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Cager Of The Week |
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Jeremiah jumps to front
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| The irony in Jeremiah Gamauf jump-shooting his free throws is that back in
fifth grade -- at an age that most have to shoot them that way -- he was attempting to
shoot them from a set position. "I saw all the big guys shooting flat-footed and tried to do the same," says Gamauf, now a junior at Goshen High School and The Elkhart Truth's Cager of the Week. "But when I started jump-shooting them, I got in a rhythm, so I decided just to stick with it. "It's not like I'm not able to do it flat-footed," the thinly built Gamauf hastens to add, "but as long as this is working, I'll keep doing it." It's working, it's working. Among his other glossy numbers in the Redskins' two victories last week, Gamauf was 9-for-9 at the line, improving to 22-for-25 on the season. Goshen coach Brian Bechtel chuckles at the mention of Gamauf's free throw style. More importantly, he smiles at the results. "If he gets the job done, you won't hear too many complaints from me," Bechtel says. "It's all about results. "Jamal Wilkes had the worst form for a shooter I've ever seen in my life," Bechtel says of the former UCLA and Los Angeles Laker star, "but he was a great shooter." Gamauf's own form is much prettier, and it helped him collect a career-high 27 points as the Redskins beat Northridge 58-46 last Friday. He also scored 15 points in a 55-49 win over Westview. For the two games, both on the road, Gamauf shot 15-for-30 from the field overall and 3-of-8 on 3-pointers. He also had just three turnovers while handling most of the point guard duties, a recent switch by Bechtel, and snatched seven steals. "The most noticeable improvement he's made is he's able to give us more minutes without rest," Bechtel says of Gamauf, who averaged 9.5 points as a 5-foot-9, 135-pound sophomore last season, and is up to 17.7 as a 5-11, 150-pound junior. "It's a tribute to his work in the weight room," Bechtel says. "I think it's helped his agility, quickness, and endurance. He still needs to get stronger, but he's made the commitment." Gamauf gained his love of basketball from his father, Dennis Gamauf, who was a three-year starter at Purdue form 1970-71 to '72-73. "He encouraged me to play," Jeremiah says of his dad, who played his own high school ball at Crown Point, "but I've never felt any pressure. He's always told me just to 'play as hard as you can.'" "He has a tremendous work ethic," Bechtel says of Jeremiah. "He's just a gym rat. He loves to be around the gym. When you make him take time off in the offseason, I think it bothers him, but that's the kind of kid you love to have in your program." "Right now, I just want to get better at everything," says Gamauf, who carries a 3.0 grade point average in the classroom, and likes to fish and hunt in his spare time. He would particularly like to get better on defense, and with an eye on college, grow a couple more inches. His dad is 6-2. Regardless of how tall he gets, though, expect Gamauf to keep jumping on those free throws. |
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created 12/21/00 | updated 11/18/03
Commitment |
Family |
Excellence |