Senior center/forward Cameron Krutwig continues to set the bar high for Jacobs. In this case, he’s entered a league of his own.
The 6-foot-8 Krutwig became the first Golden Eagles player in the 1,000-1,000 club on Dec. 30 when he pulled down rebound No. 1,000 during a 61-49 victory over Prairie Ridge in the Hinkle Holiday Classic championship game.
Pretty amazing, huh?
“You wonder how many high school players ever get to say that,” Jacobs coach Jim Roberts said. “When you talk about someone getting 1,000 rebounds as opposed to somebody getting 1,000 points, it’s much easier to average 20 points a game and get to 1,000 in a few years than it is to average 10 to 15 rebounds for 1,000 rebounds.”
Krutwig, a Loyola recruit, is Jacobs’ all-time leading rebounder. After hauling down 20 vs. Prairie Ridge, Krutwig has 1,005 rebounds over four varsity seasons. He’s averaging 14.3 rebounds this season. He also has 1,217 points.
“I knew I was getting close after my junior year, and then kind of already in the back of my mind I was aware I was closer after they handed out stat sheets a few weeks ago,” Krutwig said. “Really, I’m just out there trying to help my team the best way I can, and this is something that we need.”
Always team-oriented, Krutwig does have an individual rebounding goal.
“I was bored one day and looked up the IHSA records for rebounding and noticed they only list the top 20,” Krutwig said. “I was thinking I could get up into the top 10, maybe to eight or nine by the end of the year.”
Krutwig sits 66 rebounds from the top 20 and needs 211 to reach the top 10. Aurora Christian’s Marc Davidson (1987-91) is the state’s all-time leader at 1,942.
“You know, some big kids you have to fight with to play hard, to get them to compete and push them to go to the glass constantly,” Roberts said. “Cam has never been that guy.
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“With him, he hunts down the defensive rebounds because he’s so eager to throw that Celtic (outlet) pass.”
Krutwig finds opponents are making it more difficult to grab rebounds this season.
“A little bit more, teams are attacking us with five smaller guys on the floor because they either don’t have a big guy or they just want to attack me off the dribble,” Krutwig said. “When their 6-2 post guy is outside shooting 3-point baskets, it can stretch me out.
“We have a few more taller players capable of getting boards, like Mason (Materna) or Ryan Phillips. That helps.”
Jacobs (12-0, 3-0) resumes its season at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at home against Crystal Lake South. The Golden Eagles are pursuing a 25th straight Fox Valley Conference win.
Expanding horizons: St. Charles East junior Justin Hardy looks to display his improved outside shooting in a 6 p.m. Saturday matchup at rival St. Charles North, the third game between the teams this season.
Hardy, a 6-4 forward, averages team-best totals of 20.1 points and 8.3 rebounds, but also has a team-high 21 3-pointers. He made 19 3-pointers all last year and averaged 12 points as a sophomore to help the Saints reach the sectional finals.
“I’ve always been bigger for my grade,” Hardy said. “I’ve been normally a power forward back to sixth grade, seventh grade. Now I’m working on my perimeter game.”
Season’s best: After averaging 29.9 points at the Westmont/IC Catholic Christmas Tournament, St. Edward’s Kelvin Cortez-Harvey went even higher. His 35 points Wednesday in an 80-49 Metro Suburban Red victory over Guerin were the most by any Elgin-area boys player this season.
Twitter @genechamberlai2