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February 15, 2014
The
Preseason Selection Process
By Aaron
Brown
There were a lot of tough decisions and predictions to
make as we head into the 2014 season. Determining the Top 25 rankings and
making All-Illpolo Team selections is an especially difficult process,
especially when you consider that the last official high school game was
played in May 2013, close to ten months ago.
The All-Illpolo Teams were extremely difficult to
predict this year, so much so that a second list of 'Players to Watch' had
to be created. And even with that, it still feels like there are
additional deserving players who will make a case for recognition as we
begin the first official competitions on Monday, March 10.
To give some insight on the decisions, here are some
important things to consider:
1) The All-Illpolo Teams are strongly based on the
individual impact a player makes on a relatively successful team. The
lists are not an evaluation of a player's individual talents and is much
different than something a college recruiter or a national team coach
would compile.
2) The majority of the decisions are based on
performances during the 2013 season.
3) While every effort is made to consider summer team
performances and the impact freshmen players will make on their respective
teams, this information can be difficult to determine and may not be
reflected in the preseason lists.
4) A great deal of the list is based on exposure,
especially during the previous season. I am well aware that there are
probably a handful of players whose performances have been overlooked to
this point and who will wonder why they have not been mentioned here.
Every effort will be made over the course of the season to recognize as
many players as possible.
5) In some instances, information may have gotten
crossed up and a returning player may have been mistaken as having
graduated and does not appear on the teams. I reserve the right to make
additional changes to the lists if this is the case. If you believe this
is true, please send an e-mail to illpolostaff@gmail.com.
6) In other instances, a graduated player may appear on
the list but appears on the teams because of some form of incorrect
information. The same may be true about a player that has moved,
transferred, or is not playing for a specific reason. If this is the case,
please e-mail corrections to illpolostaff@gmail.com as soon as possible.
7) As always, the opinions of this site are simply
opinions. They are meant to be a starting point to the upcoming season. I
fully expect a wave of e-mails regarding the lists and the rankings, but
the general answer I will always give is that they are MY opinions, which
I base solely on the information I have at my disposal.
Best of luck in 2014,
Aaron Brown
illpolo.com
