MANSFIELD — His stats have always been a tightly-guarded secret, but if his team’s success is figured into the equation, Jared Jakubick will go down as one of the best to ever lace up a pair of sneakers for St. Peter’s.
The Richland Source Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Jakubick led the Spartans to within a game of the Division IV Final Four each of the past three seasons. St. Peter’s was 92-17 with four Mid-Buckeye Conference championships, four sectional titles and three district crowns during his stellar four-year career.
The son of St. Peter’s coach and Richland County legend Joe Jakubick, Jared scored his 1,000th career point during St. Peter’s postseason run last year. He averaged an area-best 24.5 points a game this year while leading the Spartans (27-1) to the third unbeaten regular season in school history and first since 1963.
While Joe Jakubick has never publicized his son’s individual achievements, it’s safe to assume the younger Jakubick will graduate in the spring with more than 1,700 career points. That would put him in the company of St. Peter’s career scoring king Marcus Butler (1,983 points) and Brandon Speck (1,718) as the only Spartans to top 1,700 points.
“I just do whatever I have to do to help our team win,” Jakubick said. “Some nights it’s scoring. Other nights it’s rebounding, passing or just playing good defense.”
No matter what his father asked of him, Jared answered the call.
“He and (senior teammate Elijah Cobb) are special players,” Joe Jakubick said. “To watch them play this year, it was a joy.”
Jared Jakubick, St. Peter’s: The 6-foot-4 shooting guard was an All-Ohio first team pick in Division IV, a year after being selected the state’s Division IV Player of the Year. In addition to his 24.5 points a game, Jakubick averaged 8.2 rebounds and 4 assists a night while shooting 60 percent from the field, 55 percent from beyond the 3-point arc and 82 percent from the free throw line.
Cade Stover, Lexington: The 6-foot-5 junior forward led the Minutemen to the Final Four in Division II, averaging 18.4 points and 12.9 rebounds a game. A major college football recruit with offers from Ohio State and Notre Dame, among others, Stover was an All-Ohio second team pick. He was the District 6 Player of the Year and a Northwest District first team selection.
Kyle Jackson, Madison: Madison’s 6-foot-6 senior forward, who will play football at Division II Urbana, averaged 20.3 points a game. He was the Ohio Cardinal Conference and District 6 Player of the Year in Division I. Jackson was a Northwest District first team pick and a third-team All-Ohioan.
Chance Barnett, Clear Fork: The 6-foot-3 senior forward became just the fifth member of Clear Fork’s 1,000-point club and led the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference in scoring at 18.6 points a game. Barnett was a MOAC, District 6 and Northwest District first-team pick and was an All-Ohio special mention selection in Division II.
Elijah Cobb, St Peter’s: The 6-foot-1 senior point guard was a big reason why the Spartans won the Division IV Associated Press poll championship. Cobb averaged 18 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5 assists a game while shooting 57 percent from the field. He was a District 6 first team pick, a Northwest District second-teamer and an All-Ohio honorable mention selection.
Second Team: B.J. Patrick, Mansfield Senior; Cam McCreary, Colonel Crawford; Jared McPeek, Mansfield Christian; Mason Campbell, Madison; Logan Jones, Ontario.
Third Team: Uriah Schwemley, Shelby; Ben Vore, Lexington; Isaiah Alsip, Galion; Kyle Kurtz, Mansfield Christian; Brian Sauder, Lucas.
Honorable Mention: Quan Hilory, Mansfield Senior; Kyle Johnston, Lexington; Max Loy, Buckeye Central; Harley Schaum, Colonel Crawford; Ty Clark, Crestline; Jonah Ramey, St. Peter’s; Logan Niswander, Lucas; Jacob Adams, Plymouth; Davon Triplett, Crestline; Garrett Fry, Loudonville; Trey Williams, Hillsdale; Nic Stimpert, Crestview; Logan Hensel, Mapleton; Abe Kurtz, Temple Christian.
