Athlete of the Week: Jacob Walsh

Jacob Walsh averaged 13.1 points and 7.1 rebounds and was named to the All-State second team in his senior season at Sanford.

JACOB WALSH, senior, Sanford boys basketball

THE WEEK: Scored six points and grabbed five rebounds as Sanford defeated St. Georges 39-32 on March 12 for the school’s eighth DIAA Boys Basketball title. Also had eight points and eight rebounds in a 38-30 semifinal victory over Mount Pleasant on March 10.

THE SEASON: The 6-foot-8 Walsh averaged 13.1 points and 7.1 rebounds and was named to the All-State second team. He increased his scoring and rebounding averages in every season at Sanford. “I’ve gotten a little stronger,” he said. “I’ve gotten just a little bit better in every facet of my game. I try to get better every year.”

THE COACH SAYS: “He has come so far from his ninth-grade year, in terms of just maturing as a young man,” Sanford coach Stan Waterman said. “He’s always been an outstanding student – he’s one of our top students at Sanford – so he does well in the classroom. It’s nice to see him mature on the basketball court and really step up and take a leadership role on this team.”

THE TEAMMATE SAYS: “His rebounding is one of his best attributes to this team,” senior guard Mikey Dixon, the state’s Player of the Year, said of Walsh. “He can knock down the midrange shot if you leave him open. I think he doesn’t get enough credit. He really came a long way.”

THE BIG SHOT: The Warriors were trailing 31-29 with 3:27 left in the championship game when Walsh hit a 15-footer jumper to tie the score. Sanford went on to score eight of the game’s final nine points. “It was kind of tough offensively, but I started to find my shot a little bit in the second half,” Walsh said. “I tried to pick up the team. It was just a team effort.”

THE STRENGTH: “Getting a little bit stronger, I think that’s the key for him at the next level,” Waterman said. “If he puts some time in in the weight room this summer, he’s going to be a steal for wherever he decides to go next year.”

THE CLASSROOM: Walsh said his favorite subject is Math. “It’s the only class I take where I can see everything they teach in the world around us,” he said, citing Thomas Whipple as his favorite teacher.

THE FUTURE: Walsh plans to continue playing basketball in college. He has received recruiting interest from several schools, but has yet to decide on a destination.

Send Athlete of the Week nominations to bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