CWOSSA Year-End Wrap Up: Mark's CWOSSA "All-Rookie Team" (Senior Edition)

Note:  This list is for those players who were playing their first year of Senior basketball this past season.  Also, players must have been in their first "senior eligble" season (i.e. no grade 12s who didn't play in grade 11).

I've listed them below, and then added some detailed descriptions further down:

First Team
Sean Samuel, Huron Heights/Kitchener
Vedran Dmitrovic, Cameron Heights/Kitchener
Mike Friesen, JF Ross/Guelph
Javon Masters, Forest Heights/Kitchener
Adam Voll, St. Mary's/Kitchener

Second Team
Jacob Ranton, Waterloo CI/Waterloo
Cory Kenning, Resurrection CSS/Kitchener
Josh Johnson, Holy Trinity CSS/Simcoe
Marco Zanette, Centre Dufferin/Shelburne
Filip Cvrkalj, Grand River/Kitchener

Third Team
Carlo Zanette, Centre Dufferin/Shelburne
Wes Meertens, Preston HS/Cambridge
Erik Sterne, Centennial CVI/Guelph
Adam Anagnostopoulos, Waterloo CI/Waterloo**
Quinn Turner, SJAM/Waterloo**

** - Grade 10

First Team

Sean Samuel, 6'0" PG/SG - HHHS, Kitchener
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Scored 43 points in a league-game against Southwood which (eventually) helped propel the Huskies to their first WCSSAA senior playoff berth in school history.
Notes:  Pure scorer who didn't miss a beat by coming up to the senior level.  Had a couple 40+ efforts, including 44 against Lo-Ellen Park (Sudbury) in the SBCSS tournament which helped him snag a tournament all-star team spot.

Vedran Dmitrovic, 6'0" SG - CHCI, Kitchener
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Not his highest scoring effort by any means, but had 13 points (including a clutch 3 point buzzer-beater at the end of the third quarter that broke a deadlock entering the 4th quarter) in the WCSSAA championship final against SJAM.
Notes:  Deadly shooter from outside but an underrated defender, especially his on-ball defense.  Key member of the WCSSAA & CWOSSA champions' starting lineup. 

Adam Voll, 6'5" SF/PF - St. Mary's HS, Kitchener
Grade: 11
Key Game: Hit for 19 points and missed only one shot (7-8 FG, 5-5 FT) off the bench as the Eagles passed a big early-season test at the Knights-Vikes shootout by blasting Waterloo SJAM 63-40.
Notes:  Arguably one of the "highest ceilings" among the grade 11s.  Super athletic and with some work could be headed south of the border.  Terrific length on the defensive end and has a great mid-range game for a 6'5" guy. 

Mike Friesen, 6'3" SG - JF Ross CVI, Guelph
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Paced the Royals with a 16-point performance as they defeated the Centennial Spartans 65-45 in this year's D10 final.
Notes:  Already with a "CIS body", Friesen is a great catch-and-shoot three-point shooter.  However, he isn't afraid to work with his back to the basket or to get into it on the interior.  Should continue to see his role expand next year on one of the deepest teams in CWOSSA.

Javon Masters, 6'0" PG/SG - Forest Hts., Kitchener
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Had a season-high 28 point performance against the WCI Vikings --- all of which were needed as the Trojans held off the Vikes by one in that game.
Notes:  Smooth guard who excels shooting off the dribble, or hitting runners down the lane over taller defenders.  We continue to see improvement from Masters, so definitely another kid to keep an eye on. 

Second Team

Filip Cvrkalj, 6'3" SG/SF - Grand River, Kitchener
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Cvrkalj netted 26 points in a first-round playoff win over Galt Collegiate.
Notes:  Started really coming on at the end of the year, despite being part of a crowded backcourt (Osama Qahwash, Brodi Verbiski, etc.) with only so many shots to go around.  Has a nice ability to get his shot off with a defender in his face, and continues to make strides towards a post-secondary basketball opportunity (he's already been receiving some CIS interest).

Cory Kenning, 6'6" PF/C - Resurrection, Kitchener
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Without Andrew Mwangi in the lineup, Kenning led the Phoenix with 12 points (including a couple of clutch late-game jumpers and free-throws) as the Phoenix defeated FHCI 52-46 in the championship game of the SBCSS 32-team tourney.
Notes:  Due to his size, he could be one of CWOSSA's prized recruits among the current crop of grade 11s.  Like SMHS' Adam Voll above, Kenning can solidly hit the 15 to 17 foot jumper and has a great touch around the basket.  Should see some further minutes next year with the departure of Andrew Mwangi.

Jacob Ranton, 6'5" SF - WCI, Waterloo
Grade: 11
Key Game: Pumped home 21 points against Mississauga Loyola CSS to help the Vikes on their path to advancing to the consolation final at the 32-team Cambridge St. Benedict Tournament.
Notes:  Nice size for a guard/forward, deep range on his three-pointer (out to several feet past the line).  Length can give people fits as well.

Josh Johnson, 6'1" PG - Holy Trinity CHS, Simcoe
Grade:  11
Key Game:  With his team trailing 15-9 at halftime of a tournament game against College Ave. (Woodstock), Johnson (who was scoreless in the first half) put his team on his back by pumping home 30 points and 8 steals in the second half en route to a 49-22 win.  Johnson went on a personal 14-0 run during that second half.
Notes:  We don't see a lot of him here in K-W, but is a member of the Wildhawks U17 club.  Solid guard who should have no problem tearing things up in Simcoe-area next season.

Marco Zanette, 6'2" F - CDDHS, Shelburne
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Knocked in 27 points in an important league win over rival Westside SS.
Notes:  A "men's league player", and I say that as a compliment.  It means he's fundamentally sound, knows what to do when he has the ball, and that he's not going to back down from you.

Third Team

Carlo Zanette, 6'2" F - CDDHS, Shelburne
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Had several 20+ performances, including a 23-point effort against Norwell.
Notes:  Very similar to Marco in terms of build and style.  These two should continue to resurrect CDDHS hoops over the next year or two; keep in mind they won CWOSSA as juniors so an OFSAA appearance isn't out of

Wes Meertens, 6'0" SG - Preston HS, Cambridge
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Put up 19 points against the KCI Raiders, a crucial win as it helped turn the Panthers' season around (ending in a CWOSSA berth).
Notes:  Sleek-shooting guard with a lightning-quick release.  Doesn't get a lot of attention playing south of the 401, but look for his numbers to continue to blossom over the next month or so.

Quinn Turner, 6'5" PF - SJAM, Waterloo
Grade:  10
Key Game:  Turner scored 22 points as the Highlanders held off an early season test from the Grand River Renegades.
Notes:  Only in grade 10, so still has a lot of development potential.  Solid offensive rebounder and good finisher on the interior. 

Adam Anagnostopoulos, 6'0" PG - WCI, Waterloo
Grade:  10
Key Game:  Spurred the Vikes offensively (20 points) and defensively in a near-upset of the Forest Heights Trojans during league play at home.
Notes:  Thrown into the fire as the Vikes' starting PG and has great court vision and distribution ability.  Only in grade 10, so like Turner should continue to improve dramatically over the next few years.

Erik Sterne, 6'0" SG - Centennial CVI, Guelph
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Scored 21 points in an early season tournament game against eventual CWOSSA champion Cameron Heights.
Notes:  One of the top three-point shooters in CWOSSA, but has furthered his all-around game which helped the Spartans surprise a few pundits (including yours truly) en route to yet another CWOSSA appearance this season.