As we close out 2019 and a decade with it, Outside the Huddle decided to look back at the big names of the Summit Athletic Conference during the last 10 years.
With that, we are naming this our SAC All-Decade Team.
Instead of naming the top 10 players from this period of time, we are going to do it a little different. We are naming the best player, in our eyes anyway, from each team during 2010-2019. Most of what makes them the player of the decade for their school has to do with what they accomplished at the school, but we are going to take a little into consideration college and professional work too.
Here it is: Bounce’s SAC All-Decade team for the boys.
BISHOP DWENGER – GRADY EIFERT
Why Him: In his senior season, Eifert averaged 15.8 points and 8 rebounds per game, winning a regional title and being Honorable Mention All-State. After high school, Eifert spent a year at Don Bosco Prep. In college, Eifert started as a walk-on with Purdue but ended up being a valuable piece in a Big Ten title run as a senior, where he was a starter and averaged 5.7 points per game. Today, Eifert is a graduate assistant at Purdue University.
Other contenders: Sam Royal, Hayden Smithey, Scott Kohne, Mike Fiacable, Kyle Hartman, Campbell Donovan
BISHOP LUERS – DESHAUN THOMAS
Why Him: Thomas just barely played in this decade, graduating in 2010, but to name anybody else in this spot would be a travesty. He scored 29.9 points per game in high school and his 3,018 points is still northeast Indiana’s record for scoring. An Indiana All-Star, he was also part of AP’s Indiana All-Century team. He went on to Ohio State, where he averaged 19.8 points as a junior before declaring for the NBA Draft, where he was chosen 58th overall in 2013 by the San Antonio Spurs, but never played in a regular season NBA game. Today, Thomas continues his long overseas playing career with Panathinaikos B.C. in Athens, Greece.
Other contenders: James Blackmon Jr., Jaylon Smith, Evan Blackmon, Anton Berry, Kenny Mullen, Ray Waler
CARROLL – KYLE MALLERS
Why Him: Mallers was an Indiana All-Star during his senior season, averaging 14.5 points per game for the sectional champion Chargers. He finished second at Carroll in all-time scoring and set a school record for three pointers made. Mallers has gone on to play at Ball State, where he is a senior starter for the Cardinals and has been Academic All-MAC twice.
Other contenders: Chandler White, Shane Merryman, Jacob Redding, Tyler Ault
CONCORDIA LUTHERAN – DJ MCCALL
Why Him: In his Indiana All-Star senior season, McCall averaged 18.9 points and 8.7 rebounds. He helped Concordia to an appearance in the state title game as a junior. McCall played four years at IUPUI and was the Horizon League’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. You can currently find McCall as a member of the NBA G-League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants, where he has appeared in 15 games this season.
Other contenders: Marq Rogers, Paxton Bergdoll, Reggie Tharp, Thomas Starks
HOMESTEAD – CALEB SWANIGAN
Why Him: There are not many Fort Wayne players who have played in a NBA game, but Swanigan is one of them. Swanigan was Indiana Mr. Basketball as a senior, after reclassifying early that year and graduating early. Swanigan was the ninth ranked player in the country as a senior by ESPN and was a McDonald’s All-American. As a senior, he set Homestead records in career scoring and rebounding and single season scoring and rebounding as Homestead won a state title in 2015; he averaged 22.6 points per game. Swanigan went on to play at Purdue, where he started for two seasons before declaring for the NBA Draft.
Swanigan was picked 26th overall in the NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. He is currently signed with the Sacramento Kings and spends time floating between the league and the Kings’ G-League affiliate Stockton Kings.
Other contenders: Jordan Geist, Jack Ferguson, Brandon Durnell, Tahj Curry, Nick Gamble, Tim Dunn, Luke Goode
NORTHROP – BRYSON SCOTT
Why Him: With brother Brenton, the Scotts were part of a major resurgence for Northrop. Bryson stood out a little more and was considered a top 10 defender nationally in high school by Rivals.com. He averaged 23.5 points per game as a senior as Northrop won back-to-back SAC titles. He was All-State for two seasons at Northrop, finishing with 2,042 career points. He went on to play at Purdue University before transferring to IPFW where he was All-Summit League as a senior.
Other contenders: Brenton Scott, Jagger Surface, Aaron Thomas, Richard Robertson, Sydney Curry
NORTH SIDE – TREVION CREWS
Why Him: Crews (pictured) led the Redskins to a 24-2 record as a senior before being upset in the regional round. Crews became North Side’s most prolific passer, breaking the school’s assist records, including 16 in a game as a junior against Indianapolis Broad Ripple. He was the SAC and Area Player off the Year as as senior in 2015. Crews went on to play briefly at Jackson Community College and is now a standout at Bethel where he is considered one of the best players in NAIA basketball today, as a two time National Player of the Week this season following an All-American campaign last year as a sophomore. He is currently averaging 21.4 points per game.
Other contenders: Jaylen Butz, Sean McGee, Keion Brooks Jr., Dwight Richards, Antonio Wilson, Andy Bachman
SNIDER – MALIK WILLIAMS
Why Him: Snider struggled to get over the championship hump until Williams led the Panthers to a SAC crown as a senior in 2017. He became the career rebounding and block leader for Snider as a senior when he averaged 23.6 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.9 blocks. He was part of the area Fabulous Five twice and was a Mr. Basketball finalist as a senior. He is currently a junior for the nationally ranked University of Louisville, which spent part of this season as the No. 1 team in the country.
Other contenders: Jordan Gorman, Nick Lewis, Cody Sarrazin, Devlyn Williams, Trey Covington
SOUTH SIDE – RAPHAEL DAVIS
Why Him: Davis spent three seasons at South Side before transferring to LaLumiere as a senior. He averaged 28.8 points per game as a junior when he was All-Area, completing three seasons of being All-SAC. He scored a then-South Side school record 53 points in a game during his junior season. Davis went on to play at Purdue University where he was Academic All-Big Ten three times and Big Ten All-Defensive team on two occasions.
Other contenders: Trejean Didier, Korey Joyner, Cortney Shorter, Trae Masten, Asher Blum, Nate Thomas, Austin Boucher
WAYNE – JUSTIN MITCHELL
Why Him: He averaged 21 points, 11 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game as a senior, when he was All-State. Mitchell holds the Wayne record for career scoring. He also averaged 20.6 points per game as a junior and was All-SAC three times. Mitchell went on to play at Wright State before leaving the team as a senior and pursuing a professional career. He went on to average 13 points per game for Basel Starwings of the Swiss Basketball League.
Other contenders: Xavielle Brown, Craig Young, Daz Booker Lowery, Levin Mitchell
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Great Picks but North Side should hv been represented by Jaylen Butz. He led NS to the state championship game as well as averaged a 18pts 11rebs 3 assists 2blks tht year. He also was in the running for Mr. Basketball his senior year as well. He is now the starting Center for DePaul Blue Demons who are one of the top Big East teams this yr, who also hv been knocking on the door of the AP top 25 poll where he is averaging 11pts 8rebs a game and putting them in place to make the NCAA tournament for the first time in over 20 years. He also leads the Big East in field goal percentage at 77% per game.