MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Warrior Run's Aiden McKee (22) tries to drive around Dunmore's Luke Franek(35) in the fourth quarter.

At 6-foot-8, Aiden McKee often towered over defenders the last four years.

Now, the senior towers over every Warrior Run player who has competed at the school during the 21st century.

McKee highlighted a big day for area basketball Thursday, being named a first team Class AAA player on the Pennsylvania Sportswriters’ All-State boys basketball team. St. John Neumann’s Daiton Thompson earned second team Class AA honors and Montgomery’s Parker Bennett third team. Like, McKee, Bennett reached a milestone, becoming his school’s first all-state selection, period during the 2000s.

A player who rarely went a game without throwing down a monster jam, McKee was a slam dunk as a first teamer this year. The four-year starter was a second team selection as a junior but made his senior season his best one yet, averaging 16.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.0 blocks and 1.1 steals per game as Warrior Run (27-3) captured its first District 4 championship since 1988.

The year before McKee arrived at high school, Warrior Run won one game. With the big man quickly becoming one of the most dominant players in program history, the Defenders made an 11-win turnaround and won at least one playoff game all four years. As a junior, McKee helped Warrior Run reach its first district final since 1999 and win its first state tournament game since that same year.

Instead of growing complacent, McKee grew hungrier and Warrior Run reached the state quarterfinals; coming within a shot of the Final 4 this past season. The Defenders won their first outright league championship of the 2000s and its 27 wins were a high for the program during that time.

A three-time HAC-III MVP, McKee was as effective defensively as he was offensively. Now placed on the Mount Rushmore of Warrior Run basketball players, McKee graduates having totaled 1,671 points, 1,133 rebounds, 400 blocks and 236 assists. He also drained a last-second 3-pointer to force overtime against Southern Columbia in the district final; dominated overtime in the second round of states against Audenried and produced double-doubles in all three state playoff games. McKee also helped Warrior Run win 73 games the past four years.

Thompson becomes Neumann’s first all-state player since Lycoming County all-time leading scorer Davion Hill graduated three years ago. Despite injuries costing him basically a year’s worth of basketball as a freshman and sophomore, Thompson still eclipsed 1,000 career points on the strength of a sensational senior year.

The Mid-Penn MVP, Thompson led the area in scoring at 24.1 points per game, but also was a major contributor in all facets. A natural two-guard, Thompson effectively filled in at point guard and generated 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. Rebounds were the only stat in which Thompson did not lead the team, placing second there.

Despite defenses gearing their game plan toward him, Thompson was virtually unstoppable at times. He scored an area-best 48 points against Bucktail and 38 against Central Mountain. He topped 20 points in 12 of his final 14 games, including the playoffs, and consistently filled up the stat sheet.

So did Bennett, who faced the same constant defensive pressure Thompson did. The program’s all-time leading scorer, Bennett almost always was double teamed, but also almost always produced big games.

Bennett eclipsed 1,400 career points and averaged 22.6 points per game. Like the other two area all-state honorees, Bennett was as complete as he was impressive, also averaging 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game. The area’s second-leading scorer, Bennett guided a young team back to the playoffs and nearly to the district semifinals for the first time since 2010.

Bennett twice went over 40 points, scoring 41 and 42 in victories, and topped 20 points 10 times.