MUSKEGON TWP. - Nobody who follows Reeths-Puffer basketball is surprised that Jaxson Whitaker has been an instant success at the collegiate level.
After all, Whitaker spent four seasons torching the nets at R-P with his long-distance three-pointers and airborne drives through traffic in the lane.
Last year, in his final season of varsity, he became Reeths-Puffer's all-time scoring king, finishing his career with 1,390 points.
He surpassed the 1,352-point mark of the previous leader, JR Wallace, who is currently in his first season as Reeths-Puffer's boys basketball coach.
Whitaker at center court on Friday night, during a special ceremony in his honor. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Whitaker surpassed Wallace on Feb. 24, near the end of last season, in a victory over Zeeland West. He scored 22 points in that win, which gave the R-P boys a share of their first conference championship since 1985.
On Friday, in a special ceremony between the girls and boys varsity games at R-P, Whitaker was honored for his achievement. He stood at center court, next to a large framed photo of himself attempting a three-pointer against Muskegon, in front of a big, appreciative crowd at R-P's Dan Beckeman Arena.
The public address announcer, retired R-P Principal Dan Beckeman (the guy who the arena was named after) spent several minutes listing off Whitaker's many achievements:
First-team All-Stater in his senior season. Honorable mention All-Stater in his junior season. O-K Green All-Conference in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. One of 10 players named as the best in the Muskegon area since 2000 by the media outlet MLive.
Beckeman also noted Whitaker's scholastic success: a 4.19 grade point average and Academic All-State honors as a junior and senior.
Whitaker finished his R-P career with a school record 1,390 points.
"Jaxson, you have given this community so much to be proud of," Beckeman said during the ceremony. "Your hard work, dedication and leadership have left an incredible legacy."
The moment might have been a little bit embarrassing for Whitaker, just because he's always been a rather quiet guy who has never craved attention for himself.
But it meant a lot for him to be able to come home and be honored by the high school that launched his still-developing basketball career.
"After last season, Mr. Sandee (R-P's athletic director) said he wanted to do this one day this season," Whitaker said after the ceremony. :"It felt good, just being back here. It's good to be back in the community and be here to support the Rockets. I have been anxious to get back."
Friday was a good opportunity for Whitaker to visit R-P, because his Ferris State University basketball team has a game on Saturday at Grand Valley State University, just down the road in Allendale.
Whitaker (No. 5) with his teammates after they clinched a conference championship last season.
Whitaker has been a big contributor for the Bulldogs as a true freshman, averaging 7.2 points per game.
He has helped nationally-ranked Ferris State post a great record so far, with an overall 20-4 mark, including a 10-3 record in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
A lot of freshmen - even very talented ones - spend their first year redshirted and see little action, but Whitaker proved to be good enough to go right into the rotation for the Bulldogs.
"I didn't know until right before the season whether I was going to play or redshirt, but since then it's been a really good season," he said. "I believe in myself, and my goal was to play, obviously. I just had confidence going in."
Whitaker said the college game is a lot different than high school basketball, and a much bigger commitment, requiring practice and preparation seven days per week.
"It's a lot different, a lot faster," he said. "There's a lot more scouting you have to do, based on the teams you are going to be playing.
Whitaker is now playing at Ferris State, where he's averaging 7.2 points per game as a freshman.
"I have always liked being busy. This is just another way for me to keep myself busy!"
Whitaker said he's had the chance to watch the R-P boys team online several times this season, and has been impressed with the Rockets' work ethic.
R-P, with a lot of guys playing new roles this season, is currently 5-13 overall and 3-4 in conference play.
"In the games I have seen online, it looks like they are working hard and working together," Whitaker said. "If they keep working hard, hopefully they can make a long run."
Wallace, who was busy preparing his Rockets to play Mona Shores on Friday night, said Whitaker's high school accomplishments and success in college are an inspiration for his players and all R-P athletes.
"It's a little bittersweet that he broke my record, but other than that. it's a good thing!" Wallace said with a laugh. "When he broke it, I called him and told him to enjoy it, have fun with it, and then go do your best to represent Reeths-Puffer when you hit the college level."
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