Was Aurora Christian freshman Marshawn Cocroft ready for this role?
You bet.
Cocroft, now 12 games into his varsity career as the team’s starting point guard, was fearless even at a tender age. At least, that’s what he’s been told by older brother Markus.
Thirteen years ago, as a toddler, Marshawn became a young star of the Rowdies student section while watching his older brother play the same position as a senior at West Aurora.
“Markus told me the Rowdies used to hold me up when I was a baby and pass me around,” Marshawn said of his early days of crowd surfing.
Marshawn displays similar panache these days running the show for Aurora Christian.
He was at it again Thursday night, scoring a team-high 11 points in about two quarters of play for the Eagles in a 67-31 nonconference rout of visiting Mooseheart.
While it may appear to come naturally, rest assured, Marshawn’s skill set is the product of hard work, much like his brother featured while playing for legendary coach Gordie Kerkman.
Both fine-tuned dribbling skills with basement workouts overseen by their dad Gerry, who had them wear “dribble specs” shielded across the bottom of the lenses to keep them from looking at the ball.
“I was telling Marshawn earlier today that it’s difficult for anybody to come into a new system and take the reins,” Aurora Christian coach Dan Beebe said. “But it’s really difficult for a freshman.”
So far, so good for Cocroft and the Eagles (10-2).
“His basketball IQ is off the charts,” Beebe said. “He has done an amazing job for us running the show and also doing what he needs to do, too.”
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Normally, Cocroft is joined by fellow freshman Jalen Carter in the starting lineup. The Eagles are led by junior Cam Morel, who is the team’s most experienced player.
Seniors Brayden Hatch and Parker Vandermolen typically join them as starters. With Carter out sick, senior Victor Nyong started Thursday.
And, as usual, freshman Jacob Baumann and senior Grant Keppy were the first players off the bench against the Ramblers (2-9), who are in the midst of a grinding 13 games in 17 days, according to Mooseheart coach Craig Palmquist.
Heritier Rukumbuzi, a 6-foot-3 senior, scored a game-high 12 points for Mooseheart, but 11 turnovers by the team in the first quarter set the tone.
The 6-6 Keppy had three straight steals to start the game. He finished the first half with all nine of his points and 12 of his 13 rebounds as the Eagles led 35-19.
“Keppy played really well and we need that out of him,” Morel said.
Morel joined Hatch with 10 points apiece. Bauman matched Keppy with nine.
“I feel we should have come out a little stronger in those games we lost,” Morel said of back-to-back setbacks to Wheaton St. Francis and Ridgewood. “We weren’t able to play hard the full 32 minutes for some reason.
“These freshmen are playing a huge role and have come up to the ability we need when we need them. Jacob (Baumann) is a great catch-and-shoot shooter and Jalen is a great shooter. And like (Cocroft), he plays bigger than he is, too.”
Cocroft said his handles, driving past defenders to the basket and shooting the 3-pointer are his strong suits.
“Last year, I only knew he was the stud eighth grader for our middle school team,” Morel said of Cocroft. “He’s played a big role and doesn’t back down from any of these bigger guys at the varsity level.
“Plus, he’s really good at finding the open man.”
Likely, as Beebe said, because Cocroft “sees the floor so well and sees the game.”
These young Eagles may be looking at the start of a special run.
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