Podziemski leads AP’s all-state team
Brandin Podziemski never had an off night. That was the beauty of the season for the St. John's Northwestern Academies senior.
The 6-foot-6 guard delivered at least 20 points a game and shot at least 50% in all but three games. His 974 points are the seventh-best single-season total in state history.
With that prolific production, he became the 44th boy in state history to score 2,000 points, accomplishing the feat without the benefit of playing at the varsity level as a freshman.
Those were some of the statistics and accomplishments a panel of reporters from around the state considered when they voted Podziemski the Associated Press boys basketball state player of year.
The biggest accomplishment in his mind, however, was playing 27 games – he missed one – during a season played in a pandemic. Not everyone was so fortunate.
“It was a good season,” he said. “It doesn't matter to me unless we win, so I'm kind of bummed that we didn't win, but looking at individual success as well as team success, probably the brightest moments would be being able to play (so many) games.”
Racine St. Catherine's senior Tyrese Hunter and Brookfield Central senior David Joplin were also considered for the award.
Podziemski led St. John's to a 21-7 record that included a second-place finish in the Midwest Classic and a regional championship. The Lancers reached the sectional final in Division 3 where it lost to eventual state runner-up Lake Country Lutheran.
He finished the season ranked second in the state in scoring with an average of 35.1 points a game. He also averaged team-highs in rebounding (10), assists (5.6), steals (4) and blocks (1.4).
The all-around performance mirrored Podziemski's preparation for the year.
“I'm one of those people who when you ask, 'What are going to work on?' I always tell them, ‘everything'. Obviously, nothing is perfect,” he said. “I knew this year I was going to have to play a bigger role than I did last year. it was my last chance at it, so I figured, hey, why not try to be the best at everything?”
Podziemski posted career highs in every major statistical category. His scoring jumped 7.5 points though his shots per game rose just .84 per game, from 20.76 to 21.6, and his free throws increased from about five to six.
“I think the biggest thing with (his scoring) is you take a look at his percentages,” said DJ Mlachnik, who served as St. John's interim coach this season. “You can see how efficient he is. That is the biggest wow for me.”
Podziemski shot 60.4% (353 of 584), including 43.4% (108 of 249) from three-point range. He also shot 81.6% (133 of 163) from the free throw line.
Both he and Mlachnik point to his career-high 50-point night in a quadruple overtime loss to Pewaukee on Jan. 30. Podziemski hit 18 of 36 shots, including 7 for 19 (37%) from three-point range.
Many of the buckets came in slugfest fashion.
“To me it was a wake up call that I can really do this against whoever comes in front of me,” he said. “That gave me that mindset. No matter if it was Pewaukee, Brookfield Central, Lake Country Lutheran, I'm going to do my thing no matter who is in front of me. I think that is going to carry over to the next level. Whoever is in front of me I'm going to right after them.”
Colleges were keeping tabs on Podziemski during the season and liked what they saw. He received scholarship offers from Illinois, Miami, Wake Forest and Vanderbilt during the season. Those schools and Kentucky, which offered in October, make up the final list of schools he is considering play for next season.
After taking a couple of weeks off after the season to rest, Podziemski and his family began the process of weighing those schools last week.
The spring signing day is April 14. “It could be a signing day sign, it could be some time before that," he said about announcing his decision. "We're not sure on that, but we are in the midst of figuring out what is the best fit, what's right for me and what is going to get me to the NBA as quick as possible. That's where we are right now.”
Coach of the year
After a year of uncertainty and frustration brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Racine St. Catherine's realized its goal of winning the Division 3 championship on March 5. It was Nick Bennett – whose last name is synonymous with basketball excellence in Wisconsin – who held together this talented team through challenging times. The man who replaced the legendary Bob Letsch at St. Catherine's in 2016 was rewarded by being named the Associated Press Coach of the Year in Wisconsin.
Bennett, who started for his father, Jack, on UW-Stevens Point's 2004 and '05 NCAA Division III national championship teams, usually prefers to stay out of the limelight. But he admitted that this honor is especially meaningful to him.
“Absolutely,” he said. “I know how many great coaches have come through this state. I am truly humbled because I grew up in this state. This state is very near and dear to my heart. I made connections that are going to last me a lifetime. So when I look around at the coaches who got this award – and have not gotten this award – I go, ‘Holy cow, I don't belong with these guys!'”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
AP all-state team First team Second team Third team Fourth team High honorable mention Honorable mention