Talton receives IBCA first-team all-state honors, Stephens and Klingele honored in Class 1A

QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton’s senior season ranks as one of the best produced by a Quincy High School boys basketball player in the last quarter century.

It’s fitting then he is only the second player in that span to receive first-team all-state honors.

The 6-foot-6 Talton, who led the Blue Devils to a 28-6 season, a sectional championship and an elite eight berth, was named to the 10-player Class 4A all-state first team by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. The last Quincy player to earn first-team plaudits was J.D. Summers in 2000, which happened to be the last time the Blue Devils won a sectional title as well.

Talton finished his season averaging 18.5 points overall and scored 630 points, which ranks 12th in program history in single-season scoring. He finished his career with 1,487 points, which ranks eighth in program history and makes him one of 22 players all-time to score at least 1,000 career points.

The University of New Orleans-bound swingman also set single-season and career 3-point records, making 104 treys this season and finishing his career with 229 3-pointers made.

In Class 1A, Southeastern forward Danny Stephens was a first-team selection and Liberty senior forward Breiton Klingele was a third-team pick.

Stephens averaged 28.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.4 blocks while shooting 63 percent from the field and 94 percent from the free-throw line. Klingele averaged 12.7 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 50.1 percent from the field in leading the Eagles to a second-place finish in the Class 1A state tournament.

Three others earned all-state special mention.

In Class 2A, Quincy Notre Dame junior forward Jake Wallingford (14.7 ppg) was honored, while in Class 1A, Griggsvile-Perry senior guard Tate Kunzeman (16.8 ppg) and Brown County senior guard Tate Fullerton (15 ppg) both received mention.

The Associated Press named Stephens the Class 1A all-state first team, while Klingele and Kunzeman received honorable mention. Fullerton and Liberty’s Logan Robbins each received one vote in the all-state voting. In Class 4A, Talton received honorable mention.