HIGH HONORS

PALMER — When Colony head coach Jeff Bowker looks back on the career of senior John Palmer, Bowker can’t help but think, “Wow.”

During his prep career, the four-year starter has helped lead the Knights to three Northern Lights Conference championship games, one 4A state championship contest and the 2008 NLC title. He’s the two-time NLC Player of the Year, and this season, Palmer led a largely inexperienced Colony squad to a 7-3 conference mark, a runner-up finish in the NLC tourney and to yet another state tournament.

Earlier this week, Palmer was recognized for his efforts, earning first-team honors on the Alaska Newspapers Inc./Alaska Coaches All-State Basketball Team.

“He’s a leader, he’s very skilled and works unbelievably hard,” Bowker said. “He’s as hard of a worker in practice as anyone I’ve seen.”

Palmer is joined by Dimond’s Travis Thompson, West Anchorage’s Devon Bookert and Justin Kauffman, and Bartlett’s Damon Sherman-Newsome on the first-team. Thompson was selected as the 4A player of the year. Bowker said Palmer certainly belongs among the best five in the state and could be considered the top player in the 4A class.

“You look around the state, if you’re picking your team, who would you pick?” Bowker said. “What position do you want to have locked down (first) — point guard. That’s his position. Name another point guard in the state you’d rather have. I can’t.”

While manning the point, running the offense and leading the defense just as he’s done for much of his career, Palmer averaged 17.2 points, 3.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game as a senior. Palmer topped the 20-point mark in scoring several times, but Bowker said Palmer’s impact includes more than just his points per game average.

“He’s the consummate team player,” Bowker said. “He wants to get other guys involved too.”

Not many high school players have the opportunity to make an impact on the varsity level during all four years of their career, but Palmer has been that type of athlete for Bowker and the Knights.

“It’s been a tremendous luxury having that position locked down, having him play so well,” Bowker said. “I hear from coaches all the time, ‘I can’t believe he’s back again.”

Bowker said a number of college programs are interested in Palmer, and the Colony senior definitely has a future on the next level. Palmer’s height, 5-foot-10, has scared some coaches away, but Bowker said that’s the problem with looking strictly at the numbers without coming to know what type of player he is.

“They don’t realize intangibles, that’s he’s been around for four years and has improved every year,” Bowker said. “John’s got terrific instincts, a high basketball I.Q.”

Palmer is the lone Colony player and one of four Mat-Su athletes recognized by Alaska Newspapers Inc., which collected ballots from coaches statewide. Wasilla senior Cody Pfeifer earned second-team honors and WHS sophomore Connor Devine was named to the third team. Palmer senior Kyle Titus was listed as an honorable mention.

Palmer is back on the all-state list after earning second-team honors as a junior. Sherman-Newsome is the player on the 2009 first team to be named first team in 2010. West Anchorage’s Tom Feeney, a first-team selection last season, was named to the second team list this season along with Pfeifer, Ketchikan’s Jeff Whicker, Thunder Mountain’s Cody Grussendorf and East Anchorage’s Juwan Harris.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Alaska Newspapers Inc./Alaska Coaches Class 4A Boys All-State Basketball Team

Player of the Year — Travis Thompson, Dimond

Coach of the Year — Rob Galosich, Dimond

FIRST TEAM

Travis Thompson, Dimond; Devon Bookert, West; Damon Sherman-Newsome, Bartlett; Justin Kauffman, West; John Palmer, Colony.

SECOND TEAM

Tom Feeney, West; Jeff Whicker, Ketchikan; Cody Grussendorf, Thunder Mountain; Juwan Harris, East; Cody Pfeifer, Wasilla.

THIRD TEAM

Jesse Ward, North Pole; Ryden Hines, Dimond; Stefan Johnson, East; Connor Devine, Wasilla; Dustin Theis, Chugiak.

HONORABLE MENTION

A.J. Banks, East; Kody Broderick, North Pole; Tyller Bell, Ketchikan; Boomer Blossom, Soldotna; Blaine Carver, Soldotna; Alex DeRocher, Juneau-Douglas; Adam Klie, Service; Malik King, Bartlett; Keith Mays, Lathrop; Colby Mitchell, Chugiak; Kyle Titus, Palmer.