This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Anyone who has ever watched a few basketball games knows there are players who have talent that allows them to surpass others, and players who work hard to be the best.
It is those few with both qualities — talent and work ethic — who are the most captivating.
The MVPs honored in these pages — Justin Johnson, Race Parsons, Boston Gubler, Parker Van Dyke and Jordan Loveridge — were already in the upper echelon of top players entering this basketball season. Any one could cruise by on ability alone if he truly desired.
But these particular players, as well as the athletes honored on The Tribune's all-state teams, took their gifts to another plane. They were the ones who hung in the gym, who stayed after practice. Their hunger to be better — and to make their teams better — drove them to stand out.
They prospered on the court, becoming well-rounded, strong leaders in addition to phenomenal basketball players. And it wasn't just all highlights: Every MVP led his team to either a championship or a better finish than the season before.
The days on the court will end, and the lights will fade eventually. But the leadership and desire of these athletes will be remembered for years to come.
—
5A
1st team
Guard • Brandon Miller, Jr., Brighton
Guard • Nick Emery, Jr., Lone Peak
Guard • Marcel Davis, Sr., American Fork
Guard • Jaden Jackson, Sr., West Jordan
Forward • T.J. Haws, Soph., Lone Peak
Forward • Quincy Bair, Sr., American Fork
Forward • Hayden Schenck, Jr., Weber
Forward • Talon Shumway, Jr., Lone Peak
Center • Brock Smith, Sr., Fremont
Center • Dayon Goodman, Jr., Kearns
2nd team
Guard • Austin Waddoups, Sr., American Fork
Guard • Jordan Pryor, Sr., West Jordan
Guard • D McCleary, Sr., Riverton
Guard • Jarett Anderson, Sr., Alta
Forward • Travis Devashrayee, Jr., Brighton
Forward • Zac Hunter, Sr., American Fork
Forward • Stephan Holm, Jr., Riverton
Forward • Dub Price, Sr., Alta
Center • Karson Casteel, Sr., Northridge
Center • Colton Colledge, Sr.,Lehi
4A
1st team
Guard • Zach Hunsaker, Jr., Orem
Guard • Brit Harding, Sr., Bountiful
Guard • DeSean Miller, Sr., Skyline
Guard • Shad Watson, Soph., Box Elder
Forward • Will Cannon, Sr., Olympus
Forward • Jordan Darger, Jr., Orem
Forward • Nathan Israelsen, Sr., Springville
Forward • Dalton Nixon, Soph., Orem
Center • Casey Oliverson, Sr., Sky View
Center • Brock Yates, Sr., Bountiful
2nd team
Guard • Dallin Bosco, Jr., Provo
Guard • Tanner McKissick, Sr., Herriman
Guard • Liam Thomas, Sr., Highland
Guard • Russell Murphy, Sr., Logan
Forward • Jalen Moore, Jr., Sky View
Forward • Famafili Laulu-Pututau, Jr., Mountain Crest
Forward • Josh Pollard, Sr., Orem
Forward • Austin Adams, Sr., Hillcrest
Center • Jonny Flake, Sr., Provo
Center • Parker Rawlings, Sr., Olympus
3A
1st team
Guard • Brandon Simister, Sr., Desert Hills
Guard • Clint Bateman, Sr., Payson
Guard • Matt Pelo, Sr., Wasatch
Guard • Jake Miles, Jr., Morgan
Forward • Tyler Ott, Sr., Desert Hills
Forward • Kyler Nielson, Sr., Cedar
Forward • Colton Marshall, Sr., Hurricane
Forward • Trent Snow, Sr., Cedar
Center • Walker Swenson, Sr., Dixie
Center • Alex Mancini, Sr., Judge Memorial
2nd team
Guard • Tanner Newbold, Sr., Payson
Guard • Jacob Gondrezick, Sr., Judge Memorial
Guard • Devin Bennett, Sr., Dixie
Guard • Jon Ursua, Sr., Cedar
Forward • Josh Hardin, Jr., Ben Lomond
Forward • Britton Buford, Sr., Park City
Forward • Wade Miller, Jr., Bear River
Forward • Brian Curran, Sr., Juan Diego
Center • Boston Saunders, Sr., Morgan
Center • Matthew Cushing, Sr., Uintah
2A
1st team
Guard • Kaden King, Sr., South Sevier
Guard • Jordan Kemp, Sr., Richfield
Guard • Cody John, Fr., Wasatch Academy
Guard • Jamen Miller, Jr., Manti
Forward • Seth Monson, Sr., Waterford
Forward • Tyler Anderson, Sr., Richfield
Forward • Fred Krajacic, Sr., Wasatch Academy
Forward • Austin Clark, Jr., South Sevier
Center • Bonner Mitchell, Sr., South Summit
Center • Joel Swallow, Sr., Millard
2nd team
Guard • Dallon Cologie, Sr., Emery
Guard • Colby Caldwell, Jr., Gunnison Valley
Guard • Michael Roberts, Soph., Beaver
Guard • Brady Aste, Sr., Manti
Forward • Dakota Shepherd, Jr., North Sevier
Forward • Austin Piep, Sr., North Sevier
Forward • Patrick Baker, Jr., South Sevier
Forward • Zak Hazlett, Sr., Grand
Center • Devin Cluff, Sr., Manti
Center • Wesley Austin, Jr., Rowland Hall
1A
1st team
Guard • Remington Rawlings, Sr., Layton Christian
Guard • Ty Rees, Jr., Wayne
Guard • Braxton Syrett, Jr., Bryce Valley
Guard • Cash Newby, Sr., Piute
Forward • Jake Pearson, Sr., Bryce Valley
Forward • Tyce Barney, Soph., Panguitch
Forward • Scifon Shyaka, Sr., Layton Christian
Forward • Jake Duncan, Jr., Monticello
Center • Bracken Pinter, Sr., Rich
Center • Zack Taylor, Sr., Wayne
2nd team
Guard • Karl Holly, Sr., Whitehorse
Guard • Joe Haugen, Sr., Layton Christian
Guard • Carson Smith, Sr., Liahona Prep
Guard • Mike Dye, Sr., Duchesne
Forward • Quincy Mason, Sr., Layton Christian
Forward • Eddie Dunham, Sr., Bryce Valley
Forward • Weston Meacham, Sr., Liahona Prep
Forward • Taylor Albrecht, Sr., Wayne
Center • Ty Jessen, Sr., Piute
Center • Zach Paige, Jr., Intermountain Christian —
College commits
Jordan Loveridge, West Jordan • Utah
Marcel Davis, American Fork •Utah State
Quincy Bair, American Fork • Utah State
Deng Deng, Cottonwood • Long Beach State
Tyler Ott, Desert Hills • UC Davis
Casey Oliverson, Sky View • Dixie State
Ryan Nemelka, Jordan • Central Wyoming
Tanner Newbold, Payson • Central Wyoming