Introducing Mr. Basketball Candidate #5: Elijah Hazekamp
As part of our preseason content, we’re counting down the top dozen candidates for this year’s Mr. Basketball award, presented annually to the top senior in the state. The list continues with our No. 5 player, Sioux City Bishop Heelan combo forward Elijah Hazekamp, a double-double machine who recently committed to play his college ball at North Dakota.
Name: Elijah Hazekamp
Height: 6-6
Position: F
School: Sioux City Bishop Heelan
2016-17 stats: 424 points (17.7/game), 298 rebounds (12.4), 61 assists (2.5), 48.7 FG%, 39.3 3P%, 87.1 FT%
Career stats: 1,005 points (14.6/game), 710 rebounds (10.3), 132 assists (1.9), 48.3 FG%, 36.1 3P%, 84.1 FT%
About Hazekamp: A skilled combo forward, Hazekamp has put together a really strong career and will end up averaging a strong double-double as a result. Capable of scoring from all three levels, he plays with a relentless motor, is an animal on the glass and gets to the free throw line routinely. He’s steadily added some versatility to his game, and will continue his basketball career playing Division I basketball at North Dakota.
Why he can win Mr. Basketball: He’s going to finish his career averaging a double-double and should end up as just the fifth player in 3A history to record more than 1,000 career rebounds. He’ll be the focal point of a Crusaders team that will be among the best in 3A, and one that has a real shot at winning the state title. With the big career numbers he’ll end up with, adding a state title to that resume could be enough to swing some votes his direction.
Odds he wins Mr. Basketball: Hazekamp could get some attention from voters, especially those int he western part of the state, and many years he could be considered one of the front runners for the honor. But this isn’t most years, and the players at the top of the list are exceptional, so the chances of Hazekamp winning are very slim. But a career double-double average and a (potential) state title make for a pretty solid career.