A self-motivator, Jacob Meyer can take over a game

Eastwood 6-foot-3 senior Jacob Meyer cleared 1,000 points in the early stages of a 61-32 NBC win over Otsego on an alley-oop from Eastwood senior guard Lake Boos. 

He was sitting at 1,061 points with two regular season games remaining.

Alley-oops are nothing new to Meyer — the milestone dunk was a reprise of countless others done earlier this season. For standing 6-3, he can jump as if much taller, just like his sister Katelyn Meyer, a record setting 5-10 four-time first team All-Mid-American Conference outside hitter for the BGSU volleyball team.

“That’s the running joke. I always joke with Jake, ‘I know you can jump out of the gym but I don’t think you can take your sister yet,’” Eastwood coach Todd Henline said.

Henline has watched Meyer, a first team All-NBC selection last year, grow as a player during his four years. 

This year, Meyer is averaging 18.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. As a junior Meyer contributed 13 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals and his sophomore year he put up 11.8 points and 8.4 rebounds.

“I think Jake is a self-motivator. He loves basketball and he’s worked his tail off to get to where he is at. He’s been really driven this year and I can see it with the way he’s playing and the way he’s responding,” Henline said.

“He’s had a really solid year for us in a lot of different respects — scoring, rebounding, playing the point. If I look over his career he has had to do a lot of different things for us and not once have I heard anything out of him. It’s always, ‘Yes, coach, no problem.’”

Henline said it was two years ago that Meyer found some mentorship in the seniors, and now he’s trying to pass the same on to the underclassmen.

“I think two years ago he was with a group that really paved the way for him to become a good leader and showed him what it is all about — the big picture,” Henline said. “I think he’s taken that and run with it. He’s really conscious of the younger kids in the program and that kind of thing. It’s been pretty neat to see his growth throughout his career, but he’s got a lot of athleticism, and he’s put a lot of work into his game and it has paid off for him.”

Henline said Meyer has taken over games when the team needs him to, but Meyer notes that many of his teammates have done the same.

“There are just sometimes when the ball gets moving up and down the court when the ball just ends up in my hands,” Meyer said. “Sometimes it ends up in (senior forward Andrew) Arntson’s hands, or (junior guard) Case’s (Boos) hands, and you just get a couple buckets in a row and keep rolling. 

“I’ve had a couple spurts like that, Case has had a couple spurts like that for sure. Whoever is hot, we try to get them the ball, and whatever gives us the best shot to win the game. That’s what you need to have to be successful, especially in this league and that district.”

It is Meyer’s five classmates, Arntson, guards Jacob Limes and Lake Boos, forward Emmet Getz and center Gavin DeWese that he appreciates the most. DeWese transferred from Rossford this year.

“It’s just awesome,” Meyer said. “I enjoy playing with those guys so much, especially getting Gavin back. It’s like playing in fourth, fifth, sixth grade again — everyone is back together, and we have a lot of fun. It’s really cool.”

Meyer and the 6-5 DeWese scored 20 points apiece to lead the Eagles in Tuesday’s win over Elmwood. Meyer appreciates what DeWese adds to the team.

“He’s a handful inside and he’s got some really good moves,” Meyer said. “That just adds a completely different dynamic to the team that we have not had in the past. That makes a difference, I think.”

Meyer will likely play collegiate basketball, but has not made a decision yet.

“I’m looking at a couple schools academically like Bowling Green and Miami, and a couple (NCAA) Division IIIs, too, in the area,” Meyer said.

Henline added, “I think he’s a lock for D-II if that is the route he wants to go. But the crazy thing is if Eastwood has a valedictorian he’s probably the top kid in his class academically. I think he’s got a lot of different options and knowing Jake he’s going to make a sound decision and probably the right one.”