2016-17 All-Hancock County Boys Basketball
First Team
Michael Ertel, Mt. Vernon
• Ertel, a Louisiana-Monroe recruit, was named IBCA Large School Senior All-State and earned first-team All-Hoosier Heritage Conference honors. The senior was an IBCA Academic All-State first team selection and picked to compete in the 29th Annual North/South Indiana All-Star Classic. An Indiana Junior All-Star in 2016, Ertel became the program’s second all-time career scorer with 1,282 points.
Stats: 19.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.3 spg, 44 percent FG, 86 percent FT, 69 3-pointers
Addison True, Eastern Hancock
• True, a junior, was second in the county in scoring and first in rebounds this season to earn IBCA Small School Underclass All-State Team honors. The up-tempo guard led the Royals in assists and steals while carrying the team’s highest field goal percentage. His ability to score from long range and inside pushed his career-point total to 1,041, fifth best in program history.
Stats: 17.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.8 spg, 43 percent FG, 75 percent FT, 49 3-pointers
Erick Shepherd, Mt. Vernon
• The 6-foot-6 forward posted his best season to date in his final campaign. The senior led the Hoosier Heritage Conference runner-up Marauders in field goal percentage and dropped in a career-best 337 points. His 25 blocks led the county. Shepherd’s 150 rebounds were a career high. He is the fourth 1,000-point scorer in program history with 1,051 and earned All-HHC honors.
Stats: 14.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.1 bpg, 54 percent FG, 65 percent FT
Will O’Connor, Greenfield-Central
• The 6-foot-6 wing had a breakout campaign in his junior season. O’Connor led the Cougars with 381 points, which was third-best in the county. He was first in the area in free-throw percentage and drained 62 treys in 145 attempts. He was elected to the All-Hoosier Heritage Conference first team and received All-State honorable mention honors from the IBCA.
Stats: 15.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.0 apg, 49 percent FG, 87 percent FT, 42 percent 3pt, 62 3-pointers
Maximus Gizzi, New Palestine
• Only a freshman, Gizzi played well beyond his years as the point guard of the New Palestine Dragons. First in scoring for coach Trent Whitaker’s squad, Gizzi finished with 296 points while pacing the team and the county with 89 assists. His 32 steals were third-best in the county at 1.3 per game. His rookie performance resulted in an All-Hoosier Heritage Conference first-team selection.
Stats: 12.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.3 spg, 43 percent FG, 81 percent FT, 15 3-pointers
Second Team
James McCloud, Mt. Vernon
Jalen Qualkinbush, New Palestine
Brycen Napier, Eastern Hancock
Damari Gatewood, Mt. Vernon
Drey Jameson, Greenfield-Central
Honorable mentions
Eastern Hancock — AJ Muegge, Duncan Cherry, Jacob Eischen; Greenfield-Central — Matt Turner, Brian Long, Josh Mundell; New Palestine — Matthew True, Gavin Hausz, Dylan Romine, Austin Keele; Mt. Vernon — Logan Smith, Peyton Meadors, Cade Gentry, Jake Morris, Tyler Bostic.
