High school boys basketball: Jacobs' Cameron Krutwig grows into role of team leader

ALGONQUIN – Two years ago, Jacobs’ Cameron Krutwig displayed all the qualities requisite of a freshman playing varsity basketball.

Krutwig’s 6-foot-5 frame and long reach, along with his sweet footwork, allowed him to make an impact inside for an 18-14 team that won a Class 4A regional championship.

But Krutwig’s size and ability were only part of what he offered.

“As a freshman, he came in and had a voice with our guys,” Golden Eagles coach Jimmy Roberts said. “Because he’s so smart and he always felt confident about having a voice. That’s why young players are quiet, because they’re not confident.”

That Krutwig was such a student of the game, a veritable sponge soaking up information, accelerated his basketball ascent as much as his physical attributes. He fit in well as a freshman, played a more significant role last year on a senior-laden, Fox Valley Conference Valley Division title team and now has taken over as the undisputed leader of a group again on top of the division standings.

Krutwig, a 6-9, 270-pound junior, commands attention from opposing defenses, as well as NCAA Division I coaches. He can recite all 12 schools that have extended offers as if he’s running down the Eagles’ roster.

“Growing up in a basketball family, that was kind of the thing to do,” Krutwig said. “[My older brother] Conrad did it right first, and I wanted to play my whole life and be better than him. He drove me to be better, for sure, and just keep working at it.”

Conrad, a 2009 Jacobs graduate, played with the Moran brothers on some of the Eagles’ most successful teams in school history. A 6-6 forward, Conrad started his college career at D-I South Dakota and finished at D-II Wisconsin-Parkside. He is now a freshman assistant coach at Jacobs and also coached Cameron with the Illinois Magic travel team until two years ago.

Few players fill up statistical columns like Cameron, who averages 16.6 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.8 blocks a game, while shooting 66.5 percent from the field. The Eagles are 17-4 overall, 6-0 in the FVC Valley Division.

“He’s a fast learner,” Conrad said. “He’ll look at something, he’ll learn it and he’ll use it. He absorbs a lot of information. He’s done a great job, he’s playing with his friends now. He’s a leader, he’s a captain, it’s kind of his show now. He wants to make a name for himself at Jacobs and put himself at the top of the list, which is cool.”

Conrad thinks his little brother’s overall game and basketball IQ are traits that will translate well in college, which is why Cameron’s college list continues to grow. American University was the most recent to offer to Krutwig two weeks ago.

Wisconsin coach Greg Gard came to watch Krutwig on Jan. 22 in the Eagles’ overtime victory over Cary-Grove. Roberts wonders whether that is any indication of rising interest in the big left-hander, although Krutwig took Gard’s visit in stride.

“Usually they say what level you’re being recruited at is the level you should stay,” Krutwig said. “Right now, that’s mid-major for me. I want to go somewhere and play right away. I don’t want to go from playing extensive minutes in high school and AAU to riding the bench in college. Big Ten [Conference] is a big deal, for sure, but I don’t know if I’m there yet.”

Libertyville coach Brent Mork got an eyeful of Krutwig on Jan. 23 when Jacobs, tied with the Wildcats at halftime, won, 61-50, after an impressive second half. Krutwig started scoring inside, then when Libertyville concentrated more on him inside, he whipped passes to teammates for wide-open 3-pointers.

That scenario has become commonplace in Jacobs’ games.

“[Krutwig] is a tremendous basketball player,” Mork said. “He’s probably the most unselfish, good big man I’ve ever seen. He has great skill, and we knew it. He’s just a monster, we couldn’t contain him.”

Krutwig was the only returning player from Jacobs’ top six last season, so he knew he would be the Eagles’ leader. They appreciate his skills, around the basket, passing and the way he directs the offense and defense.

“Cam’s the centerpiece of this team,” senior guard Kyle Ross said. “He creates most of the plays. He’s pretty agile on the court and a great passer from the post. If we didn’t have Cam, we’d be in disarray at some times.”

Cameron, who was in fourth grade when Conrad graduated, watched his brother’s teams play. He learned from Conrad, especially after Conrad graduated from Parkside and moved back home. They worked out together, and Conrad helped teach Cameron his post moves and footwork.

Furthering his little brother’s career had one small drawback for Conrad. Former teammates rib him about Cameron being a better player.

“Yes, he is better than me. I don’t know if I had a scholarship offer at this point in my career,” Conrad said. “He watches a lot of game film, HUDL, he uses all his resources. He’s always looking for things to improve on. He’s helped me in coaching. We’ll go through stuff and he’ll teach me what’s happening here and what I’m looking for here on offense or defense. That, combined with his unselfishness, is really valuable at the next level.”

THE OFFER LIST

Here are the schools that have offered scholarships – or in the cases of Ivy League schools, roster spots – to Jacobs junior Cameron Krutwig.

NCAA scholarship schools: Alabama-Birmingham, American, Furman, Illinois-Chicago, Lehigh, Loyola, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, Toledo and Vermont

Ivy League: Brown and Columbia