was a force in his first season on the varsity. He averaged 13.1 ppg. and 5.3 rpg. as the Raiders went 15-11 and were sectional runner-up to Penn. Ellenson missed his first two years due to injuries and played on the JV his junior year.

Arthur Jones, Mishawaka senior: Brady Fisher, Mishawaka junior: The pair helped pace the Cavemen to a 21-8 mark. Coach Bodie Bender's squad won the program's first sectional title in 37 years in his first season at the helm. Fisher was named to the All-NLC team.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: The Tribune's 2022-23 All-Area boys basketball team is recognized