DRIVE Basketball :: Pre-Season All-BC Teams

(Pictured: Our Pre-season Mr. Basketball Tyrell Mara takes it to the hoop against defending provincial champs Argyle in exhibition action played at WRC.)

Here are the 2004-2005 Pre-Season ALL-BC teams. Inside DRIVE will announce the full list of award winners at the end of the 2004-2005 AAA Season.

MR. BASKETBALL

Tyrell Mara (above): 6’6’’ Senior - Forward (White Rock Christian)

Tyrell Mara is our Pre-Season Mr. Basketball for BC this year. This extremely athletic wing is as tough as they get. He has the ability to knock down the outside shots while being able to put the ball on the floor and slash to the hoop. He really improved on his overall game this summer while playing for the Hi-Five America AAU team. His team traveled on the Adidas AAU circuit and he competed at such events as the Adidas All-American camp and the Adidas Super 64 in Vegas. He has worked to extend his range on his “J” and his overall consistency is much better. He is a nightmare on the offensive glass, getting 2nd and 3rd chance opportunities at will. He is a great finisher with either hand, and has the size and body control to draw contact while in the air and still finish. Tyrell has great leadership qualities and his will to win is unparallel. “He is just a great leader,” says fellow first-teamer Tyler Kepkay. “A true leader, and maybe the best work ethic I have ever seen,” adds Cedar’s athletic big-man Wille Galick.

FIRST TEAM

Jacob Doerksen: 6’6’’ Senior - Forward (Rick Hansen)

Jacob is a beast on the basketball court. He is as tough as nails. For a big man Jacob has great hands and plays much bigger then his listed height. “I can't believe the hands on this kid,” says Doerksen’s fellow postman on the B.C. team Willie Galick, “I have never had a better guy to bring out my toughness with either, we literally beat each other up in practices, in the end, we were the toughest kids at Nationals by far.” Jacob has extended range on his jumper all the way to the 3 point line which is a tough match up when other big men are guarding him out there. He has a deceptive first step for his size and is capable of scoring with his back to the basket as well as facing the hoop.

Willie Galick: 6’7’’ Senior- Forward (Cedar)

Willie is one of the best athletes to play high school basketball in recent history. “Freak, unique playing style, long, really athletic for a big, all around player,” says Oak Bays slick ball handler Jeff Cullen. It is Galicks spoken of athleticism that allows him to simply do what others can’t. His jump shot is ever improving and when he is within one dribble away from the hoop, he is pretty much unstoppable. He can finish with both hands around the basket. He is a physical specimen, a man amongst boys.

Brett Leversage: 6’ 2’’ Senior - Guard (Delta)

Brett Leversage is one of the most exciting players to watch this year. He has the athletic capabilities to finish above the rim while slicing pass his defenders. “Best ball handler I have ever seen,” says Galick, “he has done moves in games that we only try when there is no one else in the gym! Great passer, and a real team player, he knows what it takes to win a game.” The slick guard known as “Levi” has a deadly combination of speed and athleticism that makes him a nightmare for opposing coaches. He can get to the basket at will and he has a silky smooth release on his finger rolls. This year he is looking to make a big impact on the high school scene, willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win.

Tyler Kepkay: 6’0’’ Senior - Point Guard (Handsworth)

Tyler is arguably the best player in BC this year. This Andre Barrett clone plays the game in a speed that most players can’t keep up with. He is a fierce competitor who plays the game with a chip on his shoulder. “Tough, competitive, doesn't like to lose, work ethic,” are the words Oak Bay’s Jeff Cullen uses to describe him. Kepkay has the ability to penetrate on any defender with a variety of different breakdown moves. Tyler weaves through the defense and seems to find wholes that don’t even exist. He really loves pushing the ball up court and establishing something before the defense can set itself. He is pretty much unstoppable on the floor when he’s knocking down his outside shot.

Sean Burke: 6’3’’ Senior - Point Guard (Argyle)

Sean is one of the most unselfish players in the province. His leadership abilities are second to none. Sean demonstrates his will to win every second that he is on the floor. He simply wills his teams to victories. “One of the smartest players I’ve ever played against, a true point guard in the way that he runs a team and shows great leadership, and that if your team has a weakness hell find it and expose it. He has a great feel for the game and has the ability to find his open teammates,” says fellow first-teamer and cross-town rival Kepkay. Burke displays a much more confident looking jumper after working extremely hard on it over the summer. He is an all-round player, a guy that other players want to play with.

SECOND TEAM:

Sinclair Brown: 6’8’’ Senior - Forward (Argyle)

This smooth wing forward from Argyle is looking to add another ring to his collection. He is hard to guard because has the ability to knock it down from 15-17ft and he’s capable of putting the ball on the floor and getting to the hoop. “Sinclair Brown is an amazing player. He is the type of player that makes everyone around him better. I love playing with "Sincy" because he's able to knock down his shots off penetration but also knows when his moments in games are and doesn't force shots in order to get his,” says his teammate and point guard Sean Burke. Sinclair demonstrates good triple threat game for his size. Sinclair has all the abilities to be great.

