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player ready...Over the last few years, Nick Ruben said he doubted “all the time” that he would ever be a contributor on the Maine South boys basketball team.
But Ruben, a 6-2 wing, made his 22nd start of the season on Friday in the Hawks’ 50-45 win over New Trier in Park Ridge. He scored all six of his points in the fourth quarter — went 6-for-8 on free throws — to help the Hawks maintain a share of the Central Suburban South lead with Evanston. The two teams are scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in Evanston.
“I’m really, really proud of how he’s matured as a basketball player,” Maine South coach Tony Lavorato said of Ruben. “What he did is a true testament to hard work, desire and determination.”
Ruben started his Maine South career on the freshman B team and then played on the sophomore team as a sophomore. Last season, Ruben was on the varsity roster, but his main role was coming off the bench for the JV team.
“He developed late as a player,” Lavorato said. “It happens sometimes. But, boy, did he hit it hard last spring. He improved his strength, his shot and his ball handling.”
Ruben said the only thing on his mind after his junior season was to earn a starting spot as a senior.
“I had the mind-set that it was meant for me, and I went out there and got it,” Ruben said.
Ruben entered the week averaging 4.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals a game for the Hawks, who are ranked 10th by the baiduhai. His 54 deflections on defense are second on the team.
“I could tell in the summer and fall he was playing with a new confidence,” Lavorato said. “He proved to himself he could play at this level. He earned that starting job.”
Lavorato said Ruben reminds him of former player Justin Tworek, who also worked his way up through the program and contributed to the 2010 sectional championship team as a senior.
“Those freshman B guys need to have a role model,” Lavorato said. “You have to keep at it. I tell parents that all the time. I used Justin as an example of what can happen.
“Now, I will use Nick.”
Ruben said he hasn’t thought about himself that way, but he is aware others might be looking up to him.
“If I can help out a kid who’s in a similar spot that I was in, then I think I did a good job for this team,” he said.
Twitter: @harnesspreps