Basketball Player of the Year Banquet

A tradition for 63 years

Each year, the Exchange Club hosts a banquet to honor the best high school basketball players from Alton, Marquette, Civic Memorial, Roxana, and East Alton - Wood River high schools.

Each year, the Exchange Club honors the young men and women from each of the local high schools for their performance on the court. In addition to a terrific dinner, attendees are treated to a speech from a guest speaker. The highlight of night is awarding a male and a female the title of Player of the Year.

2010 Banquet

The 65th annual banquet was held April 11th, 2010 at the Alton-Wood River Sportsman's Club. The quest speaker was Deon Thomas. Mr. Thomas is the first year basketball coach and athletic director at Lewis & Clark Community College.

He is still the leading scorer at the University of Illinois with 2129 points. This past year he was named Region 24 Coach of the Year.

The Basketball Player of the Year Awards went to:

Tony Bradley Alton High School

Kelsey Harrison East Alton - Wood River High School

For more info visit The Telegraph story by clicking here:

Past Recipients of the Player of the Year Award

1946 - Dick Erzen (East Alton - Wood River)

1947 - Bob Caffery (East Alton - Wood River)

1948 - Sam Vineyard (East Alton - Wood River)

1949 - Ron Bedwell (Roxana)

1950 - Lowell Petitt (East Alton - Wood River)

1951 - Bob Kuhn (Alton)

1952 - Ron Risher (East Alton - Wood River)

1953 - Dick Harbke (Roxana)

1954 - Richard Brown (Alton)

1955 - Essic Robinson (Alton)

1956 - Cliff Talley (East Alton - Wood River)

1957 - Jim Lemon (East Alton - Wood River)

1958 - Mike Hunter (Alton)

1959 - Jerry Messick (East Alton - Wood River)

1960 - Karl Doucleff (Western Military)

1961 - Gary Lane (East Alton - Wood River)

1962 - Larry Shoemaker (Alton)

1963 - Bob Hildendorf (Civic Memorial)

1964 - Larry Jeffries (Alton)

1965 - Terry Brown (East Alton - Wood River)

1966 - Jim Bailey (East Alton - Wood River)

1967 - Ricci Stotler (Civic Memorial)

1968 - Leon Huff (Alton)

1969 - Mike Jeffries (Alton)

1970 - Dave Taynor (Civic Memorial)

1971 - Ron Caldwell (Alton)

1972 - Dennis Diston (East Alton - Wood River)

1973 - Lafayette Collins (Alton)

1974 - Doug Malley (Alton)

1975 - Rick Schroeder (Roxana)

1976 - Leroy Stampley (Alton)

1977 - Brad Scheiter (Alton)

1978 - David Goins (Alton)

1979 - Jim Logan (East Alton - Wood River)

1980 - Troy Washpun (Alton)

1981 - Dan Coddington (East Alton - Wood River)

1982 - Steve Wooley (East Alton - Wood River)

1983 - Rick Taylor (Alton)

1984 - Dale Liley (East Alton - Wood River)

1985 - Larry Smith (Alton)

1986 - Larry Smith (Alton)

1987 - Jamie Humpries (Civic Memorial)

1988 - Steve Mason (Marquette)

1989 - Joe Van (Alton)

1990 - Kevin Caldwell (Alton)

1991 - Jonathon Denny (Civic Memorial)

1992 - Brad Bohannon (Marquette)

1993 - Ty Laux (Civic Memorial)

1994 - Eric Frankford (Civic Memorial)

1995 - Greg McDanel (Roxana) and Erica Oge (Marquette)

1996 - Nic Stotler (Civic Memorial) and Angela Payne (Roxana)

1997 - Marlon Crawford (Alton) and Jenni Combes (Civic Memorial)

1998 - Tony Certa (Marquette) and DoBee Oros-Moore (Alton)

1999 - Demarko "Book" Snipes (Alton) and Kendra Snyder (Marquette)

2000 - Demarko "Book" Snipes (Alton) and Michelle Bebrmann (Marquette)

2001 - Michael Stockard (Alton) and Ashley Russell (East Alton - Wood River)

2002 - Travis Williams (East Alton - Wood River) and Casey Law (Civic Memorial)

2003 - Nick Certa (Marquette) and Jordan Davis (Roxana)

2004 - Nick Certa (Marquette) and Emily Best (East Alton - Wood River)

2005 - Lorenzo Taylor (Alton) and Emily Best (East Alton - Wood River)

2006 - Karon Lacey (Alton) and Katie Broadway (Civic Memorial)

2007 - Karon Lacey (Alton) and Katie Broadway (Civic Memorial)
2008 - Ruben Cotto (Alton) and Katie Broadway (Civic Memorial)
2009 - Ryan Mathews (Alton) and Michaela Herrod (Alton)