Triggs set tone for season with hard work in practice

Triggs set tone for season with hard work in practice

Edwardsville senior was named top player for area large schools

BY DAVID WILHELM - News-Democrat

EDWARDSVILLE -- Will Triggs' production in practice helped make

him proficient on the court.

Triggs averaged 15.9 points and 10.7 rebounds per game for the

Edwardsville Tigers, prompting coaches to overwhelmingly vote

the 6-foot-6 junior the News-Democrat's Class 3A-4A Player of the

Year.

"It feels pretty good. It's really exciting," said the affable and outgoing

Triggs, who led the Tigers to a 22-6 record and a share of the

Southwestern Conference championship. "I really appreciate it.

I accept this award on behalf of the coaches and my teammates

who pushed me every day."

Triggs connected on 63 percent of his shots from the field (159-for-263).

He finished with 15 double-doubles in 28 games after recording just

three in the Tigers' first 11 games. He scored in double figures 26 times.

"I thought Will had an outstanding year," Edwardsville coach Mike Waldo

said. "I think he improved in all aspects of the game. He's very versatile. His sophomore year, he played away from the basket more. This year, we needed him to play inside more and he did a really good job of adjusting to that. That's a good player who can give a team what it needs from year to year."

Waldo credits Triggs' improvement to his work ethic in practice.

"Will is a very conscientious person," Waldo said. "He really tries to do things properly. He's a very good practice player. He comes and works every day. The combination of practicing hard and paying attention to detail helps him. And he's a good athlete. He runs and jumps well."

Triggs said practice is no time to goof off.

"The old saying goes, 'What you do in practice, you do in games,'" Triggs said. "I was able to perform well, and practice is where it all starts. Practice helped me progress my game. I took practice pretty seriously."

Saying good-bye to football

Triggs decided to quit playing football last fall, opting to concentrate exclusively on basketball, a sport he's certain to play in college.

Triggs has fond memories of playing football. He was an offensive lineman, and the strength he gained training for the sport helped him become a better basketball player.

"I think football helped me out tremendously," Triggs said. "It helped me physically. Going out there every play, you're constantly hitting somebody. My aggressiveness (in basketball) came from football. Also, with the football program, we have a great weight program."

Waldo doesn't necessarily agree that quitting football aided Triggs' development as a basketball player.

"I think there's a lot of things that go into how much a player improves," he said. "Regarding multiple sports, that's just up to the individual. Some guys like to play more than one sport, which is good. Some guys don't. That's their decision.

"But I'm not going to say that Will quitting football made him a better basketball player."

Triggs said playing one sport was liberating.

"I didn't have so much on my mind," said Triggs, who lives in Glen Carbon with his parents, Will Triggs Sr. and Ira. "After I quit playing football, I could concentrate on academics and basketball. Quitting football helped me out because it made me more focused."

Big decision ahead

Triggs already has attracted the attention of college coaches. He hopes to sign a letter of intent before the start of next season.

At this point, Missouri State, Austin Peay and Evansville rank high on his list. Triggs also is intrigued by Lafayette.

"You can't play forever," Triggs said. "I would like to major in architecture, and (Lafayette) has a pretty good program."

Triggs isn't limiting his choices. His stock could improve with a strong performance for his AAU team, rameybasketball.com.

"My dad and I have sat down and talked about it," Triggs said. "Really, what we want to do is sign before my senior year. If I have a good AAU season and get more offers and letters, I'll sign before the season starts."

A mediocre AAU season, Triggs said, would postpone his decision. In that scenario, he would use the season to refuel the interest of coaches.

"If I keep playing well this AAU season, I think the bigger colleges will come," Triggs said. "I feel like I have something to play for. It's good to hear the big-name colleges, but it's really about what college fits you best."

Facing change

Triggs' role with the Tigers next season is expected to change. Edwardsville expects to have a bigger lineup, and Waldo said Triggs will face the basket as a forward rather than play in the post with his back to the rim.

"What's going to help Will is he really can play anywhere a coach needs him," Waldo said. "He can play the two (shooting guard), three (small forward) or four (power forward). He can defend all those positions and can all also play offensively at those positions.

"In basketball, being able to do several things well is very important. Any time you have a player who can score from the perimeter, dribble and pass, it makes him very valuable. Having a guy like Triggs who does a lot of things well gives you a lot of versatility."

Wherever Waldo uses him is fine with Triggs.

"Any position. It doesn't matter," Triggs said. "If a coach wants me to play a position, I'll work my butt off to play it. On my AAU team I play a three, so it won't be too much of a challenge."