Bogan, Bell City's 6-foot-10 junior center, made quite an impression in first high school season

Before he ever took a step onto the court, Bell City junior Will Bogan's name was a hot topic on Internet message boards.

The 6-foot-10 center had never even played a high school game, having transferred to Bell City from Charleston in his sophomore year. His only organized basketball was one summer of AAU ball before his junior season.

Still, expectations were through the roof.

And Bogan delivered.

He averaged 19 points and nearly 11 rebounds per game to help the Cubs to the Class 1 state championship game this season. And along the way, he made a commitment to play college basketball at Memphis, which finished among the nation's top 10 this year.

Bogan's dominating debut season made him the Southeast Missourian Player of the Year.

"He is the most dominant player in the area," Bell City coach Brian Brandtner said. "Ask any coach that played against us how much they had to game plan against him. Any coach that says he doesn't want him is a liar."

The rumors about an up-and-coming Charleston big man were flowing from the day Bogan started his high school career, but he never suited up for the Bluejays. Bogan left family and friends behind to transfer to Bell City, staying with guardian Joe Bowling. After practicing with the Cubs last year, when he had to sit out of games due to transfer rules, Bogan made the most of his debut season.

From his first game, Bogan was the focus of taunts from opposing fans.

"Every gym we played in, I heard there goes that jail-boy or there goes that Charleston drug dealer," Bogan said. "I didn't have to worry about it because my crowd took care of it.

"It's nothing. I don't let that stuff interfere with me. It's like go back to being a dummy or move on with your life."

Any thoughts on whether he made the right move were quieted by his early play. Bogan poured in 31 points and added 16 rebounds in Bell City's third game of the season, and he rarely was outplayed.

Emerging the year after Poplar Bluff star Tyler Hansbrough graduated created more pressure for Bogan. Most onlookers simply saw his size and expected him to be able to take on opponents almost single-handedly.

"Really, people see him and they expect so much," Brandtner said. "With Tyler Hansbrough having graduated last year, he set the bar so high. What you have to remember is this is his first year [of organized basketball]. Throughout the year, with the exception of a few games, he pretty much dominated.

"He was a monster on the boards. When you threw him the ball, you knew he was going to catch it. Having him out there made everyone else better."

Bogan did not feel the need to take on the double- and triple-teams he faced by himself. With defenders hanging on him, Bogan dished off to players who had helped Bell City reach the final four the previous two seasons.

"I'm not the superstar of this team. Everyone's a star," Bogan said. "I think we've got one of the best shooters in the state, we have a ball handler, we have a leaper. It's not all about me getting 30 points and 20 rebounds a night. I didn't take us to the final four, the team did.

"It doesn't matter who the superstar is, you need everybody. One person can't carry the team. It's impossible."

While Bogan remained an unselfish, there was no doubt which Bell City player the college coaches were coming to see. By Feb. 8, Bogan already had made an oral commitment to Memphis.

"Coach [John] Calipari and coach [Derek] Kellog came to a lot of our games, and they see Will as a superstar, not just a good player," Brandtner said. "Is he there yet? No. We talk on a daily basis, and he's willing to put the work in."

Bogan, who played guard on the playgrounds growing up, said he liked the way the Memphis program allowed players to play their game.

"Whichever school benefited me, the way I play, that's where I wanted to go," Bogan said. "When they invited me to one of their games, I saw the way they play. They have a 6-9 guard, a 6-7 guard and a 6-5 center. That school, it's really all about your talent."

Bogan, a 300-pound center, showed soft hands and strong passing skills as he made the transition to the post. And while Bogan did not appear to be in the greatest physical condition, he was able to get up and down the court at a good clip for his size.

"It was different. All my life I was a guard," Bogan said. "I had to adjust from being guard to center. I could [still] shoot the mid-range jumper, but I couldn't take it in my hands like the guards do. I had to be controlled and settle down and play center and let the guards do their job."

Bogan's numbers were not a product of his school's small classification. Prior to the state playoffs, the Cubs only played three Class 1 schools in a 28-5 campaign. During the season, Bogan faced some of the area's top post players, including Doniphan's 6-11 Matt Rogers, Jackson's 6-11 Aaron Redecker and 6-5 Jamarcus Williams of Charleston.

Despite the numbers, which netted him first-team all-state honors, Bogan was not satisfied with the team's runner-up finish in Class 1. Bogan averaged 20 points and 15.5 rebounds in Bell City's two final four games.

"Some people were happy, saying you were second place you should be happy," Bogan said. "But that wasn't our goal. Our goal was first."

The Cubs will return three starters next season, including Bogan. Before he hits the high school court for the final time, Bogan will play another summer of AAU ball. The recruiting effort by AAU coaches has resulted in plenty of phone calls, according to Brandtner.

"I'm going to work on basically getting in shape, lifting weights and running," Bogan said. "I'm going to work on my inside game and my outside game. I can do a good job rebounding and passing. I've got to basically work on my weightlifting, getting in shape, and work on my outside game and quickness.

"I'm playing ball this summer. That's basically what I'd like to do my whole life, be a basketball player."