Idaho Select to be well represented at state tournament

Program will have 18 players competing for 4 state titles

March 3, 2009 (MERIDIAN, ID) - This year's Idaho boys state tournament will have a very Idaho Select feel to it as 18 players will also be representing the Idaho Select Basketball program starting this Thursday, March 5 at various state tournament locations.

At the 5A classification, Idaho Select players include Ryan Young (Lewiston), Peter Gregg (Lewiston), Ben Van Lith (Eagle), Taylor Kelly (Eagle), Craig Spjute (Borah), Jordan Cramer (Capital) and Greg Jensen (Capital).

At the 4A classification, players include Austin DeSilvia (Bishop Kelly), Jacob Kartes (Bishop Kelly), Terrell Rowe (Skyview), Marc Taylor (Skyview), Matt Clark (Skyview) and Daniel Pugmire (Blackfoot).

Tanner Higham (Shelley) will be competing in the 3A classification while Joey Nebeker (Melba), Sy Nebeker (Melba), Avery Westendorf (Cole Valley) and Derik Jardine (Cole Valley) will be competing at the 2A classification.

All of these players have competed during the high school off seasons in the spring, summer or both for the Idaho Select program.

Profiles on notable Idaho Select players in the tournament
Ryan Young, Lewiston, 6'0 senior - Young was instrumental in Lewiston's run to the 2008 consolation title. Also a standout football and track athlete, he is becoming known for his pressure defense and will usually be assigned to the opposing team's best guard or forward. Young will represent the North team at the Idaho All-Star game at North Idaho College.

Ben Van Lith, Eagle, 6'5 senior - Van Lith was Southern Idaho Conference's (SIC) second leading scorer (18.4 ppg) and was 11th in rebounding (6.5 rpg). He was also second in steals (3.1 spg). During conference play, he was the SIC leading scorer at 18.7 ppg. He has been selected to the SIC First Team and will represent the South team at the Idaho All-Star game at North Idaho College.

Taylor Kelly, Eagle, 6'3 junior - Kelly came on to the basketball scene last year during Eagle's run to the Southern Idaho Conference's district tournament title. Also one of the state's top quarterbacks, Kelly is nearly fully recovered from a broken leg suffered during football season. He has a great feel around the basket, incredible hands and can be described as "slippery" when attacking the rim.

Craig Spjute, Borah, 6'4 junior - Spjute is making his first appearance to the state tournament and is in his second year of varsity play. Borah has made one of the biggest turnarounds from last season and Spjute is one of the reasons why. The First Team All-SIC member ranks fourth in the conference in scoring (16.1 ppg) and eighth in rebounding (7.9 rpg). He attacks the offensive boards as tough as anyone, averaging 2.8 offensive rebounds per game, but can also shoot the outside shot with a 35.1% 3-point field goal percentage. The Spjute family has a history of success at the state tournament. In 1980, Craig's dad, Craig Spjute, Sr. hit the game winning shot of the state title game for Boise High School.

Jordan Cramer, Capital, 5'9 senior - Cramer began to blossom at the end of the regular season for the Eagles, moving into the starting line up as their point guard and leading Capital to a strong finish. Cramer provides a level of stability to an offense packed with some of the top athletes in the state.

Jacob Kartes, Bishop Kelly, 5'11 senior - Kartes may not show up on a lot of stat sheets but he certainly carries his weight for a Bishop Kelly team that only won 2 games all of last season. Kartes handles the ball well and sees the floor.

Austin DeSilvia, Bishop Kelly, 6'4 sophomore - DeSilvia was also a member of last year's BK team and has taken his game up a notch. He will play both the wing and the post depending how opponents choose to match up with the Knight's lineup.

Marc Taylor, Skyview, 6'7 senior - Taylor has been a force inside for a balanced Hawks team that spreads around its scoring among 5 different players. He averages nearly a double-double in points and rebounds, can shoot over both shoulders and provides the core of rebounding. He will be trying to add to the state tournament hardware already at the Taylor household as his older brother, Tom, won two state titles at Skyview and is now playing at Idaho State University.

Matt Clark, Skyview, 6'6 junior - The other half of Skyview's inside force, Clark provides an inside presence that can play with his back to the basket or square up from 12 feet. He has suffered a few injuries this season, including a broken nose, but is now healthy.

Terrell Rowe, Skyview, 6'2 junior - Rowe is a shooting guard that is now becoming comfortable going inside the three point line. His rebounding has drastically improved from his sophomore year. Rowe is the type of player that opposing teams will always need to account for as he is capable of going on hot streaks from deep that will knock teams out of a game.

Daniel Pugmire, Blackfoot, 6'3 senior - Pugmire is a hard working guard/forward combo that can shoot from the outside and play the power game when needed. He, along with Jordan Bjornberg, provides a nice 1-2 punch for the Broncos.

Tanner Higham, Shelley, 6'2 senior - Higham once again returns to the state tournament, a place that he knows well and has excelled at over the last few years. Last season, he was selected First Team All-State after he averaged 14.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 4.8 apg. Higham was a member of the 2007 state champion Shelley team. He will bring the ball up the floor but he will do the majority of scoring (both outside shooting and drives to the basket) and can get all of his teammates involved. Higham was also the school's quarterback (Mountain Rivers Conference offensive Player of the Year with 20 TD) and defensive back (First Team All-State) and is one of Idaho's top golfers. He will be representing the South team at the Idaho All-star game at North Idaho College.

Joey Nebeker, Melba, 6'3 freshman
Avery Westendorf, Cole Valley, 6'5 freshman
Derik Jardine, Cole Valley, 6'0 freshman
Three Idaho Select freshman are making a large impact on teams at the state tournament. Nebeker's Melba team and Westendorf's and Jardine's Cole Valley team return to the state tournament after a few years of absence.

*Article updated 3/10/2009

To see all of the players on Idaho Select rosters, choose one of the following links:
Spring 2009 Rosters
Summer 2008 Rosters