SPORTS

Northland Lutheran's Price scores 1,000, plays Shrek

Tim Johnson
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Jacob Price averaged 18.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game during the regular season for the Northland Lutheran boys basketball team this winter.

KRONENWETTER - Jacob Price accomplished two noteworthy feats this winter.

The 6-foot-3 senior for the Northland Lutheran boys basketball team surpassed 1,000 career points in late January.A few weeks later he was playing the title character in the Central Wisconsin Educational Theatre Alliance's production of "Shrek the Musical".

It was the first production for Price, which leads to the question of what makes him more anxious: Standing in the spotlight on stage or standing at the free throw line in the final few seconds of regulation with the game on the line?

"Definitely that first performance on stage was very nerve-wracking to me," Price said. "But the free throw line, that’s tough. I have spent hours in the gym at the line and it doesn’t get any easier. ... I know I just have to stick to my routine and the results will come."

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Price has been a versatile player for the Wildcats during his prep career and shown the ability to play all five positions on the court. Price came into the week averaging 18.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game this season for the Wildcats, who fell to Almond-Bancroft in a WIAA Division 5 regional quarterfinal Tuesday.

Price recently sat down with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to talk about his performance on and off the court along with his post-high school graduation hopes.

You reached 1,000 points this season. What does that day about your prep career?

I guess it says a lot about the people around me more than anything. Definitely, you have to show up each day and be willing to put your work in. When you put your passion into practice, good things can happen.

How aware were you of how many points you needed for the milestone going into the game?

People had informed me that it was coming. I didn’t know when it happened at first, but I was running back (on defense after the basket) and you could hear people cheering. Then I knew: "Oh, I just did it." That was a really cool moment.

You are on a short list of players to reach 1,000 points at Northland Lutheran. Do you know how many other players have reached the mark before you with the program:

It's one or two (others). I played with one (Tim Venus) during my freshman year. He was a mentor to me and a great point guard for us.

You are a two-sport athlete but say basketball is your main sport. What is it about basketball?

It didn't come easy to me at first. I wasn’t really a natural at it but I loved to get out on my driveway and work at it. Then it became more like second-nature and felt like home to me when I had the ball in my hands.

You plan to pursue an education major in college. What led you to that choice?

Probably that I love to help people grow, including myself. Teaching is a profession that pushes one to grow in who they are so they can help others grow. I was inspired by my teachers and just thinking that working with kids on a daily basis would be fun for me. I would like to be where I am right now. I think working with high school kids would be a blast and hopefully, I would be able to stay involved with sports as well.

You are someone who got a lot out of the high school years. You are involved with athletics, arts and are senior class vice president. Were you always someone who wanted to be involved in a lot of things?

I think life is what you make of it, so I try and make the most of my opportunities. Everyone has gifts and I try and spread them out and do as much as I can. When I look back at my high school experience, I don’t want to say that I missed something. I want to say I gave everything and had no regrets.

Did you go out for Shrek to challenge yourself?

I was comfortable in doing it, but I felt I needed something else in my life. I was busy to begin with but I felt there was more that I could do and serve in the community. I always like to challenge myself like that and push myself to do more. It was my first musical I have tried for and definitely a whirlwind to get the lead role. It was a blast.

Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @timmyjo11

From start to finish, it can take almost three hours to get Northland Lutheran High School senior Jacob Price into costume to play the character "Shrek."

JACOB PRICE

School: Northland Lutheran

Year: Senior

Sports: Basketball, soccer

Family: Father, Tom; mother, Debbie; sister, Maya. 

Favorite subject: I love learning about history but my favorite class right now is pre-calculus. Not because it’s my favorite thing to do but because it pushes me the most.

Favorite athlete: LeBron James for his versatility on the court.  I appreciate Stephen Curry as well.

Favorite movie: “The Blind Side”

Favorite sports memory: It's not a specific play or a specific game but just when it clicked why I was doing what I do. Coming in as freshman I played the game because I thought I was good and wanted to be recognized for it but over the four years that is not why I do it anymore. I do it to try and give my best (on the court). I know I can impact people by what I do. I have the talent and want to go out and use it.

Post-graduation plans: Attending Martin Luthern College (New Ulm, Minn). Education major and member of men's basketball team.