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CEDAR RAPIDS — His interview skills are probably his biggest weakness right now.
It’s not that Jarrod Uthoff is disagreeable with the media or anything. He’s willing to talk to any newspaper, radio or TV reporter who asks for a minute or two, and usually does it with a smile.
It’s just that the Cedar Rapids Jefferson center doesn’t have a whole lot to say. That’s despite being a 4.0 student and the junior class president.
Maybe he’s not used to all the attention that comes with being a standout athlete, yet.
“He really does light up a room when he enters it,” said longtime Jefferson assistant coach Carey Ash. “Freshmen girls, sophomore boys … everyone likes Jarrod.”
And everyone likes Jarrod’s basketball skills.
The 6-foot-8 rail helped the J-Hawks to their first state tournament appearance since 1999, averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds. He employed a fine inside/middle-range offensive game to shoot 55 percent from the field and 80 from the free-throw line.
Uthoff was selected a first-team Class 4A all-stater last week by the Iowa Newspaper Association. He is named today the KCRG/Gazette Communications boys’ basketball area player of the year.
“I got taller,” Uthoff said, when asked if he felt he was a better player this season. “I thought I improved a lot, and I hope to improve even more next season.”
“Leaps and bounds,” Ash added. “His strength, his work ethic and just wanting to get better. He came to practice every day with a desire to get better.”
Uthoff grew from 6-foot-6 to 6-8 and is expected to grow, considering he’s the youngest member of Jefferson’s junior class at a just-turned-16. Now if he can get a little wider.
Uthoff said he weighs about 180 pounds.
“I’ve always been tall and skinny,” he said. “And I eat a lot. Just ask my mom.”
Mom and dad live in Marengo, where Jarrod attended school until last year. Familiar with several Jefferson players from AAU basketball, he decided to transfer to a school where relative Dean Uthoff starred.
The step up in competition helped garner attention from Division I colleges. Uthoff said he hopes to commit to a school this month or next.
“Sometime in the near future,” he said, noticeably uncomfortable with the topic of conversation. “Probably a couple of weeks. I don’t really have a favorite right now. That’s why this is so hard. Probably Creighton and UNI.
“Those two are definite possibilities.”
Jarrod Uthoff
25 Responses to 2010 boys’ hoops player of year: Jarrod Uthoff
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What a crock. Randall was not criticized for his won-loss record, which is good as Solon every year delivers superb athletes for his team. He was criticized for abusive, mean-spirited behaviors, and poor relations between coach and players. This is a coach who is clueless on practices, screams and even slaps his players, but wins because of the superior talent on the team. He is annoying to the officials, and to the other coaches. Someone could win the state championship with the talent that quit his team.
Consider his 1999 team with several college and pro basketball players (Gruber, Hopkins), several college football player (Wilkenson and Hodap) that should have been hands down state champions based on size, talent, and skill, but clutched. Where was his great coaching ability?
Ask the girl’s softball players from Randall’s days at City High — where he was dismissed — about his abusive language?
Last year, even his brightest stars were ready to walk out, which is a yearly issue, because of his temper, and his general ineptness.
Maybe this guy has matured, which would be fortunate, but don’t revise history on him. Naming him coach of the year is like naming Huge Chavez world leader of the year because Venezuela has huge oil supplies.
Solonfan: He won last year’s Class 2A state title and finished runner-up this season with an entirely new team. To me, that’s dang good. Are you saying anyone could have done that?
By the same logic, Solon has won how many football games in a row. Is that strictly because of talent? That is a large factor, yes, but bringing that talent together to win so often is very important, too.
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