Some high school teams fly around the country.
Others take regular road trips throughout the Midwest and beyond.
Cameron Krutwig could have played for any of these teams, and in today’s high school basketball culture, nobody would have batted an eye.
He’s close to Jacobs, physically and emotionally, however, and no other high school ever entered his mind.
"I was going to Jacobs no matter what," the senior said. "It’s five minutes away from my house."
Nearly a decade after Conrad Krutwig dominated the Fox Valley, his 6-foot-9, 270-pound "little" brother is expanding Jacobs’ horizons.
A Loyola recruit, Krutwig’s reputation earned Jacobs invitations to Glenbard East and Evanston to play traditionally strong programs Hillcrest and New Trier the last two weekends.
(Mike Helfgot)
The Golden Eagles won both games impressively to improve to 19-1 and jump back into the Tribune Top 20 at No. 19; now they’re back to the Fox Valley until they can play their way out in March.
"We play 16 conference games this year so we only have two nonconference games," Krutwig said. "It has been fun to play in these events. We played good teams, got our name out there."
Krutwig’s name preceded him at Jacobs, and he’s been a varsity player since his freshman year.
He posted big numbers and was named the player of the year by the Elgin Courier-News as a junior, but the combination of a strong summer on the AAU circuit and the Golden Eagles’ sterling record has put him in the spotlight.
He’s averaging 16.3 points and 14.4 rebounds and has blocked 2.6 shots per game while making 65 percent of his own. However, neither scoring, rebounding, nor defense are the most remarkable aspects of his game.
"He is a hell of a passer," Ben Richardson, Loyola’s starting shooting guard, said. "When he came on his official visit, we were awed by his patience. We can go inside to him, and he will find 3-point shooters. That is what we love."
Even in the midst of solid season, Loyola is eagerly awaiting his arrival. Jacobs obviously is in no hurry to give him up.
His bullet, one-handed skip passes out of the post and outlets off defensive rebounds are rarely matched on any level.
The Golden Eagles may not have a bunch of college prospects, but they have several good offensive players who are more than capable of taking advantage of the room to operate.
"I think we can play with any team in the state," Krutwig said. "I’m not being cocky, just confident. We are not weak. You see teams who are built, we think we’re built. We’ve got size and speed. I think we can play with anyone."
While not explosive athletically, Krutwig can certainly play with any big man on the high-school level, and Jacobs coach Jimmy Roberts thinks he will be a factor at Loyola immediately.
Much like Jacobs, Loyola’s proximity and his relationship with the coaching staff, particularly head coach Porter Moser and assistant Bryan Mullins, kept him from going elsewhere.
"(Loyola was) among the first three offers he had, and they were in on him the whole way," Roberts said. "That means a great deal to him.
"The way he’s played and the season we’ve had, if he kept his recruitment open, maybe something so-called bigger would have come along. He never cared about that. He wanted to go somewhere he felt welcome and would fit. And close to home was a big thing."
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
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