P.O. Male Athlete of the Week: Waynesboro's Cameron Keck
It's not as if Cameron Keck had a bad start to the season for Waynesboro's boys basketball team.
But he wasn't quite getting the scoring production that came so easily to him a season ago.
Until this week, that is. Keck scored at least 20 points in all three of the Indians' games this week, and he is the Public Opinion Male Athlete of the Week.
"I just kind of realized it's my last year, my senior year, and we're finally past the midway point," Keck said. "I'm used to shooting from the outside a lot, but the past couple games, I've been taking it to the rim more, and it's been working out good. I've been finishing, so I'm gong to keep trying to do that."
Keck had a phenomenal shooting percentage this week, making 58 percent from the field in three games. He shot 67 percent in both of 'Boro's wins this week, against South Western and Big Spring.
"We do a pretty good job of pushing the ball down the floor, and our wings get out and get set," Indian coach Tom Hoffman said. "Kyle (Hoffman) has had a very good year of finding them and creating open opportunities."
Keck said, "My teammates are setting me up really well and making it easier for me. I have to make the shot, but it comes from them setting me up. That's definitely a big part of it."
It also can be attributed to how Keck has evolved as a player. During his sophomore year, Keck was admittedly a pure shooter, but as older talent graduated, it became Keck's turn to be the team leader.
"My sophomore year, I was out there to make open shots," Keck said. "That's all I had to do because Connor (Fetterhoff) and Ryan (Kelley) did all the other work. My junior year, I had to step up and learn how to do it all because we had kind of a down year. I just had to grow and evolve my game."
Playing for the Franklin Force 17U AAU team, which went to a national tournament last season, has also upped Keck's game, and Hoffman also said confidence has been a big factor.
"He doesn't have an alpha male personality, so he's had to grow into it," Hoffman said. "He's an extremely unselfish teammate and doesn't want to seem like he's a ball hog or doing anything outside of the structure. But in this case, that's the role we need him to do, and he's grown into it at a very high level."
Cameron Keck, Waynesboro
Sport: Boys basketball
Grade: Senior
Position: Guard
Height: 6-foot-1
Parents: Torey and Jimmy Kauffman, and Brian Keck
Other interests: Cameron also played football for the Indians, and enjoys playing video games.
Surprising fact: He knows how to play guitar.
Favorite team: Los Angeles Lakers.
Athlete most admired: Kobe Bryant.
Statistics: Keck scored a total of 64 points in 3 games this week, including a 24-point performance in a win over Big Spring ... He shot 67 percent from the field in 2 games and 41 percent against Spring Grove ... Keck totaled 8 rebounds and 6 assists this week.