PORT NECHES — Pat Abel feels pride as a father and a coach that his son Ryan is a Christus All-Star basketball player.

“It’s a tremendous feat with the talent we have in this area, just to be nominated and to be selected for this game,” the Port Neches-Groves coach said. “He’s definitely contributed more than I can imagine. The accolades he’s achieved and the success he’s helped give our program, it’s great for me as a parent and great for me as a coach, but I think he leaves something behind for others to reach as well.”

The importance of Ryan Abel’s selection to Friday’s All-Star game at East Chambers High in Winnie is not lost on the recent PNG graduate. The center earned the right to join forces with Southeast Texas’ finest players after going head-to-head with many of them in his high school career.

“I’ll definitely try and do my best and maybe get seen or noticed or something like that,” he said.

If Friday night’s game is the last Ryan Abel plays, he and his father will be just fine with that. Ryan is considering enrolling at Lamar State College Port Arthur or Lamar Institute of Technology and studying to become a process operator or doing instrumentation at a local plant.

“He could probably fit in somewhere [on a college team],” Pat Abel said. “The college game is a business. If you’re heart’s not in it, you’ve got to make that decision. We’re fine with whatever he decides. I just know that he’s going to eat us out a house if he stays in the house.”

At 6-feet-3, Ryan Abel was the big man for the Indians, taking on all the talent that District 22-5A had to offer. He helped PNG navigate through an always-challenging schedule and finish with a 15-14 overall record (7-7 in 22-5A).

“I say we improved our game the most playing as a team,” Ryan said. “In the past few years, we had a lot of younger guys on the team. We finally meshed together this final year and produced a winning season, although we wanted to make the playoffs. We were still happy with our outcome. We hope it will influence the younger guys and motivate them to want to do that and produce a winning season.”

The 52-44 home win over Vidor on Feb. 17 secured the winning mark. The younger Abel had 11 points in that game, which Pat considers one of his favorite games his son played.

“To be able to share that memory, it was tough for me in that team room after the game for me as a dad,” Pat Abel said. “And then, he had a great game in the Orangefield tournament [in 2014-15] against New Caney Porter. He went for like 30 points and 15 rebounds. He’s not just been a prolific scorer, but it seems like the ball found the rim that night.”

Ryan Abel will join Central star and Lamar signee T.J. Atwood on the East team for Friday’s game, to follow the volleyball and girls basketball contests at East Chambers High. Jase Miguez of Nederland also was selected but indicated he will not play.

Ozen placed three players on the West team: Josh Boyd, John Comeaux and Travon Gipson.

And Abel gets to step on the floor with them — and more Southeast Texas All-Stars — one more time.

“[I’m] really getting to go play with guys I’ve never played with before and do it in a way to represent my town and my teammates,” Abel said. “I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”

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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews