Boys basketball: 2021 Northwest Herald All-Area Team

First Team

Cole Brey, Woodstock North, sr., G

Brey (6-0) scored 15.9 points and averaged 6.8 rebounds a game for the Thunder, which took second in the Kishwaukee River Conference to Marengo. Brey did it all for North, averaging 2.5 assists and 2.3 steals a game. He shot 74% on free throws and 36.3% in field goals; although the COVID-19 pandemic kept him from reaching 1,000 career points and challenging Josh Jandron’s school record of 1,113. Brey, an All-Area second-team pick last year, finished with 948 points.

Gavin Sarvis, Burlington Central, jr., F

Sarvis (6-2) was a leader on a balanced, talented Rockets team that went through the Fox Valley Conference regular season and FVC Tournament without a loss. Sarvis averaged 14.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.9 steals a game and hit 52.4% on field goals.

Carson Seyller, Burlington Central, jr., G

Seyller (6-2) averaged 11.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 steals a game for the FVC champion Rockets, who went 16-1, with their only loss coming against Neuqua Valley. Seyller shot 53% on field goals and led the Rockets with 18 3-pointers.

Matthew Volkening, Marengo, jr., G

Volkening (6-5) is the Northwest Herald Boys Basketball Player of the Year after leading the Indians back to the Kishwaukee River Conference title. He led the area in scoring (19.8) and rebounding (8.9) and made 29 3-pointers. He hit 85.4% on free throws and 38.7% on 3s. In the final game of the season, with the KRC title on the line against Woodstock North, Volkening scored 26 points in the Indians’ 57-51 victory.

Aiden Wieczorek, Huntley, jr., G

Wieczorek (6-1) was the Red Raiders’ do-it-all type of player, averaging 11.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, hitting 22 3s and always guarding the opponents’ best perimeter players. Huntley finished second in the FVC regular season to Burlington Central and third in the FVC Tournament. Raiders coach Will Benson thought Wieczorek was the best two-way guard in the conference.

Second Team

Mike Clarke, Cary-Grove, jr., G

James Hayes, Jacobs, sr., G

Kennon Cook, Dundee-Crown, jr., F

Zac Schmidt, Burlington Central, jr., F

Drew Talkington, Cary-Grove, sr., F

Honorable Mention

Ben Ahmer, Huntley, jr., G

Christian Bentancur, Marian Central, fr., F

Nick Carpenter, Burlington Central, jr., F

Matt Gallimore, McHenry, sr., G

Adam Guazzo, Huntley, jr., F

Zach Leahy, Jacobs, sr., G

Cooper LePage, Crystal Lake South, so., G

Jonah Pace, Marengo, sr., F

Dylan Schmidt, Johnsburg, so., F

Rex White, Woodstock North, jr., G