ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: RYAN VERSEMAN

Ryan Verseman

School: Perryville High School

Sport: Basketball

Coach: Dean Lewis

Week report: Verseman, a 6-foot-1 senior center, totaled 63 points and 35 rebounds in three games last week. He scored a career-high 30 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in a 75-48 loss to Herculaneum. He had 14 points and 14 rebounds in a 62-48 win over Grandview and scored 19 points, including a layin at the buzzer to force overtime, in an eventual 63-62 loss to Chester.

Season report: Verseman, a team captain, averages 12 points and eight rebounds a game. He pulled down a season-high 16 rebounds in a game against Ste. Genevieve earlier this season. He's demonstrated he's completely recovered from reconstructive knee surgery. He sustained a complete tear of the medial collateral ligament midway through his junior season and amazingly returned to the court less than a month later.

Coach's comments: "He's one of those guys that gets great position. When he gets it in there he's going make it. He's a hard working kid who has really turned himself into a player. . . Being 6-1 he's obviously not the tallest player, but he gets great position and works hard. He's got some nice post moves."