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Meet the 2022-23 All-Livingston County boys basketball team

bill khan, livingston daily
·4 min read
Brighton's Ben Anderson (33) was often asked to defend taller opponents, like Canton's Dante Favor (12).
Brighton's Ben Anderson (33) was often asked to defend taller opponents, like Canton's Dante Favor (12).
Ben Anderson
Ben Anderson

Ben Anderson

► School: Brighton

► Class: Senior

► Accomplishments: One of the most improved players in the county, Anderson was a force on both ends of the court. He averaged 9.0 points and 7.1 rebounds, with most of those rebounds coming on the offensive end (86-85). He shot 66.4% from the field. He scored in double figures in 11 of 24 games. Last season, Anderson averaged 2.5 points and 4.2 rebounds.

► Coach Mike Griest: “We had our end-of-the-year meeting in our locker room and we used Ben as an example to the juniors that if you’re willing to put in the work and dedicate yourself to the coming season, you have a chance to become what Ben did. Ben changed his body, changed his mind, committed to becoming better. He’s another kid people have no idea all the little things he does. We have a tough-guy chain for things that don’t show up on the scoreboard. It’s for steals, charges, deflections; he led us in that.”

Howell's Jalen Hicks (11) scored 26 points in his varsity basketball debut at Williamston on Dec. 6, 2022.
Howell's Jalen Hicks (11) scored 26 points in his varsity basketball debut at Williamston on Dec. 6, 2022.
Jaylen Hicks
Jaylen Hicks

Jaylen Hicks

► School: Howell

► Class: Junior

► Accomplishments: Hicks announced his presence by scoring 26 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, of a season-opening 64-49 victory at Williamston. While he didn’t reach that mark again, Hicks was invaluable as a ballhandler and someone who could hit key shots in close games. He averaged 9.2 points and 3.2 assists. He took three charges in the district semifinal loss to Fenton.

► Coach Nick Simon: “By the end of the year, he was a heck of a basketball player. He never scored 26 points again, but he played multiple games where he was better overall than the first game. He could handle it against any kind of pressure. He was a very good passer. He sees the court very well. He gives our team a different dynamic. He can do a lot of things nobody else can do.”

Howell's Logan Leppek averaged 11.5 points and shot 50% from 3-point range in 2022-23.
Howell's Logan Leppek averaged 11.5 points and shot 50% from 3-point range in 2022-23.
Logan Leppek
Logan Leppek

Logan Leppek

► School: Howell

► Class: Senior

► Accomplishments: After two seasons coming off the bench, Leppek thrived as a senior leader. He averaged a team-high 11.5 points, shooting 51.1% from the field and 50% (14 of 28) from 3-point range. He hit 91.5% from his free throws, going 43 of 47. He was voted the only team captain.

► Coach Nick Simon: “Individually, that guy’s got an immense amount of skill. He does a great job at all three levels. I thought he could’ve shot the 3-ball more; he shot the 3 at an incredibly high percentage. He’s great in the post, off the dribble, at the free throw line. He’s great defensively. He could do a little bit of everything. He was a little bit unselfish. He averaged 11, 12, but he’s a guy if he wanted to chuck his own shot, could’ve averaged 15, 16 a game.”

Brighton's Eddie Millington averaged 13 points and eight rebounds in 2022-23.
Brighton's Eddie Millington averaged 13 points and eight rebounds in 2022-23.
Eddie Millington
Eddie Millington

Eddie Millington

► School: Brighton

► Class: Senior

► Accomplishments: A third-year varsity player, Millington averaged double figures for the second straight season with 13.0 points per game. He led the county with 7.7 rebounds per game and was second with 35 blocked shots. He shot 47.1% from the field. Millington, who also averaged 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals, will play at Trine University in Indiana.

► Coach Mike Griest: “His game got better every single year. He really developed into a good scorer this year, too, from the perimeter and inside. He’s really underrated in how good he is as a defensive player. He led us in blocks; it wasn’t even close. He had a knack for being able to block shots without fouling, which is really hard to do in high school. He would make extra hustle plays. He could handle it like a point guard, post it up, hit the mid-range. That’s why he’s going to play college basketball.”

Brighton's Ashton Tomassi (32) scored at least 20 points eight times in 2022-23.
Brighton's Ashton Tomassi (32) scored at least 20 points eight times in 2022-23.
Ashton Tomassi
Ashton Tomassi

Ashton Tomassi

► School: Brighton

► Class: Senior

► Accomplishments: Tomassi has been Livingston County’s Player of the Year each of the past two seasons as is the only athlete in the county to make first team in football and basketball this school year. He led the county with a 16.5 scoring average, scoring at least 20 points eight times and reaching double figures in 21 of 24 games. He made 51 3-pointers, hitting 43.2% of his shots from beyond the arc.

► Coach Mike Griest: “There were nights we had four guys in double figures; he wasn’t always our leading scorer. Sometimes he was our leader in assists. He’s a guy who made life for everybody on the team a little easier. Guys around him fed off that.”

SECOND TEAM

Caden Carlson, Pinckney, Jr.

Henry Munkres, Charyl Stockwell, Sr.

Michael Pennala, Hartland, Sr.

Brendan Ray, Fowlerville, Jr.

Trevor Viau, Brighton, Jr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Charyl Stockwell: Caleb Moore (Sr.), Louis Perri (Sr.), Kian Rooney (Sr.), Adam Surowiec (Sr.). Fowlerville: Alex Jonas (Sr.), Wyatt Soli (Soph.). Hartland: Brady Quinn (Jr.). Howell: Curtis Dell (Jr.), John Klask (Sr.), Andrew Weber (Jr.). Livingston Christian: John Harris (Sr.), Caleb Nixon (Jr.), Brandon Zimbelman (Sr.). Pinckney: Brayden Doyle (Sr.).

Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillKhan.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Meet the 2022-23 All-Livingston County boys basketball team