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Boys Basketball Alumni Round-up: December 18th

12/18/2018, 8:00pm CST
By Colton Wilson

Many high school basketball standouts in Wisconsin go on to big things at the college level and in the pros, and this is our spot to recognize those athletes each week and help you keep up with what is going down on some of your favorite players from the past. If you have alumni news, please send it to Colton Wilson by 6 p.m. on Mondays.

Alumni Update

As the holiday season approaches, finals week is either commencing or has commenced for many college players around the country. With that being said, the slate of college games was much less than normal.

Sam Dekker is one of the former Wisconsin prep athletes that doesn’t have to worry about those finals as he has come back from an early NBA season injury. In his fourth game back from injury, and with his new team the Washington Wizards, Dekker had a huge game. The former Sheboygan Lutheran great recorded 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists in the Wizards 128-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Another former Sheboygan Lutheran graduate helped lead NACC Concordia Wisconsin to an 81-66 win over Marian. Jake Jurss had 17 points while teammates Olalekan George (Milwaukee Lutheran), Jordan Johnson (Cedarburg), and Josh Hau (Slinger) combined for 41 points. On the other side of the ball, Tristan Van Ess of Oostburg scored 18 points for Marian.

In other NACC play, Port Washington High School grad Matthew Kirmse continues to dominate for MSOE. In a 91-67 win over Marantha, Kirmse had 22 points and 6 rebounds. He followed that up with 28 points on 10 of 14 shooting in an 116-85 win over Aurora. Kirmse was named the NACC Player of the Week for the third time this season. Teammates Jason Palesse (West Allis Hale) and Michael Pitroff (Pius XI) scored in double digits in both games, while Jake Gebert (D.C. Everest) recorded a double-double in the Aurora win.

The SWAC conference has some great players from the state of Wisconsin showing out this season. Chris Howell of Milwaukee King has been one of those. In two games for Jackson State this past weekend, Howell recorded two double-doubles. He now has five total on the season. Chris was named the SWAC Player of the Week for his performances.

Grambling State, another SWAC conference team, has two former in-state alumni playing well for them this season. Dallas Polk-Hillard of Messmer and Devante Jackson of Brown Deer combined for 30 points in a Grambling’s 72-67 loss to Louisiana Monroe. Hillard recorded a double-double. In the following 70-58 win over Portland, the duo combined for 21 points and 15 rebounds.

Madison Memorial has produced many talented players over time and a few are making their mark in the college game today. Firstly, Chris Knight had 20 points and 9 rebounds in Dartmouth’s 78-68 win over Boston University He followed that up with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 61-52 win over Albany. Chris currently is second in the Ivy League in rebounds per game (7.8) and third in blocks per game (1.4).

Fellow Memorial graduate Julian Waters played only 22 minutes in North Carolina Central’s 69-65 loss to Coastal Carolina, but he made the most of it. Waters had 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Another former Spartan scored in double digits this past week. Shareef Smith recorded 12 points and 4 rebounds in Eastern Illinois’ 73-66 win over Bradley.

UW-Eau Claire and St. Norbert squared off this past week with Eau Claire coming away with a 72-66 win. Both teams had many in-state alumni contribute and five players hit double figures in scoring. Ben Widdes (Rice Lake) and Sean Miller (Kettle Moraine) both scored in double figures for Eau Claire, while Joe Ciriacks (East Troy), Wade Geenen (Pulaski) and Conno Curtis (Green Bay Preble) did so for St. Norbert.

In other WIAC play, Nate Dodge scored a game high 24 points in UW-Stevens Point’s 71-49 win over Ripon College. Another former Madison Memorial grad, Brett Tauber recorded a double-double by scoring 10 points and hauling in 10 rebounds.

Former Seymour High School graduate Sandy Cohen III has been thriving at UW-Green Bay since he transferred. In two defeats this past week, Cohen recorded two 20-point games while also notching a double-double in an 86-65 loss to Creighton. That was his first double-double of the season.

Taurus Adams scored a season high 14 points as Southern Connecticut State won a close 69-68 contest against Jefferson College. Adams, a former Brown Deer alum, was 7 of 10 from the field.

Eddie Muench had quite the day for Rockhurst College in their 95-90 victory over Emporia. The Ripon High School grad had 22 points on 7 of 11 shooting in the win.

Tyler Hero continues to impress in his freshman season at Kentucky. The former Whitnall standout scored 17 points on 7 of 12 shooting in Kentucky’s 88-61 win over Utah.

Beloit College has been led by former Fort Atkinson graduate Tristan Shoup all season. Even in an 84-67 loss to Carthage College, Tristan had 28 points and 12 rebounds. As it stands today, Tristan is fourth in the Midwest Conference in scoring (20.8) and eighth in rebounds (6.6).

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