Faith Academy basketball players named all-state
CAPTION: Faith Academy rising junior guard Will Slyker (left) and rising senior center Judah Phillips are on the All-State Team of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
Faith Academy of Marble Falls boys basketball players Judah Phillips and Will Slyker were named to the All-State Team of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.
The two are on the Mid-Size Private School list that has a total of 20 recipients.
Head coach Zakk Revelle, who nominated the duo, announced their selection.
When it comes to Faith basketball, most conversations begin and end with these Flames.
Phillips, a rising senior center who stands 6 feet and 10 inches, averaged 11.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. While Phillips is easy to spot, it’s his relentless work in the paint that stands out. He is constantly protecting the rim defensively thanks to his footwork in quickly moving to where ball handlers are and discouraging them from driving to the paint. Offensively, he looks for ways to be involved. Rebounding is a big part of his game.
It’s the first time he was selected.
“I’m proud of him and the work he’s put in,” Revelle said. “He was excited to get it. He has work to do, and he’s motivated by the award to do better. He knows what he has to do.”
This is the fourth all-state award for Slyker, a rising junior guard who averaged 27.7 points, 6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He was the points leader in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.
“It feels like after every game, we talk about Will because of the caliber of player he is,” Revelle said. “Let’s talk about how good of a teammate he is and how good of a person he is. He’s a great shooter. He also passes extremely well.”
The coach said many times, Slyker doesn’t have the assist total Revelle thinks he should and he has to remind himself that the guard typically doesn’t play at all in the fourth period because the Flames have a lopsided lead.
Slyker shows his dedication to his teammates by working on his body and his game throughout the year. He is in the weight room getting stronger and in the gym shooting countless jumpers with the aim of being in the best shape possible to come through for the Flames when he’s needed the most, Revelle said.
“He works extremely hard,” he said. “Every award he gets, he deserves. All of the accolades he gets, he works hard for them.”
