Sandburg’s Jake Tomczak plays with a tenacity marked by his natural talent for disruption.
The junior point guard loves to throw caution to the wind and insert himself right into the middle of the action, causing upheaval for the opposing team while leaving no stone turned.
“I’m always going out there and being relentless,” Tomczak said. “I don’t care how big they are even. If they’re 6-foot-7. I’m putting my hands down and I’m coming after you.”
The 5-11 Tomczak took that attitude another level Friday night.
He scored 10 points to go with three rebounds, three assists and two steals in sparking the host Eagles to a 51-29 SouthWest Suburban Conference victory over Andrew in Orland Park.
Senior forward Will Hooks also contributed 10 points and five rebounds for Sandburg (15-10, 6-6), which received scoring output from 10 different players.
Junior forward Ryan Dinnon produced 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots for Andrew (10-14, 4-8). Junior guard Malik Mahmoud hit two 3-pointers in adding seven points.
The ball pressure and thievery of Tomczak was crucial in Sandburg’s half-court pressure that generated more turnovers for Andrew with 16 than made baskets with 12.
Junior forward Kendall McDowell, who chipped in with seven points for the Eagles, has played football and basketball with Tomczak since youth league.
“Jake has always been pushing us to be the best version of ourselves, especially in practice,” McDowell said. “The way he pressures the ball makes playing defense easier for us.
“He does a great job of talking and communicating with us.”
Senior guard Daniel Morakinyo, who finished with six points, also credited the energy and effort of Tomczak.
“Jake is a great player,” Morakinyo said. “I’ve been playing with him for seven years now.
“He’s a leader out there. He’s funny and outgoing, but when the time of the games gets serious, he knows how to lead the team.”
A two-year varsity player, Tomczak operates in the manner of one of his favorite players, Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell.
Tomczak scored six points during a 14-4 run in the third quarter, breaking the game open.
“I was watching a game of his once and he had like nine steals,” Tomczak said of McConnell. “My game is just like that. Now, my shot is coming along.
“If teams play off me, I can be physical and get to the basket and finish.”
Tomczak also plays bigger than his size and knows how to optimize his opportunities.
“Playing three sports in high school is not easy,” Tomczak said. “When you’re out there competing every day, you learn how to outdo the others.
“With baseball or football, you need quick feet and toughness, so being small, you just have to outwork everybody else.”
A two-year starter at safety in football, Tomczak is Sandburg’s starting shortstop in baseball as well. He’s a generalist with versatile abilities and the desire to push himself beyond the norm.
“I hear a lot of people saying sometimes why do I push myself like that and do it,” he said. “I do it for myself but also for my family. My grandparents love coming to these games.
“It’s hard to put muscle on compared to others, but I love staying busy and proving I can outdo people at bigger weights.”
In rare downtimes, he loves to work as a caddy in golf. It fits his attention to detail. Sports are a platform for self-expression, underlining his desire to cut against the grain or go his own way.
“Every time I play something, I go out as if it’s the last game ever,” Tomczak said. “You put 100% into your effort and never look back. Now, we just have to finish like our first game with Homewood-Flossmoor. We finished this game.
“I’m a spark and I always want us to keep our foot on the gas.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
