By BUTCH HARMON
When it came to filling the hoop, few players did it as proficiently as Owosso senior Jalen Weekley.
The senior guard was a reliable source of buckets for the Trojans all season, as he averaged over 21 points per game. Seeing Weekley pour in the points was nothing new for Owosso fans, who have been treated to his offensive skills the past three seasons. A three-year starter for the Trojans, Weekley has also been a first-team all-conference player three times.
“The thing with Jalen is, you can count on him to consistently put the ball in the basket,” Owosso coach Dave Owens said. “He is a player that the opposing team has to know where he is at all the time. He is one of the top three-point shooters in the history of Michigan high school basketball. More than that, he is a competitor who wants to win at everything he does.”
While Weekley is an outstanding three-point shooter, he also dished out three assists a game for the Trojans. Further, he improved his rebounding during his high school career, and in his final game against Saginaw Arthur Hill in the district tournament, he recorded a double-double in points and rebounds.
In the age of sports specialization, Weekley is a throwback. Instead of working on his shooting 365 days a year, he is a rare four-sport athlete. “Jalen played on the football team, is a pitcher on the baseball team, and is also an outstanding golfer who has the chance to go to the state meet this year,” Owens said. “He just missed going to state last year for golf. At the regional, he was involved in a playoff that went to the fourth hole before the other kid made a birdie. I really believe Jalen will make it to state as a golfer this year. He is an outstanding athlete with great hand-eye coordination.”
Owens also sees Weekley extending his basketball career in college. “Jalen is also a great student,” Owens said. “He is a 3.5 student who takes college prep classes. He does the things he needs to do academically. He will play somewhere in college; where, we do not know right now. He has a few people interested. He possesses the skills that college coaches like in a player.”