Jack Hoiberg’s family is known for basketball, but it was actually golf that helped introduce the Hinsdale Central transfer to the area.
Before his family moved to the area, Jack Hoiberg, the oldest son of first-year Bulls basketball coach Fred Hoiberg, played 18 holes at Ruth Lake Country Club with future Red Devils basketball and golf teammate Drew Shepherd.
About a month before teeing off at the Red Devils’ home course, Jack Hoiberg had shot a 76 in the Boys 16-18 division at the Iowa PGA Junior Golf Championship and tied for second at Lake Panorama National.
But this time, according to Jack Hoiberg, Shepherd shot 2-under in August to win their round.
That helped foster a friendship between Shepherd and Jack Hoiberg that has carried on through golf and now basketball season for the Red Devils. Shepherd was the only varsity golfer who also played last season for Hinsdale Central’s varsity basketball team.
Jack Hoiberg became a part-time player in the fall for Hinsdale Central’s varsity golf team, but did not play in the postseason. Shepherd shot a team-best 76 on the final day of the Class 3A tournament that helped seal the Red Devils’ fourth straight championship.
“We love to tee it up,” said Shepherd, a senior guard, who’s committed to golfing at Kansas.
The two friends bonded quickly. Fred Hoiberg was named Bulls coach in June and moved his family in August to Burr Ridge from Ames, Iowa, where he had been head coach at Iowa State. Jack, a 5-foot-10 junior, transferred from Gilbert High School in Iowa.
“When we were looking at places, our Realtor knew Drew’s dad (Ted),” said Jack Hoiberg.
More Top Picks Laptop
Jack Hoiberg is accustomed to pulling up roots. He was born in Indiana and previously lived in the Chicago area when his father played four seasons for the Bulls, from 1999-2003.
Fred and Carol Hoiberg have four children, with Paige – a former basketball star at Gilbert — attending Kansas and twin brothers, Sam and Charlie, playing basketball for the Hinsdale Middle School seventh-grade team and the Hinsdale Infernos feeder team.
Jack Hoiberg and Shepherd spend time together outside of school and basketball practice. Shepherd is a longtime member of The Players Series, a golf training academy for youth golfers. Hoiberg joined TPS two weeks ago and the two have been practicing nearly every day at an indoor golf facility at Carriage Greens Country Club in Darien.
“We spend 80 percent of the time together,” Shepherd said, “with school, basketball and golf.”
Shepherd is the second leading scorer for Hinsdale Central (8-6, 3-1 West Suburban Silver) and has made more than 30 3-pointers this season. He scored 10 points on Friday, Jan. 8 in the Red Devils’ 59-53 overtime loss to visiting Lyons. Jack Hoiberg played three minutes and did not score.
Jack Hoiberg was a sophomore starter last season for Gilbert, which finished 20-4, but is averaging 1.6 ppg in limited playing time for Hinsdale Central this season. He is one of eight players who has appeared in every game.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Jack Hoiberg said. “I’m working hard to try to get more minutes as the season progresses. You keep going.”
Jack Hoiberg said his father has been able to watch a few of Hinsdale Central’s games when his Bulls schedule allows.
“It’s tough, but guys like Drew have helped me out,” Jack Hoiberg said. “The transition has been a lot easier for me.”
Game recap
Lyons junior Connor Niego scored a game-high 25 points and had 15 rebounds to hand Hinsdale Central its first loss in the West Suburban Silver.
Lyons (5-8, 1-3) made 5-for-7 free throws in overtime, while the Devils shot 2-for-9.
With the score tied at 48-all, Hinsdale Central’s Tomas Misiunas missed a 3-point attempt before the fourth-quarter buzzer sounded.
Peter Blust led the Red Devils with 16 points. Lyons’ Cawone Hester scored all 15 of his points in the second half.
Twitter @geomwilcox