The idea came from the kids on Twitter, asking my opinion about the decade's best high school basketball team here in our corner of the world. I thought: Why not name an all-decade team within the Eastern Connecticut Conference and throw in some other awards, too?

I tweeted a preliminary team, seeking input from the gallery. Coaches, players and other observers changed my original list. So, thanks to all for the help, although it's clear some of you people need fresh air and Xanax. I mean, it's just basketball here, people. Try decaf.

Here are, nonetheless, my all-decade picks on several categories. Happy reading. Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments section. Or not.

Team of the Decade

New London, 2010-11. Hard to argue with 27-0 and ranked No. 1 in Connecticut. I'll always love this team and the kids on it. Not only did they wipe the floor with virtually everyone, but the Whalers did it with personality.

They had Doug Henton yelling "shock the world!" to video cameras, Kris Dunn's magnetism and a few other senses of humor that made every moment fun. I'll never forget the day I was at practice and junior forward Malcolm Simmons told coach Craig Parker that Parker didn't give him "enough positive reinforcement." I almost keeled over. (Still love Malcolm to this day).

The Whalers beat Northwest Catholic before a full house at Mohegan Sun in the title game, perhaps the crowning achievement in Parker's career. He authored the following gem after the game:

"This is the town I love, the town I grew up in. I love New London, Connecticut," he said. "I tell people it's the most psychotic town on the planet by far. But you know what? It's my town."

Truer words were never spoken.

Program of the Decade

Waterford. Hard to argue this one as well. The Lancers went 182-46 with five division titles, three state titles and two league tournament championships, filling the Francis X. Sweeney Fieldhouse along the way.

Maybe the best evidence yet of Waterford's newfound status came this past Thursday night during a 21-point loss. The NFA students actually stormed the floor in celebration of a victory over the Lancers. You don't get court-stormed unless you've made it.

Player of the Decade

Kris Dunn, New London. McDonalds All-American, All-Big East player at Providence and now a proud member of the Chicago Bulls. Dunn joins Harold Pressley, Tyson Wheeler and a very short list of others among the true royalty of our basketball history. Were it not for a shoulder injury his senior year — and a final state tournament week where the Whalers had to beat heavyweights Windsor, St. Joseph and Hillhouse in six days — he'd have left with more than one state title. Still, a privilege to watch him.

Coach of the Decade

Bill Bassett, Waterford. Bassett was named head coach after the 2015 season, succeeding Greg Gwudz, the architect of Waterford's basketball renaissance. Bassett, who was Gwudz's freshmen coach, has done his old boss proud.

From 2016-19, he went 90-14 with four straight division championships, two straight ECC Tournament championships and two straight state championships. Video game numbers and accomplishments. And he's done so with a gentlemanly demeanor. Bassett has never been issued a technical foul as Waterford's head coach.

Game of the Decade

March 16, 2013, Woodstock 52, Trinity Catholic 49. Maybe the greatest (and most improbable) win in ECC history. Woodstock, the closest thing we ever had here to "Hoosiers," took down heavily favored (and six-time state champion at the time) Trinity Catholic in the Class L championship game. Trinity Catholic, with players from multiple towns and two states, couldn't contain Chris Lowry or Ian Converse, giving coach Greg Smith and the school its first basketball title.

"At the (pre-tournament) banquet the other day, I think most people in the room thought we were a hockey team," Lowry said after the game.

All-Decade Team

I chose 10 kids, using input from several sources. Remember, though: This is my team. Mine, mine, mine. The following 10 players were chosen based on individual performance, team achievement, demeanor, leadership and interest in being productive without the ball (passing, screening, rebounding, hustling, etc.) I mention this because if you think merely scoring a lot of points scores points with me, you would be mistaken.

In no particular order:

Kris Dunn, New London: For all the aforementioned reasons.

