Harlem Grad Van Wambeke a 1,000-point Scorer in College

By Bob Balgemann, REPORTER

CHRIS ANDERSON, PHOTO – The Journal.
Justin VanWambeke, a Senior at Loras College, was a stand-out basketball player during his years at Harlem. He recently scored his 1,000th point for Loras.

Justin Van Wambeke was a record-setter while playing basketball at Harlem High School.

Now a Senior at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, he has passed the 1,000-point mark in scoring; the same as he did during his sharp-shooting days as a Huskie.

After nine games this season, he’s the DuHawks leading scorer by averaging 24 points a game. He recently made the game-winning shot at the buzzer as Loras edged the University of Wisconsin – Platteville, 88-86, for its fifth victory. Here’s an online report on that dramatic finish: “Van Wambeke took the in-bounds pass and raced down the court, weaving through several Pioneer defenders and just before the buzzer sounded, floated a 10-foot shot over the reach of UW-Platteville defenders and into the basket for the winner.” In that game he netted 42 points on 7-of-16 field goal shoots, also hitting three 3-pointers in six attempts and converting an amazing 19-of-21 free throws.

For that effort he was named the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week.

Justin was involved in more drama on Dec. 19, in the 102-99 victory over Concordia, Wis. With two seconds left in the game and the score tied, he fed an open Ryan DiCanio who nailed a 3-pointer to provide the victory.

In addition to being the DuHawks top scorer, he also leads in minutes played with 37 per game.

While at Harlem he reached the 1,000-point plateau during a game Feb. 13, 2013, on the historic court at Rockford East High School. Two free throws in the first quarter accounted for the 999th and 1,000th points. The E-Rab announcer let it be known late in the period what the Huskie guard had accomplished.

Loras’ coaches were frequent visitors to Harlem games and practices during the 2012-13 season, to watch Justin while he pursued not only the 1,000-point milestone but the Huskies career record in free throws.

The successes are continuing to mount for Harlem’s Boys Varsity and Junior Varsity Bowling Teams.

Two Varsity teams entered the recent Freeport Sport Shot Tournament and they finished 1-2. Jake Nimtz led the way with a six-game 1,380 series, averaging 230 per game. Dawson Jones was second with a 1,200 series, and an average of 200. Collin Day and Kyler Gerl tied for seventh, each with a 1,161 pin fall.

Jake had a high single game of 257, good for third, with Kyler rolling a 234, which put him in 10th. Collin was 11th, with a 232.

At the JV level Harlem won by almost 200 pins over runner-up Sycamore. Freeport was third.

James White finished first with a 1,104 series and had the third highest single game, a 216. Aaron Rillie came in seventh with a 995 series.

Harlem’s Varsity Boys Basketball Team closed out the 2016 portion of the NIC-10 season with a 61-46 road loss to rival Hononegah.

The Huskies (4-5, 2-4) are competing over winter break at the 89th Chuck Drayton Holiday Tournament in DeKalb, opening against Lemont (2-5) earlier this week. Entries include Belvidere North, Hampshire, West Chicago, Marmion Academy, Geneva, Grayslake Central, Ridgewood, Huntley, Winnebago, Mundelein, Chicago Schurz, South Elgin, Blue Island Eisenhower and the host Barbs.

Meanwhile, the Lady Huskies Varsity Basketball Team (7-5) has been playing at the Oswego Holiday Tournament. They opened against Matea Valley High School (4-7) on Dec. 27.

This tournament includes Jefferson along with Downers Grove South, Oswego, Sycamore, Aurora East, Lemont, West Chicago, Oswego East, Queen of Peace, Plainfield Central, ACC, Thornton, Edwardsville and Joliet Central.

Yet another honor has been accorded to Harlem Varsity football player Brenton Shaw. He has been named 7A honorable mention all-state by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association.

Brenton is a Senior at Harlem and the new NIC-10 career rushing leader.