03-01-08
BY JACK BULLOCK
Anytime that there is this much talent in Southern Illinois high school basketball it is difficult to pick who is the best player.

With the state going to four classes and ABV handling a different Supersectional look – more good players became a part of just one super instead of three.

After giving the analysis process my full attention to detail for each player eligible - ABV made the call.

Rakers and Johnson and get the hardware.

Each player in his own way showed the skills that will definitely get them a college education paid for.

Rakers averaged 22 points and 10.7 rebounds a game for the Warriors who - as of this writing – are preparing for a Supersectional clash with Pinckneyville on Tuesday night with the winner getting a berth in the Final Four at Peoria.

Defensively Rakers has blocked 3.7 shots this season.

His three-year varsity stats are impressive.

Rakers has 1,586 points, 760 rebounds and 322 blocked shots in 93 games.

The 6-foot-7 senior - who has verbally committed to play basketball at McKendree College next season – will likely end up on the all-state first-team.

“He is so big and strong and he wears people down in the second half of games,” said Wesclin head coach Brent Brede. “Sean has played in three sectional championship games and that speaks volumes to what he has meant to us. We have had a lot of good players come through our program in the last three years but obviously he has been the centerpiece and the cornerstone of what we have accomplished. It is no coincidence that we have had the success with him here.”

Wesclin teams' with Rakers rockin' went 68-26.

Marland Johnson has been a four-year starter for a club that went a combined 85-31 with him in uniform.

Johnson averaged 16.2 points and 9.3 rebounds in 2007-08 for a club that went 25-4.

Johnson passed the 1,500-point plateau back in February and yanked down over 500 rebounds as a prep.

"He has been an exceptional player for us and when he missed some games as a freshman and sophomore we were a different team without him," said Meridian head coach Jeff Mandrell whose teams have finished 85-31 in the four years Johnson played for the Bobcats. "His ability to rebound and to defend some of the better inside players that we faced in his four years made our run successful. He is an outstanding young man. He is somebody that is coachable and he worked on his game to get better each year. A lot of kids won't work on getting better but Marland did."

An upset loss to Trico spoiled a potential Peoria run as the Bobcats lost to the Pioneers 78-76 in overtime in the title game at the Trico Class 1A Regional.

Meridian would have been a heavy favorite to get to the Carbondale Class 1A Supersectional by hosting the sectional.

Johnson is listed at 6-foot-5 and is a powerful player with a touch of finesse.

He is a left handed shooter who over the past two season's developed an outside game to go with his domination-type physical play underneath the basket.

Johnson resembles former Illini player Kenny Battle in the way that he runs the floor and finishes.

"Marland is as good of a person as he is as a player," said Bobby Mayberry - sports writer from the Cairo Citizen. "He is a great basketball player and a great kid."

ABV All-South Teams