Torin Childs-Harris, New London: A two-time all-state pick who went to play at Div. I Morgan State. Childs-Harris was instrumental in New London's 27-0 season for many reasons, not the least of which is bailing out the Whalers during a scary, second-round game against Wilby. He scored a game-high 32 points and made 14 of 15 free throws. New London needed every one of them in a 76-73 win.

Keith Porter, New London: OK. For my money, one of the two most underrated players in New London history, joining Kareem Brown (a Div. I player at Coppin State and member of back-to-back state championship teams). Porter was a member of the 2011 championship team, all-state pick in 2013, finished with 1,400 career points and set the Whalers' single-game scoring record with 56 points against Fitch.

Mikey Buscetto, Waterford. The best player in Waterford history and the maestro of the 2017-18 state championship team. Buscetto is the career scoring and assists leader at Waterford, a two-time all-state pick and set the single-game scoring record (48) against Ledyard his senior year. He earned a full scholarship to Div. II Southern New Hampshire.

Liam Spellman, Waterford: The glue guy for two straight championship teams. Averaged double figures in points and rebounds for two straight years. Best passing forward I've seen here in almost 30 years. Most team-first kid I've ever been around. Doing the dirty work was his only work. Facilitated Waterford's offense. All-state kid who was part of four state championship teams (two baseball, two basketball). Intangibles count in sports. This kid is the greatest example.

Nolan Long, Waterford: The Big Fella was the centerpiece of Waterford's first state championship team in 2012. A 1,000-point scorer. Finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds in the state championship game. Would have been The Day's Player of the Year were it not for Kris Dunn. Gentle giant who has gone on to a professional baseball career with the Dodgers.

Dev Ostrowski, East Lyme: No brainer. Greatest player in school history. Eclipsed 2,000 points. Nobody knows what else he could have accomplished because of an injury that cut senior year short. He joined Buscetto as a co-star in the East Lyme/Waterford allegory that sold out gyms for two years.

DeAnte Bruton, Ledyard: He was The Day's 2015 Player of the Year and the centerpiece of Dave Cornish's best teams. Bruton was a junior when the Colonels made the ultra-competitive Class LL semifinals, winning at Crosby (where nobody wins) en route. As a senior, averaged nearly 24 points per game, eclipsing 30 five times. He averaged 6.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds, named to the All-State team. Jet quick, fun to watch and an always gentlemanly demeanor.

Marcus Outlow, NFA: Known more as a football guy, playing at Boston College and later Coastal Carolina. But a tremendous basketball player who averaged 17.6 points per game his senior year leading NFA to the ECC Tournament title. Outlow was a testimony to how "when" in sports is more significant sometimes than "what."

Examples: Jan. 14 vs. Bacon Academy his senior year: Game tied, closing seconds. NFA coach Chris Guisti called timeout and set up the play. Turns out all he had to say was "inbound it to Marcus." Outlow didn't get too far over halfcourt before he let it fly. Good. Celebratory pile.

March 1 vs. Waterford, conference tournament quarterfinals: Game tied, closing seconds. Tick ... tick ... tick ... Outlow gets the ball. Long 3-pointer: good. Again. Celebratory pile.

March 7 vs. Woodstock, conference tournament championship game: Full house. Waterford High. First three baskets, Outlow 3. Outlow 3. Outlow 3. NFA 9, Woodstock 0. Woodstock never led. Soon thereafter, there was Guisti leaping off the ladder after the final snip of the net into the arms of his players.

Chris Lowry, Woodstock: A two-time all-state guard who was a junior when the Centaurs upset Trinity Catholic in the state championship game. Then after they lost Ian Converse to graduation (among others), he led Woodstock back to the ECC title game as a senior. Later went to play at Babson.

Other players considered: Collin Sawyer (New London), Eddie Volkerts (Fitch), JJ Brennan (Waterford), Geary McLeod (Waterford), Landon Peabody (Waterford), Darnay Gray (Ledyard), Jackson Donahue (Stonington), Jon Nazarko (East Lyme), Kendall Marquez (Windham) and Jimmy Matos (Bacon Academy).

Hope you enjoyed this.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro