Many people may tell you that The Barstow School's Senior Point Guard Jacob Gilyard is one of the best players in the entire Kansas City metro area. They may be right.
Jacob is certainly making his case early on averaging right around 37 points per game through four games this year. He was stellar in the 810 Varsity Tipoff Classic. Jacob scored 29 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and had an tournament record 8 steals in their 56-53 loss to Lawrence Free State. He scored 33 points including nine three-pointers in a 69-48 win over St. Pius X. He topped those performances with a school-record 50 point performance in an 85-47 win over Washington.
Varsity Knights have a great game, Gilyard gets the school record scoring 50. Knights win 85-47!
— Barstow Booster Club (@barstowbooster) December 6, 2016
So, it was a no-brainer for the 5-foot, 9-inch, 155-pound Point Guard to win the Hy-Vee 41 Five-Star Athlete of the Week award.
"It makes me feel good [winning the award]. It's something that I've always dreamed about," an excited Jacob said. "My brother got it a couple years ago for football. So, ever since I saw him get it, it's always been something that I wanted to make sure I had my name on. So, to finally get it, I like it. I appreciate that."
Jacob has helped this Knights team get to three straight state championship title games. Barstow won the Missouri Class 3 Championship in 2015, but fell two points short in 2016 - a 62-60 loss to Father Tolton. This year, he's committed on helping this team get back win another state title. However, prior to the season, he signed to play Division 1 Men's Basketball at the University of Richmond in September.
After talking with my family, I'm blessed to announce my commitment to the University of Richmond! #OneRichmond ??? pic.twitter.com/ryfbZZ6Rh8
— Jacob Gilyard (@G1LYARD) September 12, 2016
"I wanted to get my decision before the season," Gilyard said. "I wanted to make sure I could focus my whole, this whole year on Barstow and what we can do this year. But Richmond, I think it was the best fit. The coaching staff, I loved it down there. And the style, I think the style fits me. It's more player oriented. You know, the players get to make the plays and stuff like that. I think I like it a lot. I think I can fit in."
Head Coach Billy Thomas has coached for seven years at Barstow. He says that Jacob is one of the best players he's had. But, he certainly had to be patient to get his chance.
"For three years now, Jake has been the catalyst to our team," Coach Thomas said. "We had a guy we could throw the ball to when we needed a basket on the block in Jeriah Horne. He was fantastic for us. And, we [also] had Shea Rush - a great athlete. We had Jared Gillen, Tripp Wallsworth [who were] both great great players in their own right. And, Jacob was sort of the guy who could make it all fit almost to the point to where you feel like he's sacrificed his own game. And, with having all those guys be gone now, you know, it's his time to kind of really just show everybody how much his game has really just flourished."
Jacob has really excelled so far this season. But, he says he can't take the all the credit alone. His credits his teammates.
"They don't get enough credit for what they do. I think we've been in the gym since last year ended really. I think we've been working to be the best team we can be. They set me up, set good screens, move the ball. I think coach puts us in great positions," Gilyard said.
NOTE: The Hy-Vee 41 Five-Star Athlete of the Week segment airs every Thursday during the 10 p.m. sportscast for the entire year. This particular segment will air Friday night (12/9/16) during the 10 p.m. sportscast due to the Chiefs/Raiders Thursday night game broadcast on NBC.
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Ryan Marshall can be reached at Ryan.Marshall@KSHB.com.