Rob Sacre: 7’0’’ Sophomore - Center (Handsworth)

Rob had an outstanding summer playing for the Under 15 provincial team. “The best big man in the province, very strong, great at rebounding, developing a great 17 foot jumper and his finishing around the hoop is getting a lot better and his running of the floor is great and can rise up and dunk any time in transition,” glows Sacre’s Senior point guard Tyler Kepkay. Sacre proved his worth this summer by completely dominating the National Championship averaging 30 and 20 and taking home the MVP. His size and athleticism has him poised for greatness. Rob is an intimidating presence on the floor with his ability to block shots and finish plays with ferocious dunks. He may be the most recruited player in BC high school history if he decides to stay in Canada until his senior year. He already has every High Major program in America knocking at his door and it won’t be long when we see this kid’s big friendly smile on TV, walking across the stage to shake David Stern’s hand.

Harvey Bradford: 6’5’’ Senior - Forward (Mt. Baker)

Harvey has the rare ability to finish plays with either hand. He demonstrates great slashing abilities with an ever improving jumper. Harvey is a long athletic wing that can get out in the passing lanes to get steals and deflections. He is good at getting to the body and creating contact in order to get to the line. He suffered an unfortunate injury this summer that forced him to be sidelined from the U-17 team but is looking to bounce back with a big senior year.

Greg Eliot: 6’3’’ Senior - Guard (Earl Marriott)

He is one of the most exciting players in BC, finishing WAY above the rim. He is good shooter but he’s working on developing a more consistent jumper from the outside. He has great vision on the floor, always finding the open man. His one dribble pull-up to his left is his go-to move on the perimeter. Greg is a great team player that constantly makes his teammates better.

Kyle Watson: 6’6’’ Senior - Forward, (McMath)

Kyle has an unorthodox game, but if it isn’t broke, then why fix it? “Can this kid light it up or what? One of the most unorthodox forms in the game, but when he gets hot...when it rains...it pours,” says the quotable Galick. Watson definitely has the ability to get hot and knock down three’s in a hurry. Kyle loves to penetrate going to his right and he’s slippery when he drops his shoulder. He is a good finisher despite his frame size. His versatility of his offensive game allows him to not have to rely on the long-range shot like most shooters do. He is a player with the knack of putting the ball in the hoop.

THIRD TEAM:

Mike Hull: 6’6’’ Senior - Forward (Mt. Douglas)

Mike Hull is looking to build off of his summer success. “He’s long, I realized how athletic he is, he hustles, and doesn't give up,” says fellow Victorian Jeff Cullen. Cullen has the ability to put the ball on the floor with a variety of different moves to get to the basket. This can cause certain match up problems for other teams who try to put a bigger defender on him. He is an extremely athletic wing with great slashing abilities. Mike is a great at crashing the glass, creating offensive rebounds for his team.

Bol Kong: 6’6’’ Junior - Forward (St. Georges)

As athletic as they come, Bol has great leaping capabilities and is quick off of his feet for second and third efforts. He has good range on his jumper but it is his athletic ability that separates him from others. Will create certain match up problems with his extremely quick first step and nice touch around the rim.

Calvin Westbrook: 6’4’’ Junior - Guard, (G.P Vanier)

Causes match-up problems against nearly any opponent he faces. Calvin is best described as a "ball-handler" because he can play several positions. Can really hit the hole once he sees one, possesses a good first step for a big guard. Often will use his height to manipulate opponents, given the fact that he can pull-up into his jump shot at any point with little cushion from his defender. Not a prolific 3-point shooter, but certainly a highly accurate one. He will challenge bigger players in traffic with his size and athleticism.

Jeff Cullen: 6’1’’ Senior - Point Guard (Oak Bay)

Jeff is best described as a crafty player with a great feel for the game. His game resembles that of Luke Ridnour, an intelligent, true point guard who gets his teammates involved before looking to score. He passes the ball superbly and always seems to know where his open teammates are. Has the basketball IQ and desire to be very good. Jeff is very quick and is a good decision maker with the basketball.

Guy Ferguson: 6’5’’ Senior - Combo Guard (Sentinel)

Guy can be one of the best scorer’s in BC this year with his outside shooting and slashing abilities. He has great elevation on his jumper with a soft touch on his release. He sometimes settles too much for his “J” because he can get it off pretty much whenever he wants. He is almost impossible to stop when he attacks the rim. Guy posses a lethal first step, allowing him to create separation from the defense. He will have several huge games for Sentinel this year.

HONORABLE MENTION:

Brent Malish: 6’6’’ Junior - Forward (Brookswood)
Scot Van Boeyen: 6’8’’ Senior - Forward (Kitsilano)
Hermon Tesfaghebriel: 6’8’’ Senior – Forward (New Westminister)
Alex Murphy: 6’2’’ Junior - Point Guard (St. Georges)
Charlie Spurr: 5’11’’ Senior – Point Guard (Lambrick Park)
Ryan Murray: 5’10’’ Junior – Point Guard (Terry Fox)