RUSKIN BASKETBALL GRABS NUMEROUS POSTSEASON HONORS

Coming off a 19-9 season, a conference championship and a district championship, several members of the Ruskin High School boys basketball team were honored for their on-court achievements during the 2010-2011 season.

Six Eagles were named to the All-Conference Team in the school’s first year in the Suburban Conference Red Division. Forward Eric McDaniel was named to the first team, guard Malcolm Hamilton was named second team and guards Deron Hill and Antonio Patton, forward Keith Williams and center Eric Stubbs were named honorable mention. Four of the six are seniors-Hill and Hamilton are juniors. Hamilton, McDaniel and Stubbs were all named to the Missouri Class 5 District 13 All-District Team and Eagles coach Gerry Marlin was named All-District Coach.

McDaniel was also chosen by the Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association to play in their All-Star Challenge. The best graduating seniors from the metro area will play in a Missouri vs. Kansas game at Shawnee Mission West High School on April 8. He was a three year starter and becomes the fourth Ruskin player chosen for this honor, following in the footsteps of Cavel Witter (2006), Michael Craion (2007) and Milton Garner (2008). Witter and Craion played Division I college basketball and Garner is a star at Division II Cameron (Okla.) University. 

"Eric is very competitive, highly skilled and team-oriented,” Marlin said. “In other words, he's just the kind of player all-star coaches need to provide chemistry and stability on their squads.

“Eric will check his ego at the door, put on his hard hat and go to work, representing our school and district with pride."