Advocate All-Area Boys Team: Boyle's Jones is player of the year, Adams is coach of the year

Brett Jones made a major move this season for the good of his team, but it worked out pretty well for him, too.

Jones moved from shooting guard to point guard for the Boyle County boys because that’s where he was needed. He thrived at his new position, becoming the leader the Rebels needed him to be and one of the area’s top players.

Area coaches took notice, voting Jones as The Advocate-Messenger Area Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

Jones becomes the first boys player of the year from Boyle since Spencer Perrin won the award in 2007.

Jones ranked among the top scorers in the area with 14.8 points per game and was second in free-throw shooting at 85.7 percent.

“He had an exceptional year, especially when you consider he had to play out of position,” Boyle coach Steve Adams said.

It was a good year not only for Jones but for the entire Boyle team. The Rebels went 15-13 and won their second consecutive 45th District championship despite losing six seniors to graduation. As a result, Adams has been voted the Advocate’s Area Boys Coach of the Year. The area boys player of the year in 1979 at Mercer County, he earns the coaching honor for the second time, having also won in 2010.

There are three repeat selections to the All-Area team: Luke Hill of Lincoln County, who made the team for the third consecutive year; Alex Beckerson of Burgin; and Russell Sims of Mercer County.

It’s a young team, with three sophomores and a freshman among the 10 honorees.

Here’s a closer look at this year’s All-Area roster:

First Team

Brett Jones

Jones was the lone returning starter for Boyle, and he took on a great deal of additional responsibility after Adams moved him to the point last summer.

“We really asked a lot from him this season. He had to handle the ball, score and defend,” Adams said.

Adams said he was pleased both with Jones’ play and with his leadership.

“Brett did an outstanding job of running our basketball team,” he said.

Jacob Conway

Conway broke out as one of the area’s top five scorers as a sophomore, averaging 16.2 points and shooting 45 percent from the field and 82 percent at the foul line.

“Jacob is a good offensive player who can score in a variety of ways,” Lincoln coach Jeff Jackson said. “He’s a good offensive rebounder, good ball-handler and passer.

Conway was Lincoln’s second-leading rebounder (6.0).

“He’s also a good student, and with continual work and maturity, he could develop into a very good player.”

Christian Gateskill-Fuqua

Danville was in need of a leader for its offense, and Gateskill-Fuqua filled that role nicely in his senior season by averaging 15 points and three assists per game.