Beloit Memorial star Amare Hereford remains loyal, signs with Milwaukee Panthers

"Amare will be a star here at Milwaukee," coach Bart Lundy said. "He will be a fan favorite from the beginning. He is a complete basketball player but probably has as good of an ability to score as I've seen in any high school player. He is a great student and a great worker and completely fits our culture.

"We are so excited that he will represent the city of Milwaukee and the state and especially his hometown of Beloit."

Indeed, Hereford put the ball through the net for Beloit Memorial at a prodigious rate, averaging 37.5 points per game – tops in the state – as a senior. He finished as the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,493 points in four years.

Hereford also poured in 49 points in his final high school game, a WIAA sectional semifinal loss to Verona last month.

Hereford was tough to guard going to the basket as his 60.7% shooting this past season indicates, but he also shot a terrific 45% from from 3-point range (81 for 180) and capitalized on all the contact he drew to the tune of 83% accuracy at the free-throw line.

More than just a scorer, though, Hereford also finished with team-leading averages of 8.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.9 steals per game.

"My playing style fits the way [the Panthers] play – they get up and down, play fast," Hereford said. "Coach Lundy said he definitely sees me running [point guard], having the ball in my hands, playing the same way I did in high school, finding teammates, getting to the rim and scoring at all three levels."

Defense is typically where newcomers experience the biggest growing pains, learning the all-out effort it takes to guard at a high level on every possession.

Hereford, however, indicates he's more than just a scorer.

"I love playing defense," he said. "Hitting the gaps, getting steals and different things like that, being active with my hands a lot. I'm definitely looking forward to getting pushed defensively and picking up the ball full court, on-ball pressure in the half court."

Hereford took his visit to UWM in mid-March, after the season had been completed, but saw enough games on TV to cement his opinion of the challenge ahead.

"The Horizon League is amazing," he said. "There's a lot of guards who play the same way I play, like to get up and down, play fast. That's why I love Coach Lundy and the Panthers and the rest of the staff. They let guys be themselves. They play fast, get up and down, play together as one.

"They let everybody touch the ball and be themselves."

Before Wisconsin entered the picture, Hereford said he'd narrowed his school choices to UWM and San Diego, where Whitefish Bay Dominican product and former Iowa State assistant JR Blount has taken over as head coach.

Now, Hereford projects as an important piece in the Panthers' rebuilding process.

"Coach Lundy and the staff, they believe in me heavy. And I just want to prove them right," Hereford said. "I want them to see that I can come in and make a huge impact right away for the team and in the Horizon League.

"I'm definitely going to come in and compete for my minutes. And obviously, I want to stay there.

"So, definitely looking forward to coming in and earning my spot."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Beloit Memorial standout Amare Hereford signs with Milwaukee Panthers