Reeverts takes a knee to the Tiger bench

Jake Reeverts tried out for the sophomore basketball team this season at Princeton High School. He was unable to perform, however, due to misaligned patella tendons in both of his knees. So he did the next best thing — join the Tiger coaching staff.

Reeverts served as first-year sophomore coach Michael Fredericks’ right-hand man during sophomore practices and games and kept the shot chart during varsity games. It proved to be a beneficial situation for both Fredericks and Reeverts, keeping the aspiring player still in the game he loves.

“Coach came to me one day and said he wanted me on the team and I said, ‘Sure, yeah.’ Then he said as an assistant coach, and I said, ‘What?’” Reeverts said. “I took the offer and thought it was cool, because coach Fredericks is in his first year coaching sophomores and said I’d be his first coach.”

The idea to keep Reeverts in the game came from his driver’s ed teacher, Roger Lowe, the former Tiger varsity head coach.

“Mr. Lowe, our driver’s ed teacher, used to be the Illini assistant coach. He knew how important basketball was to me. He talked to Mr. Fredericks first,” Jake said.

Fredericks said Reeverts did an outstanding job in practice, helping to run drills and get on the guys when they were not doing what they were supposed to be doing. Jake said sometimes they listened to him and sometimes they didn’t.

Basically, Fredericks said Jake “had all of the responsibilities as I did when I assisted coach (Jesse) Brandt for the past three seasons. He was punctual, in good spirits and encouraged the guys on the sophomore squad.”

The soreness Reeverts endured, which also kept him out of soccer last fall, was a result of growing pains rather than an injury he said. He strengthened his legs through physical therapy to the point where he’s been able to suit up now with the team as a player. He dressed for the first time Friday against Rock Falls and Tuesday made his debut at Bureau Valley, sinking two free throws in the Kittens’ 58-44 win.