IN HIS BLOOD

Southerners guard is a leader on the hardwood

Will Sitkowski wants to lead the Southside Batesville Southerners even further this season. Sitkowski, who is the Three Rivers Edition Boys Basketball Player to Watch, helped the Southerners to one of the best seasons in school history a year ago as they finished 29-6 and advanced to the semifinals of the Class 4A State Tournament. Southside lost to Jonesboro Westside 59-57. “We expect to go out there and win,” Sitkowski said. The Southerners were a junior-laden team a year ago, but several players moved, leaving Sitkowski as the team leader. “He’s been a really good player for us the past two years,” Southside coach Brad McGhee said. “He’s been a starting guard for us since his sophomore season.” McGhee said he expects big things from Sitkowski this season. “He’s very quick and a good ball handler,” McGhee said. “He can handle defensive pressure.” Sitkowski averaged 10 points and 4 assists per game last year. “I’m expecting an even better season out of him,” McGhee said. “Not that he had a bad season last year, but last year, we were really good and had a lot of guys who scored. His scoring and his number of shot attempts are going to increase.” Sitkowski is the son of former Fayetteville High School and University of Central Arkansas star George Sitkowski, who is the Southside athletic director. Will Sitkowski knows basketball is in his blood. “I’ve been playing basketball forever,” he said. “Dad was a good ballplayer.” Will Sitkowski said he is good at getting by a defender when driving to the basket. “There is probably nothing better than getting by a defender, then scoring,” he said. “I’m pretty good at drawing defenders and kicking to the open guy. I’m also good at shooting and getting around defenders and being able to make the right play at the right time.” Sitkowski said he also takes pleasure in taking charges on the defensive end of the floor. “I’m good at staying in front of people and also being in the right place to take charges,” he said. And leadership is one of his strengths. “I’m also good at keeping everything together,” Sitkowski said. “If someone is about to do something stupid, I’ll lead them down the right path, get our team back on track if something is going wrong.” McGhee said Sitkowski has put in hard work to get better. “He’s worked tremendously hard,” McGhee said. “He’s put in a lot of time working on his shooting. He’s gotten now where he can really shoot the basketball. He can score on drives. He can get to the basket because of his quickness. He also now has the ability to shoot a high percentage from the 3-point line.” McGhee said Sitkowski is one of the team’s best defenders. “He has good quickness and is gritty and tough and not afraid to step over in front of people, using his body,” McGhee said. “That is definitely one of his good assets. He can get down and guard some of the quickest guys we play.” For the first time, Sitkowski is playing tackle football, lining up at receiver and defensive back for the Southerners football team. “A lot of my buddies have been encouraging me,” he said. “The coach said I could come out and thought I’d be pretty good.” Sitkowski said he enjoys playing on the gridiron. “It’s been great,” he said. “The atmosphere of football is just so good. It’s crazy. I really wish I had done it sooner.” Southside football coach Kenny Simpson said Sitkowski has been “phenomenal” in his time playing football. “What’s better than that is that he’s a great kid,” Simpson said. “He has a great work ethic. He asks what he can do to get better. The results speak for themselves. He’s gotten better every game. By the end of the year, he may be really dangerous.” While he’s enjoying football, Sitkowski said he knows his future is on the hardwood. He said he’d like to play at UCA but knows that is a long shot. “That is where I really want to go,” he said. “I’ve got an offer from Lyon College. I’m about to start sending out my highlight film to different colleges and getting in touch with their coaches. “My dream is to get my education paid for.”