Four McNary boys basketball players received all Mountain Valley Conference recognition for their outstanding play over the course of this season.
Boston Smith – 6’7” Post (senior): First-Team All-League
Smith was undoubtedly the best center in the conference. Despite facing double-teams nearly every game, he averaged 17 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He also shot 68% from the field and was an incredibly dominant presence for the Celtics this season.
What his coach (Ryan Kirch) says:
“(Smith’s) the league’s best interior post player. Tough and physical. Boston forced every opponent to game-plan around him. Boston shot at an incredibility high percentage and is a willing passer when double teams came. Showed great toughness playing through significant knee pain the second half of the league season.”
Nate Meithof – 6’4” Wing (sophomore): Second-Team All-League
Meithof was McNary’s top backcourt player this year, averaging 17 points per game to go along with 4.5 rpg. He also averaged 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per contest and was deadly beyond the arc for McNary, shooting the three-ball at a 40 percent clip. Along with being a great offensive player, Meithof proved to be a valuable defensive asset throughout the year.
What his coach says:
“Long and lanky, Nate led us in nearly every statistical category. He has a great ability to get to the rim and draw fouls. Defensively, he was incredibly disruptive, getting multiple deflections per game. He filled the stat sheet every game with the multiple ways he effected the game. The sky is the limit for Nate.”
Griffin Oliveira – 6’2” Guard (senior): Honorable Mention.
While Oliveira poured in 9 ppg and was one of the Celtics most consistent three-point shooters, his biggest contribution for this team was his outstanding play on the defensive side. Oliveira took on the challenge of guarding the opposing team’s best backcourt player, and he did so with great energy and tenacity.
What his coach says:
“Griffin is a great competitor, who led both vocally and with his effort each night. He is the best on-ball defender in the league, always guarding the teams best perimeter player. Griffin backed down to no one and led us into a fight no matter who was standing in front of us.”
Noah Hudkins – 6’7” Post (senior): Honorable Mention.
With a long and athletic frame, Hudkins proved to be a matchup nightmare for opposing teams, especially when he and Smith were on the court at the same time. Hudkins averaged 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game and was a very versatile player for the Celtics, possessing the ability to shoot from the outside and be a impactful presence on the inside.
What his coach says:
“Noah had a tremendous senior season, improving every game. His confidence grew as he became more physical. Noah was an effective scorer inside, rebounded the ball consistently and did a great job using his length on defense.”