Central's Wilks is double trouble

~ Central forward Darnell Wilks averages in double figures in both scoring and rebounding.

Few area basketball players in recent years have displayed the athletic abilities of Central junior Darnell Wilks.

That athleticism has turned into raw numbers, as Wilks averages a double-double -- 19 points and 10 rebounds per game -- heading into the postseason.

The next challenge for the 6-foot-8 forward is trying to lead the Tigers (14-11) to their first district title since 1997. Wilks and the second-seeded Tigers begin district play 7:30 p.m. Tuesday against No. 3 Farmington at Central. Top-seeded Poplar Bluff will play No. 4 Jackson at 6 p.m. Tuesday, with the finals set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

"I think it's wide open," Central coach Derek McCord said of the district. "I think any time you have a district tournament with four teams and you're two wins away from a championship, any time you're in a single-elimination tournament, it's kind of going to be who's hot.

"Farmington really concerns me. They're playing better basketball right now."

In a season filled with plenty of peaks and valleys -- the youthful Tigers play four sophomores in their main rotation -- Wilks has provided a spark throughout. There are few things Wilks cannot do with the ball, showcasing his range on 3-pointers and an array of show-stopping dunks.

"The thing that makes him hard to guard is he's a dual-threat player," McCord said. "He can shoot the ball, and he can take them off the dribble if they crowd him.

"He has played all five positions for us. He played point guard against Mehlville, he's played the 2, 3, 4 and 5. What I like about Darnell is he really accepts whatever role we have him for that game."

Those matchup problems can create some interesting defensive assignments against Wilks. Charleston used athletic 6-3 guard Justin Clark on Wilks, while Doniphan put 6-10 center Matt Rogers opposite Wilks.

Wilks said he changes his game when necessary to take advantage of matchups.

"When we played Charleston they tried to guard me with [Justin] Clark. I was taller than him so I tried to post him up," Wilks said. "When we played Doniphan, they had [Matt] Rogers guard me, so I tried to drive on him."

Wilks' ability to get to the basket is one of many areas he has improved upon since making his debut for the Tigers last year as a sophomore. With added size and strength, Wilks has nearly doubled his scoring average from last year while improving defensively as well.

"He's improved leaps and bounds from last year," McCord said. "He takes the ball to the hole more aggressively, and his shooting has improved. The exciting thing about Darnell is I think he can even become a lot better. I think he can become a dominating defender. He's become dominant on offense."

Wilks has noticed the improvement from his freshman season in Tennessee.

"In ninth grade, I wasn't one of the best free throw shooters on my team, and now I think I'm the second-best free throw shooter on my team," he said. "In the ninth grade, I'd pull up and shoot a jumper because I didn't want to go to the hole. Now I go in and drive hard."

Wilks has developed with input from a variety of basketball environments.

"My dad, he'd take me to different places," Wilks said. "Down in Florida we wouldn't just go to the YMCA, we'd go to the streets, everywhere.

"When I lived in Tennessee, I went to Austin Peay and played with the college guys when I was in ninth grade."

His continued improvement and freakish athleticism have put Wilks on the NCAA recruiting map, with several prominent programs already showing interest. Wilks has received interest from big-time programs like Memphis and Wake Forest along with numerous others, including Southeast Missouri State.

"He's a Division I player, no question about that," McCord said. "The thing I like best about Darnell is his ability to find the open man, how unselfish he is. Whether it's in transition or whether he's in the post and doubled. He's probably the best passing big man I've coached."

Wilks should receive even more interest in the AAU sesason this summer -- he played with the Illinois Warriors last year -- and in his senior campaign.

"There's not as many schools as I want to be, but there's enough that I have a choice where I want to go," Wilks said. "Probably next year, if we go far in district there will be more schools looking at me."

For now, Wilks' focus is Farmington and the pursuit of a district title. The Tigers defeated the Black Knights earlier this season. Central wrapped up the second seed by defeating Jackson at home Feb. 7 in a game Wilks took over with 12 of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter. In the Tigers' season finale Friday at Dexter, Wilks finished with a triple-double of 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

"I think the instant when it comes down to the fourth quarter, if its tied, it's time for me to take the game over, lead my team to victory," Wilks said. "Whether it's dribbling the ball or kicking it out, I feel I have to touch it."

In the other first-round game, Jackson will try to take advantage of its size to knock off two-time defending state champion Poplar Bluff. The Indians have lost to the Mules in the district final each of the past two years.

Jackson (18-7) fell into the No. 4 seed after dropping back-to-back games against district opponents Farmington and Central. The Indians lost 62-52 at Poplar Bluff earlier this season.

"Really, for us, we felt we had to play Bluff to win the district. When we play them doesn't matter to me," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said.

Jackson will have a size advantage with 6-11 senior Aaron Redecker, 6-6 sophomore Hunter Grantham and 6-5 sophomore Spencer Goodman. The Mules only have two players taller than 6-1 on their roster, with one of those being 6-3 senior guard and Mississippi State recruit Ben Hansbrough.

Scott said he feels his team has played well of late despite going 4-4 over its final eight games, and that offensive execution will be key.

"I still feel better about some of the things we're doing offensively scheme-wise," he said. "It's just execution."

Jackson girls No. 1 seed

Jackson will carry the top seed into the girls Class 5 District 1 tournament which begins tonight at Central.

The Indians (20-4) will take on rival Central at 6 tonight, followed by No. 2 Poplar Bluff and No. 3 Farmington at 7:30. The finals are 6 p.m. Thursday.

After starting its season 12-0, Jackson lost four of its next six games before finishing the season with six straight wins. Among its losses were St. Louis powers Incarnate Word and Nerinx Hall. Incarnate Word remains the top-ranked team in Class 5, while Jackson was ranked No. 8 in the latest state poll.

Poplar Bluff is the two-time defending district champion. Jackson last won a district title in 2003, when the Indians went on to finish third in Class 5.

Class 5 District 1

Boys

Teams: No. 1 Poplar Bluff (19-5), No. 2 Central (14-11), No. 3 Farmington (17-9), No. 4 Jackson (18-7)

* Schedule: Tuesday, Jackson vs. Poplar Bluff, 6 p.m.; Central vs. Farmington, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 7:30 p.m.

* Notes: Poplar Bluff captured the SEMO Conference title with a win over Charleston in its season-finale. The Mules finished 8-1 in conference play, while Jackson was 6-3 and Central was 3-6. Farmington has won 16 of its last 19 games.

Girls

Teams: No. 1 Jackson (20-4), No. 2 Poplar Bluff (13-11), No. 3 Farmington (19-6), No. 4 Central (9-15)

* Schedule: Monday, Jackson vs. Central, 6 p.m.; Poplar Bluff vs. Farmington, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 6 p.m.

* Notes: Jackson topped No. 2 Poplar Bluff 48-43 in the lone meeting between the two teams this season and is 2-0 against Farmington this season. The Indians defeated Central 63-21 in the regular season.