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Neese repeats as top county player
In one of the most predictable announcements in journalism history, Cloverdale senior Cooper Neese has been named the Banner Graphic’s Player of the Year for the second straight season.
Neese averaged 27.2 points (fourth in the state) and 9.5 rebounds per game in leading the Clovers to their third straight sectional title and a 21-7 record, finishing as the seventh-leading scorer in state history with 2,496 points. The Clovers were defeated by Northeastern in the regional round for the second straight season.
The Butler-bound Neese previously earned all-Western Indiana Conference honors and has also been named as Putnam County’s seventh Indiana All-Star.
He will play for the Indiana squad in a two-game series against Kentucky in June. Neese is also one of four finalists for the state’s Mr. Basketball award, which will be announced on Thursday at the Indiana Sports Awards in Indianapolis.
Neese also participated in the American Family National 3-Point competition in Phoenix last month after winning four rounds of fan voting.
The 6-4, 188-pound guard earned praise from coach Patrick Rady for his efforts and contribution to both the Clover program and the entire Cloverdale community.
“Coaching Cooper has been special, not because he’s a top 10 scorer in state history but because of the kind of kid he is,” Rady said. “He loves Cloverdale, and gives everything he’s got on the floor. He has given everything to our school and our community.
“Butler is getting a winner,” Rady added. “Eighty-one wins in four years. He’s going to compete there right away.”
Neese is joined on the first team by two repeat selections in Cloverdale junior Jalen Moore and South Putnam sophomore Allen Plunkett. Moore finished tied for second in the state in scoring and will play for the Junior All-Stars this summer in an exhibition against Neese and the senior team at New Albany on June 6.
Greencastle’s Colin York, who earned second-team all-county honors last year, is the fourth member of the first team.
The final member of the five-player first team is North Putnam junior Elliot Gross, a move-in from Pennsylvania who quickly adapted to Indiana basketball and averaged 17.5 points per game.
The second team consists of three North Putnam players in senior guards Preston Porter and Duke Duff and junior Treyton Smith, a repeat second-team choice from last year. Newcomers to the second team are South Putnam sophomore guard Thomas Fanning and Greencastle sophomore center Gavin Bollman.
Here is a look at each player:
First team
Cooper Neese, Sr., Cloverdale – Averaged 27.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, shooting 38 percent from 3-point range and 52 percent from 2-point range. He shot 86 percent from the free throw line and handed out 74 assists.
Jalen Moore, Jr., Cloverdale – Averaged 27.5 points and 3.7 assists per game, shooting 35 percent from 3-point range, 53 percent from 2-point range and 77 percent from the free throw line.
Colin York, Jr., Greencastle – Averaged 18.8 points per game as team’s only double-figure scorer. Shot 40 percent from 3-point range, 45 percent from 2-point range and 81 percent at the free throw line.
Elliot Gross, Jr., North Putnam – Averaged 17.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, shooting 63 percent from the field.
Allen Plunkett, So., South Putnam – Averaged 14.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, shooting 44 percent from 2-point range and 30 percent from 3-point range.
Second team
Duke Duff, Sr., North Putnam – Duff was the team’s defensive stopper, normally assigned to the top scorer on the opposing team. Averaged 7.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.
Preston Porter, Sr., North Putnam – The team’s top 3-point shooter with 61 treys on the season. Averaged 11.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, shooting 30 percent from 3-point range.
Treyton Smith, Sr., North Putnam – Averaged 9.0 points and 4.9 assists per game, having twice as many assists as turnovers. Shot 40 percent from 3-point range.
Thomas Fanning, So., South Putnam – Averaged 7.4 points per game as the team’s point guard, shooting 40 percent from 3-point range.
Gavin Bollman, So., Greencastle – Averaged 6.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, shooting 53 percent from the field.