Unheralded soph Luke Levan named summer league’s Most Improved Player (updated)
Luke Levan had no idea he would be named the Most Improved Player in the Ron Krick Memorial Summer League Thursday night.
Which figures, since the rising junior at Wilson didn’t even know they gave out such an award.
He doesn’t concern himself with such things, anyway. He’s too busy working on his pivot moves, refining his footwork and practicing his hook shot.
He’s the first one in the gym each morning for open gyms, said Wilson assistant coach Jeff Ebner, and usually the last to leave.
It’s no wonder his game has taken off.
“All the (offseason) work made me way better than last year,” said the 6-4 Levan, who will be one of the centerpieces of a rebuilt Wilson team next season.
“He really loves the game,” said Ebner. “He’s passionate about it. He’s a good teammate, and the guys on the team really like him.”
Carter Horst of Warwick was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. Kingston McKoy of league champion Berks Catholic was named Defensive Player of the Year. Logan Hyde of Wyomissing earned the Sportsmanship Award.
An unheralded Wilson player won the Most Improved Player award last year: Aidan Melograna went on to lead the Bulldogs in scoring, finish second in the league in 3-pointers and earn all-division honors.
Levan isn’t just unheralded — he was practically unknown around Berks basketball until emerging this summer. He didn’t see a minute of varsity time as a sophomore.
He was a pivotal part of the Bulldogs’ first unbeaten JV team in more than 15 years, regularly producing double-doubles.
“The amount of improvement he’s made over the last year is just amazing,” said Wilson coach Matt Coldren.
Along with emerging star guard Correll Akings, Tommy McFadden, Christo Hunsicker, Kevin Twiford and Cam Zullinger, Levan helped the Bulldogs knock off rival Reading High twice.
“That was a fun year,” he said.
In a basketball era where everyone – even 7-footers – wants to shoot from beyond the arc, Levan understands his place – under the basket.
“(At practice) I’ve been doing a lot of post moves, rebounding, so I can just fill my role,” he said. “I think that helps the team the most. I’ve been (concentrating) on just getting stronger and bigger so I can battle around with the other centers.”
Ebner said Levan picks up things quickly when taught and is dedicated to improving his post game.
“He not afraid to go inside,” Ebner said. “He’s always working down low. He works hard.”
Levan was a pitcher for the Bulldogs in the spring but set his glove aside for the summer so that he could concentrate on basketball; he’s played with Wilson in the summer league and with his AAU team, the Young Hooperz.
He was nominated for the Woozy Smith Most Improved Player along with Berks Catholic’s Parker Nein, Conrad Weiser’s James Arnold, and Schuylkill Valley’s Dominic Guiffre.
Levan said the recognition will serve as more motivation.
“I’m just gonna keep working as hard as I (have been),” he said. “Hopefully I’ll be even better by next season. The goal is to win, so (I’ll do) anything to win.”
| Terry Brennan Most Valuable Player Award | |
| Carter Horst | Warwick |
| Finalists | |
| Donovan Gingrich | Conrad Weiser |
| Brendan Gaines | Daniel Boone |
| Josh McKoy | Berks Catholic |
| Woozy Smith Most Improved Player Award | |
| Luke Levan | Wilson |
| Finalists | |
| Parker Nein | Berks Catholic |
| James Arnold | Conrad Weiser |
| Dominic Guiffre | Schuylkill Valley |
| Bill Snyder Defensive Player of the Year | |
| Kingston McKoy | Berks Catholic |
| Finalists | |
| Justice Hardy | Wyomissing |
| Matt Knight | Twin Valley |
| Harrison Delissant | Daniel Boone |
| West Reading Drug Store Sportsmanship Award | |
| Logan Hyde | Wyomissing |
| Finalists | |
| Matt Koehler | Gov. Mifflin |
| Mason Burr | Warwick |
| Kevin Twiford | Wilson |
