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Senior Boys Basketball Awards: Defense Finalists

02/28/2021, 12:30pm CST
By Mark Miller

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

The finalists for the top senior defense award have been selected. Winners are announced the week of the state tournament. 

Charlie Bender, 6-3, Sr., Lake Mills
The Player of the Year in the Capitol North Conference is a huge contributor to the Lake Mills team on both ends of the court, but his ability to guard different positions and hold down the opponent's better players is perhaps his biggest attribute. Bender has good length, excellent instincts and the ability to use his size and lateral movement to keep opponents off balance. In addition to his prowess on defense, Bender is averaging 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists for a Lake Mills squad that takes a 23-5 record into the WIAA State Tournament. Bender plans to play college basketball at NCAA Division III Platteville. 

Hayden Doyle, 6-1, Sr., Brookfield East
Few, if any, players in Wisconsin were more important on both sides of the court this season than Doyle. The NCAA Division III recruit for the University of Washington in St. Louis did everything well in virtually every game for Brookfield East and coach Joe Rux. His ability to score, rebound, pass and defend were huge assets as the Spartans finished 19-5. Doyle averaged 26.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists and took on a big leadership role for Brookfield East. Doyle's quick hands and excellent defensive positioning led to seven steals in a triumph over West Allis Hale.  

Kobe Johnson, 6-6, Sr., Nicolet
A player with a tremendous upside as he continues to hone his skills and gain weight and strength, Johnson was particularly effective for Nicolet during the second half of the season. His length, mobility and anticipation were big assets for coach Alan Hanson on the defensive end of the court. And, on offense Johnson was outstanding. He averaged 26.7 ppg for a rather young Nicolet squad that finished 14-10. From mid-January to the end of the season, Johnson scored 30 or more points nine times, including a career-high 47 in a loss to Sussex Hamilton. Johnson's size on the perimeter, his ability to rebound and his length figure to be strong defensive assets in college as he prepares to play at USC.

Kamari McGee, 6-0, Sr., Racine St. Catherine's
McGee plays with a bulldog mentality on defense and with tremendous unselfishness and a high basketball IQ on offense. Those strengths helped St. Catherine's to a 26-1 record entering the WIAA State Tournament this week. The NCAA Division I recruit for Green Bay is a tremendous leader, terrific teammate and a coach on the floor for St. Catherine's coach Nick Bennett. McGee is averaging 16.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.6 steals per game for the Angels. The four-year varsity performer has more than 200 career steals and recently surpassed 1,000 career points.

Jayden Jackson, 6-3, Sr., Whitefish Bay
A jack-of-all-trades kind of player who competes with high energy and good physical strength, Jackson can be a lock-down defender as he enters his collegiate career at NCAA Division I Northern Arizona in the fall. The four-year varsity performer for the Dukes of Whitefish Bay averaged 19.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 steals per contest while helping coach John Ricciardi's squad to an impressive season at 21-4. Jackson is a cerebral player who does not force the issue and makes good decisions on both ends of the floor. 

For the latest and most up to date boys' basketball news and recruiting information, follow Mark on Twitter @wisbbyearbook. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Mark by clicking here.

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