Buffalo Grove sophomore Jack Vaselaney has one of those special mid-range jump shots coaches love to see from young players.
As a point guard for the boys basketball team, Vaselaney leads the Bison in points (just under 14) and assists (just under four) per game, according to coach Keith Peterson.
“His ceiling is as high as he wants it to be,” Peterson said. “We brought him up to varsity midway through the season a year ago as a shooter, just before the Wheeling tournament. Since then, he’s evolved from being someone who can put points up in a hurry, into a complete basketball player.
“Obviously, he’s got a tremendous shot. But now, we’re starting to see him use his hesitation dribble, which is very quick. And he’s becoming a factor defensively. To do the things he’s done so far at this level while only being a sophomore is impressive. He’s only going to keep getting better.”
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While the rest of his team struggled offensively during Buffalo Grove’s 68-39 Mid-Suburban East loss to Prospect on Saturday, Jan. 16, Vaselaney showed why he’s so valuable. He finished with a game-high 15 points while shooting 6-for-13 from the field. The rest of his teammates were a combined 10-for-35.
When Buffalo Grove trailed 50-20 at the end of three, Vaselaney had 13 points, which accounted for 65 percent of his team’s offense. He made a pair of 17-foot jumpers in the first quarter. He drained two more jump shots from the top of the key in the second. And he sank a corner three and an 18-foot jumper in the fourth. Every time, he had a hand in his face.
Practice makes perfect, he said.
“I spend a ton of time working on my mid- and long-range shooting,” Vaselaney said. “I really have to thank my dad for that. He’s spent so much time with me practicing, guarding me, helping to make me better and giving me advice.
“Shooting from longer distances is where I’m most comfortable, especially since I’m not the tallest guy in the world at 5-foot-10 without my shoes on, and 6 feet with them. My dad always makes sure he has a hand in my face when I try to shoot the ball, so I’ve been able to really get used to it. Sometimes I don’t know how parents find the energy to devote so much time toward their kids, but I sure am thankful he’s been able to with me.”
Senior forward Joey Pinakidis said he thinks Vaselaney will become a team leader soon.
“Right now, Jack is the kind of player who leads more by example, and lets his on-court play do the talking,” Pinakidis said. “The seniors are probably the more vocal ones in the locker room when guys need to speak up. But Jack’s a confident guy, and he’s already starting to show signs he can be one of the guys who leads this team for the next two seasons after this.”
During halftime, Buffalo Grove honored assistant coach Dave Sczepanski, who will be inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame this spring. Sczepanski has coached at various levels at Buffalo Grove for 29 years, according to a pamphlet released by the school.
“He’s being inducted in the ‘Friends of Basketball’ category,” said Peterson. “Anybody who knows him knows just how fitting that is. It seems like he’s become a friend to every coach, player, parent and referee he’s encountered.”
Buffalo Grove fell to 6-11 overall and 2-3 in the MSL East. Prospect (9-7, 4-1) got a team-high 13 points from junior guard Frankie Mack.
Tim Froehlig is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter: @TFroehlig