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Senior Boys Basketball Awards: Point Guard Finalists

03/11/2015, 10:00am CDT
By Mark Miller

Wisconsin Sports Network is proud to showcase the WSN High School Basketball Awards.

The pre-season watch list previously was trimmed to 15 semi-finalists, and now five finalists for the award have been selected. Winners are announced the week of the state tournament. Finalists are eligible for just one of the five awards. There will be a total of 25 finalists for the five awards, five different players for each award.

Senior Boys Basketball Awards -- Point Guard Finalists

Joseph Binyoti, Milwaukee King -- Binyoti is an unselfish lead guard who can push the ball in transition, defend at a high level and get his team into its offense in the half-court setting. The first-team all-Milwaukee City Conference performer is a key reason why the Generals take a 22-2 record into sectional play and are one of the favorites to capture the WIAA Division 1 state championship. The 6-foot-1 senior is averaging 9.4 points and a team-high 4.7 assists per contest. 

Ben Boots, Kimberly -- A physical and clutch lead guard who helped Kimberly win the Fox Valley Association championship by a game over runners-up Kaukauna and Neenah, Boots is averaging 14.2 points per game for the Papermakers. The first-team all-FVA selection, who is receiving recruiting attention from several NCAA Division II schools, scored 26 points for a career high in a recent game against Kaukauna. Boots' strong leadership and mental toughness are major reasons why Kimberly is undisputed FVA champion and battling for a sectional title.

Lawrenzo Byers, Brown Deer -- Part of a dynamic backcourt at Brown Deer, Byers is the best player on perhaps the best WIAA Division 3 team in the state. Byers earned Player of the Year laurels in the Eastern Division of the Woodland Conference after leading the Falcons to a 15-1 league record and the division title. He is averaging 18.9 ppg and 3.4 apg and went for a career-high 31 in a victory over University School this season. 

Darrell Riley, Milwaukee North -- Riley leads the state in scoring at 37.8 ppg. He has scored 906 points in 24 games thus far this season and has helped the Blue Devils to a spot in the WIAA Division 3 sectionals. An ultra-quick 5-foot-8 lead guard who zips up and down the court as quickly as any other player in the state, Riley has a good perimeter jump shot and is a consistent foul shooter. He is closing in on 2,000 points for his prep career and scored a career-high 52 points in a victory over Milwaukee Pulaski this season. He was chosen Player of the Year in the Milwaukee City Conference.  

Shareef Smith, Madison Memorial -- Smith plays biggest at the most important times of the game and does an excellent job of making his teammates better with his passing skill. Recently chosen as the Player of the Year in the Big Eight Conference after leading the Spartans to their 12th straight league title, despite an 0-3 start in conference play. Smith leads Memorial in scoring at 16.4 ppg and scored a career-best 28 in a recent victory over Verona. 

For the list of semi-finalists for the Point Guard Award, click here.

For the watch list for the Point Guard Award, click here.

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