Recordpub.com - Athlete of the Week: Kent Roosevelt's Abby Wemhoff

Every good basketball team needs one if they want to be great.

In the 1980s, the Boston Celtics had Kevin McHale. In the 1990s, the Chicago Bulls had Toni Kukoc and the modern-day San Antonio Spurs have Manu Ginobili.

Commonly known as the “Sixth Man,” a quality first player off the bench can take a team from run of the mill to championship caliber with their ability to provide a spark when the starters begin to tire.

For Kent Roosevelt girls basketball head coach Craig Foreman, this year’s firestarter has been sophomore Abby Wemhoff. The 5-foot-9 wing has been absolutely critical to the Rough Riders’ 4-1 start in Metro Division play.

“Abby doesn’t start for us, but I absolutely love her coming off of the bench because she can really contribute at any position on the court,” said Foreman. “We always know that she can step in, whether it be handling the ball or playing under the basket.”

Only eight games into her first season with the team, Wemhoff’s impact has definitely been felt.

Averaging nearly seven points, five rebounds and two assists per game, Wemhoff’s versatility hasn’t been stifled by the speed of the varsity game.

“In middle school, I played a lot of post and I played guard as well (before making varsity), so I feel comfortable at any position,” said Wemhoff. “I have the mindset of wanting to give all I have each time I’m on the court, so I think that’s helped me.”

In mid-December, Roosevelt’s secret weapon grabbed the headlines with a 17-point, 11-rebound performance in a 66-62 win over Field. Going up against a veteran Falcons team, Wemhoff led her teammates through regulation before pulling out the four-point win in overtime.

Foreman said that her performance that game may have been the point his unheralded underclassman began to come into her own as a leader.

“Watching the way Abby played that day, she was just so focused,” he said. “When we went into OT, the lack of fear she showed was impressive.”

Wemhoff said that her play against Field wasn’t out of the ordinary. Instead, it was the way she tries to attack each and every opponent.

“I was focused that night, and I had this feeling like nothing could stop me out there,” she said. “I’ve always thought that, when you go as hard as you possibly can out there, you’ll be rewarded for it.”

While her recent performance probably has some wondering what’s keeping her in a chair at tipoff, Foreman said that Wemhoff’s current status is far from a punishment or glass ceiling for the standout.

“I had a midseason meeting with all of my players and when I brought Abby in I told her that I didn’t see her starting for us this season because of how well she’s played as a sixth man,” said Foreman.

“Abby’s really a coach’s dream, though, because she looked me in the face and told me she was happy about it and wanted to contribute to the team. She knows she’ll start the next two years for us and she’s okay with (coming off the bench for now).

“With the way she carries herself both in games and during practice, she really sums up everything I’ve tried to instill in this program since I got here,” Foreman said.

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Colin Harris can be contacted at charris@recordpub.com

or 330-298-1123