All-conference boys basketball awards were announced last week, with local players racking up honors.
It comes as no surprise that Whitehall junior Camden Thompson highlighted the awards after another spectacular statistical season. Thompson was voted the #1 player in the West Michigan Conference Lakes and improved to 3-for-3 in all-conference first team recognition. Once they are announced in April, an all-state nod is seemingly assured after Thompson earned those each of his first two seasons as well.
Thompson’s scoring average actually dipped slightly from his 2022-23 average of 23.6 points per game to 20.7 this season, a likely reflection of the improved work from Viking teammates. However, his rebounding numbers decidedly did not dip, as Thompson grabbed 17 rebounds per game. He also passed out 4.8 assists per game.
Thompson, who became Whitehall’s all-time leading scorer in January, was also named as a ‘watch list’ player for the 2025 Michigan Mr. Basketball award, which is open only to seniors. (This year’s award went to Durral Brooks of Grand Rapids Catholic Central, who played against the Vikings in the 2022 regional championship game.)
Joining Thompson on the first team were Kal Koehler, making his second straight appearance on that list, and Ca’Mar Ready. Koehler averaged 12 points and 4.7 rebounds per game for the Vikings, and Ready ranked third on the team in scoring with 9.6 points per game.
Whitehall achieved a program milestone this year by having all five of its starters pick up all-conference recognition in some form. DJ Jamison and Kyle Stratton each received honorable mention in the WMC Lakes, averaging 6.7 and 4.9 points per game respectively.
Montague’s senior stars Owen Raeth and Isaiah Atchison also were named WMC Lakes first-teamers after helping the Wildcats to a 13-10 record. One of the two led the Wildcats in scoring in almost every game the team played this season, and often they were the top two scorers.
Reeths-Puffer’s top duo, Travis Ambrose and Jaxson Whitaker, also received first team awards, being recognized by the O-K Green Conference for the third season in a row. The pair led the Rockets to a share of the conference title.
Whitaker became the Rockets’ all-time leading scorer late in the season. His 31 points in a 67-64 win over Holland in February helped R-P bring home the conference title. Ambrose didn’t dial up as many three-pointers as the hot-shooting Whitaker, but he was also a standout, especially in a 32-point, 15-rebound effort in a January win over Mona Shores.
Marvin Moore joined the Rocket duo as an honorable mention in the O-K Green, emerging during the season as a reliable third scoring option. The sophomore projects as one of the centerpieces for next season’s team.
