The guess here is that Aurora Christian’s Jacob Baumann understands that old adage about the apple not falling far from the tree. The fourth-year varsity basketball player could be living proof.
He’s a 6-foot guard who looks to be on course for a strong senior season, averaging a team-high 18.2 points though five games for the Eagles.
“I want to get the team involved,” Baumann said. “I want energy and like to get it going, getting my teammates passes for wide open layups or on defense especially, coming up with steals.
“I like to rack up some 3-pointers when I can, too.”
Baumann did all that and more Wednesday night, scoring a game-high 19 points in leading Aurora Christian to a 68-31 nonconference rout of Parkview Christian in Aurora.
It came in the second game of the 14th Annual Burney Wilkie Classic that the Eagles are hosting.
Aurora Christian (5-0) picked up three wins the previous week at the Harvest-Westminster Thanksgiving Tournament in Elgin but that title game was cancelled by Saturday’s snowstorm.
Like father, like son?
Maybe.
Baumann’s dad Robbie, a 5-8 guard for Yorkville in 1999, was named MVP of the 37th annual Plano Christmas Classic as a senior. He then went on to play golf at St. Francis in Joliet.
Jacob is leaning toward following the same path.
“I love the game of basketball but don’t know if I want to continue it in college,” he said. “I don’t know if I love it enough. It’s kind of iffy right now. I could be swayed.”
His passion Wednesday night was undeniable as he grabbed six rebounds, dished out three assists and made three steals, throwing his body around with abandon.
“I have a pretty good bruise on my knee,” Baumann said. “Could need an ice bath.”
Junior forward Preston Morel scored 18 points for the Eagles, while senior forward Asa Johnson added 13 points to go with seven rebounds.
Junior guard Collin Mulder came off the bench and made three 3-pointers for a team-high nine points to lead Parkview Christian (0-2).
“Jake brings so much to our team,” said Johnson, a Northern Illinois football recruit as a quarterback. “He’s been there, done that. He’s a very steady kid. It says so much.
“No matter what happens, he’s level. I feel like our whole team is really level-headed.”
For the second straight season, the Eagles lost two key players to transfer. However …
“I really like our chemistry,” Baumann said. “We’re really close outside of basketball. We really get along and it always translates to the floor. It’s great when that happens.
“We bounce back and it’s always next man up — time to go.”
It’s been the case under Aurora Christian coach Dan Beebe. In Baumann’s three seasons, the Eagles have been to a sectional final, finished fourth in the state and reached a supersectional.
“When you bring back four starters that played a lot of minutes together, there’s gonna be cohesion,” Beebe said. “We like to get up and down the floor and defend 84 feet, and this team is suited for that. I think the way these kids are playing on both sides of the ball is really impressive.
“We’re not real big but we’re pretty athletic and can stick it to you on defense. It may be the best defensive team I’ve had.”
Beebe also pointed out that Aurora Christian entered the game shooting about 43% as a team from 3-point range.
Stepping up to lead the way has been Baumann, joined by his younger brother Luke, a freshman at point guard.
“I’m getting everything I want from Jacob,” Beebe said. “He’s a tremendous leader, one of the hardest workers on the team and is closing in on 1,000 points.
“With that postseason experience, he’s battle-tested.”
