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Boys Basketball Spotlight: Vandemark leaving legacy at Hicksville

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By TIM McDONOUGH

mcdonough@crescent-news.com

HICKSVILLE -- For the past three and half years, Hicksville big man Josh Vandemark has been a force in the middle for the Aces at both ends of the basketball court. And before Vandemark walks off the floor in his final high school game sometime this March, the 6-5 senior will go down as one of the best players in the history of Hicksville High School basketball.

Since his first day playing varsity basketball as a freshman, Vandemark has helped lead his team to success with his ability to fill out a stat sheet. While his game has improved over the course of the last four years, so has maturity. Vandemark was once a player who sometimes let his emotions get the best of him. Now he's a leader on a team that currently stands 9-2 overall and 2-0 in the very competitive Green Meadows Conference.

"I remember the first time I stepped out on the floor as a freshman, I was really nervous. I wasn't scared, but I guess I was just a freshman who was kind of timid," said Vandemark, who currently sits fifth on Hicksville's all-time scoring list. "The big thing I remember was how the seniors took me in and made me a part of the team. That was something that was really big for me."

Hicksville co-head coaches Randy Headley and Dan Turnbull knew that Vandemark could make an immediate impact on the program because of his size, something Hicksville lacked at that time. Since his freshman year, both Headley and Turnbull have been pleased not only with the growth of Vandemark's game, but with his growth as a person.

"We liked the way he played in junior high and we liked his size because we had a size void there that year," said Headley. "We thought he was mature enough physically and strong enough physically to play as a freshman. That summer he played a lot with that senior group and we knew he was ready."

"Because of how our offense is geared, there were shots there for him and because of how aggressive he was, there were teams who had trouble with him as a freshman," agreed Turnbull. "Josh has always wanted to succeed so badly, and he's been someone who has done everything we've asked and more."

Both Headley and Turnbull can also tell you just how far Vandemark has come from then until now, especially where maturity is concerned.

"One of the best things that Dan and I like to see as coaches is our young guys mature and move out into the real world ready for what's ahead," said Headley. "We've seen Josh make such great strides. Behind the scenes he makes sure guys are taken care of, if there are problems he takes care of a lot of things and a couple of years ago that wouldn't have happened. He's a great kid and great competitor who really values his teammates."

"A few years ago, and Josh will be the first to tell you, he sometimes let distractions get the better of him during games. Now you can see him channel those things into his game," said Turnbull. "You can see the focus and how he takes responsibility. Those are things that he can take with him the rest of his life."

Vandemark admits that he sometimes let outside distractions get the best of him, but that now he's found a better way to move forward.

"There were times I would get mad and let fans and refs get to me, but now I tell myself to not let those things bother me and to use that to make me better," said Vandemark. "This is my senior year, all of us seniors talked about how it was our time, and before its done we all want to make the most of it."

As a freshman Vandemark went out and averaged 9.9 points per game, 8.7 rebounds per game, 2.6 blocks per game and 1.4 steals per game. Every year those averages have climbed, and this season he's averaging 13.9 ppg, 13.0 rpg, 4.6 bpg and 2.4 spg.

Before all is said and done in his high school career, Vandemark has the chance to become Hicksville's first 1,000-point scorer and first 800-rebound man. Vandemark currently has 889 career points and 771 rebounds, with nine regular season games to play.

Although not focused on personal accomplishments, Vandemark needs just 79 points to pass Barry Schrock as Hicksville's all-time leading scorer (967 points) and just 111 to be the first Aces' player to reach 1,000. The Hicksville big man is also just 29 boards away from 800.

"When I was a freshman, I remember sitting back on the stage at our old school and coach Headley telling me that it (time) goes by like this ... and he would snap his fingers," said Vandemark. "I remember thinking that high school was going to take forever, but I sit here now and know that he was right.

"It seems like yesterday we were in the old school, and now here we are in this new school and I think, 'where did it go?'" continued Vandemark. "I'm not stuck in the past, but it's true, I really don't know what happened to it. That's why all seven of us seniors (Adam Battershell, Blas Jasso, Josh Flanary, Tyler Sailer, Taylor Klepper, Zac Slattery) are doing everything we can to make this year something we won't forget."

It has been a transitional year for Hicksville, moving from its old school into a beautiful new building on the edge of town. That transition from playing in the old gym into the new gym was something that Vandemark and his fellow seniors took very seriously.

"The first game we played in the new gym against Stryker, we all wanted to go out and win and it was great to see the town of Hicksville come in here and pack this place ... it was pretty special," said Vandemark. "The only color you saw was red and it was amazing to be a part of that. This is our place and we all want to show it off and show that we will be tough to beat here."

So what does the future hold for Vandemark? The big man is also a standout pitcher and player for the Hicksville baseball team. Vandemark would love to play baseball in college and someday become a high school history teacher and a coach.

Concluded Vandemark: "I don't know where I'll be going to college yet, but I would like to play baseball. I would like to become a history teacher and someday coach either basketball or baseball. I've talked with some schools around the area, and I guess I'll figure it all out before I leave here."