MONROE - Tony Cates could not be joined by better company when he heads up to Madison on June 21.
That's where the Monroe senior will join his coaching staff in participating in the WBCA All-Star game at the UW-Fieldhouse. The Division 2 North-South game tips off at 9 a.m.
Cates credits his development to his big brother Charlie, who helped Tony learn to move his game from the paint to the perimeter when he was just a sophomore.
"I've been playing in the post all my life until then so there was a transition period and nobody helped more than Charlie," Tony said.
He reflects on celebrating a WIAA Division 2 state title with Charlie last season.
"He just kept saying, 'We did it! We did it!'"
"He was as much of a part of that team as any of us," Tony said.
With some help from Charlie, among others, the affable 6-7 post had to learn the flex system that head coach Pat Murphy employs. Despite his cool demeanor, he earned the nickname Tony the Tiger as he ferociously put up more than 10 points and nearly seven rebounds per game this season.
He also learned to size up passing lanes and finished second on the team in assists this season with 61, second only to point guard Mitch Tordoff.
Cates will attend the University of Pacific in Stockton, Cal. in the fall and plans to red-shirt as a freshman.
"After that, I hope to play a lot more," Cates said.
He'll take not only Charlie's spirit onto the floor for June's All-Star gala. Tony is also very close to the cause of the charity event, the MAAC fund, as he lost a cousin to cancer at the far-too-young age of 10.
"It means a lot to be able to help any way I can," Cates said.
MAAC is the acronym for Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer and a household name among national charities. Last year the WBCA event raised over $107,000 for the cause.
Cates has been pounding the pavement since he got the news from Murphy near the end of the season that he'd be on the South all-star team.
"That was a nice motivation to keep playing as well as I had to get the honor," Cates said.
That's where the Monroe senior will join his coaching staff in participating in the WBCA All-Star game at the UW-Fieldhouse. The Division 2 North-South game tips off at 9 a.m.
Cates credits his development to his big brother Charlie, who helped Tony learn to move his game from the paint to the perimeter when he was just a sophomore.
"I've been playing in the post all my life until then so there was a transition period and nobody helped more than Charlie," Tony said.
He reflects on celebrating a WIAA Division 2 state title with Charlie last season.
"He just kept saying, 'We did it! We did it!'"
"He was as much of a part of that team as any of us," Tony said.
With some help from Charlie, among others, the affable 6-7 post had to learn the flex system that head coach Pat Murphy employs. Despite his cool demeanor, he earned the nickname Tony the Tiger as he ferociously put up more than 10 points and nearly seven rebounds per game this season.
He also learned to size up passing lanes and finished second on the team in assists this season with 61, second only to point guard Mitch Tordoff.
Cates will attend the University of Pacific in Stockton, Cal. in the fall and plans to red-shirt as a freshman.
"After that, I hope to play a lot more," Cates said.
He'll take not only Charlie's spirit onto the floor for June's All-Star gala. Tony is also very close to the cause of the charity event, the MAAC fund, as he lost a cousin to cancer at the far-too-young age of 10.
"It means a lot to be able to help any way I can," Cates said.
MAAC is the acronym for Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer and a household name among national charities. Last year the WBCA event raised over $107,000 for the cause.
Cates has been pounding the pavement since he got the news from Murphy near the end of the season that he'd be on the South all-star team.
"That was a nice motivation to keep playing as well as I had to get the honor," Cates said.
